the one piece of tech that has wowed me in 2020
On a September morning in 2020, Samsung placed a folding screen into the hands of the world and asked a timeless question: how much is the future worth? The Galaxy Z Fold 2, arriving at $1,999, represents not merely a phone but a wager on form itself — that the way we hold and unfold our tools might be reimagined. Where its predecessor stumbled under the weight of its own ambition, this second attempt arrives steadier, inviting a small and willing audience to pay dearly for the privilege of living slightly ahead of everyone else.
- At $1,999, the Fold 2 costs more than four PlayStation 5 consoles, making every purchase a deliberate act of financial commitment rather than casual upgrade.
- The ghost of the original Galaxy Fold — recalled for fragility before it could find its footing — hangs over this launch, raising the stakes for Samsung's credibility.
- Early reviewers report no durability failures, a quiet but significant signal that Samsung has done the hard engineering work between generations.
- Samsung's own managing editor called it the most impressive piece of technology he encountered in all of 2020, after just one day with the device.
- The Fold 2 is carving out luxury phone territory where few competitors exist, but mainstream adoption remains hostage to price reductions that haven't come yet.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2 went on sale in September 2020 at $1,999 in the US, £1,799 in the UK, and AU$2,999 in Australia — a price that invites comparison: four PlayStation 5 consoles, two iPhone 11 Pros, or nearly thirty full-price games. It is, by any measure, a staggering sum for a phone, even one that folds.
The original Galaxy Fold had arrived with durability problems serious enough to rattle early adopters and embarrass Samsung publicly. The Fold 2 appears to have learned from that stumble. Hands-on reviewers found no fragility concerns in early testing, and Samsung's own managing editor named it the single most impressive piece of technology he encountered in 2020 — after just twenty-four hours with it.
The device unfolds into a tablet-sized screen, offering a genuinely different relationship with a phone rather than a cosmetic novelty. For those priced out, Samsung's smaller Galaxy Z Flip exists as an alternative, though it trades versatility for affordability. Whether the Fold 2's engineering refinement and expansive screen justify its cost is the question the market will answer slowly — enthusiasts may lead, but the rest of the world will wait for the price to meet them.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2 is available today, starting at $1,999 in the United States. The foldable phone, unveiled in early September, has now rolled out to retailers and online stores across multiple regions, priced at £1,799 in the UK and AU$2,999 in Australia. For anyone keeping score, that's enough money to buy four PlayStation 5 consoles, or two iPhone 11 Pros, or nearly thirty games at full retail price. It's a staggering ask for a phone, even one that folds.
The original Galaxy Fold, Samsung's first attempt at this form factor, arrived with significant durability problems that made early adopters nervous. The Fold 2 appears to have addressed those concerns. In early hands-on time, reviewers found no obvious fragility issues—a meaningful shift from the first generation. Samsung's managing editor described the device as the single piece of technology that impressed him most in 2020, and that was after just 24 hours with it. The novelty alone may be enough to move units among the tech-forward crowd willing to spend this much on innovation.
The price positions the Fold 2 firmly in luxury territory, a category where most people don't shop for phones. For those seeking a foldable at a lower cost, Samsung offers the Galaxy Z Flip, though it's smaller and less versatile. The Fold 2, by contrast, unfolds into a tablet-sized screen—a genuinely different way to use a phone, not just a gimmick. Whether that difference justifies nearly two thousand dollars remains the central question. Early impressions suggest the engineering is sound. Whether the broader market will follow is another matter entirely.
Citas Notables
The one piece of tech that has wowed me in 2020, and it's only been 24 hours— Samsung's Managing Editor Matt Swider
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a foldable phone cost twice as much as a regular flagship?
You're paying for the engineering complexity. The hinge, the flexible display, the durability refinements—none of that is cheap to develop or manufacture at scale.
But the original Fold had real problems. Why should anyone trust this one?
That's the thing—early reviewers found no durability issues with the Fold 2. Samsung seems to have actually learned from the first version. That matters for credibility.
Two thousand dollars is still absurd for most people.
Absolutely. But it's not aimed at most people. It's for the person who wants to own something genuinely novel, who has the money, and who doesn't mind being an early adopter.
So this is a luxury product, not a practical one?
For now, yes. The form factor is interesting enough that some people will buy it just to experience it. Whether it becomes practical—whether the price comes down and the technology matures—that's a few years away.
What happens if it breaks?
That's still the unspoken fear. We don't have long-term durability data yet. The first 24 hours look good, but a phone needs to survive a year of real use.