The idea of a budget-friendly telephone misplaced its that means this week when Samsung introduced its new Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE prices an eye-watering $900. It is related in appears and skill to its premium-model sister telephone, and it even has the identical cameras.
Earlier this 12 months, Apple launched its extra budget-friendly iPhone 16E, which additionally bought jeers for an higher-than-expected worth of $600. It carries the identical processor as the primary iPhone 16, however lacks one rear digicam.
The price of telephones is anticipated to proceed to rise, leaving the extra inexpensive fashions caught filling an ungainly hole for anybody who’s seeking to purchase a brand new telephone. These finances fashions value greater than earlier than however they will additionally do greater than ever, with related processors to their flagship counterparts.
So for this week’s episode of One Extra Factor, which you’ll watch embedded above, I am speaking about how finances tech is turning into the brand new regular — and why it is time to take this class significantly as the one tech value your cash now for upgrades.
Cellphone prices will proceed to rise, and it may not even be associated to the latest tariff threats. Apple is reportedly planning to boost iPhone costs no matter tariffs, according to reporting from The Wall Street Journal. Tech tariff anxiousness remains to be excessive, with a CNET survey discovering that 64% of consumers are rushing to buy tech to keep away from worth spikes and shortages.
Which means tech corporations are extra incentivized to make decrease entry costs for a product, and meaning reducing some options to chop prices. And this pattern goes past telephones. Apple is rumored to be making a cheaper MacBook by giving it an iPhone chip.
And why not? With how good these processors are, you may not even discover the distinction for fundamental duties.
When you’re on the lookout for extra One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube web page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the most recent Apple information and points each Friday.

