Samsung Seems Done with Flip FE, and the Signs Are Everywhere

Samsung’s foldable roadmap for 2026 is starting to take shape, and the latest leaks hint at two Fold models, not two Flips. If true, this would be a major shift from the 2025 lineup, which consisted of two Flips (Flip 7 and Flip 7 FE) and the Fold 7. And given how the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE has been handled since launch, especially in the US, it’s hard not to wonder whether Samsung is preparing to quietly phase out the Fan Edition Flip entirely.

Samsung seems eager to forget the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE

Just months after launch, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE (review) has disappeared from Samsung’s online store in the US. And it isn’t like the device has sold out. That idea simply doesn’t add up. It was never a hot device; the Flip 7 FE was an overpriced, minimally tweaked repackage of the Flip 6 with a different chipset and not much else to justify its existence. It always felt like Samsung was clearing out leftover Flip 6 parts while testing whether a budget foldable could find a solid market.

The experiment failed, and the company has quietly phased out the phone. While the “affordable” Flip is still on sale in some markets, its disappearance from the US store signals a shift in Samsung’s strategy. After all, this is not how you treat a phone that you intend to keep around. This is how you bury a product without announcing a funeral. Recent developments now make more sense.

Fold sales are growing, Flip sales have flattened

Early on, the Flip line was the star. It was cheaper, trendier, and more accessible. The devices sold in huge numbers, which is likely why Samsung felt confident enough to introduce the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE in 2025. But the market has shifted. The Fold category has grown steadily, especially as productivity users embrace larger foldables. The Flip category, meanwhile, has cooled, with fewer compelling upgrades year-over-year.

With user demand moving upward, it makes sense that Samsung’s rumored 2026 strategy may focus on multiple Fold models rather than multiple Flips. While one of those will be the regular Galaxy Z Fold 8, there are question marks over the second model. The leaked model number hints at a Fold 8 FE (the Fold 8 has the model number SM-F976, while the other has SM-F971), though there are also rumors of a square-shaped Fold.

While we wait for confirmation on that, it’s looking more likely that Samsung has no intention to keep the Flip FE lineup around, and for the right reasons. Clamshell foldables have always been more of a style statement, so people likely do not upgrade often. Fold users, meanwhile, want power and performance, so they have more reason to upgrade to the latest model frequently. Samsung may not kill the Flip outright, but the Fan Edition Flip? That chapter may already be closed.