2019’s Best Foldable Phones + What To Do With Trade-Ins Of Older Models

Until recently, foldable cell phones had been more a figment of future tech imagination than an actual consumer product on store shelves. But 2019 has changed all that with the expected release of a number of foldable cell phone models, including popular products from Motorola, Samsung and Huawei.

It’s a shift in technology design and manufacturing that many are excited for; benefits of foldable cell phones include larger screen sizes, the built-in ability to multitask and processing capabilities that were once reserved only for tablets. If you’re a consumer products or cell phone retailer, you might be wondering what all the fuss is about. Here, a breakdown of the three most-anticipated foldable cell phones, plus a look at what you can do once those trade-ins of older models start coming your way.

Motorola Razr 2019

With an expected delivery date at the end of this year, the Motorola Razr 2019 is rumored to be an updated take on the company’s classic foldable cell phone model—a flip phone, but with a foldable screen on the inside. According to a report from LetsGoDigital published by TechRadar.com, the phone is expected to carry a hefty price tag, estimated around $1,600. Surprisingly, this actually places the Motorola Razr 2019 in a mid-tier price bracket when compared to other popular foldable cell phones like the Galaxy Fold or Huawei Mate X (see below). That’s partly because the Motorola Razr will likely have a smaller battery and relatively less storage space.

Samsung Galaxy Fold

The Samsung Galaxy Fold debuted in April 2019 (though its actual release date is still TBD) with a 7.3-inch screen, high-end processor, 12 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage space. Among the more highly anticipated foldable cell phone models, it costs approximately $1,980, but is packed with a triple lens rear camera as well as a high-powered battery that’s split into two sections. When it comes to apps, Samsung reports that its foldable Galaxy phone allows you to run up to three apps (or internet browser windows) side-by-side, making it an ideal option for those who need to multitask. It features a sleek aesthetic, though still somewhat bulky when folded, and is projected to be an industry prototype for future foldable cell phone design.

Huawei Mate X

Open up the Huawei Mate X and you’ll find yourself working on what is essentially an 8-inch tablet. It’s the most expensive foldable cell phone on the market (approximately $2,500), and is originally stocked with 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB storage drive. The Huawei Mate X has a unique design; when folded, its screen is actually on the outside of the device, not tucked away like other competitor models. Currently, this foldable cell phone is set to hit the market in November 2019 and, most recently, it was updated with a Kirin 990 chipset in the hopes of future-proofing the phone once it’s on store shelves.

How Retailers Can Handle The Expected Influx Of Trade-Ins

Once foldable cell phones reach the market, retailers should anticipate an uptick in the number of trade-ins of older models as tech aficionados rush to buy the latest and greatest. A B2B sales channel like the one B-Stock offers can help improve operational efficiency and pricing for your excess or trade-in devices while offsetting typical risks associated with selling into the secondary market. 

As the world’s largest network of B2B marketplaces for returned, overstock, and trade-in mobile devices, B-Stock connects devices from wireless manufacturers, carriers, dealers, and buyback companies directly to a global base of approved small wireless buyers across the globe. Millions of phones and accessories, across all brands, models, conditions, and quantities are sold monthly. 

For a look at our marketplaces dedicated to mobile inventory, please visit our mobile marketplaces page. Or learn more about our secondary mobile marketplace platform.