Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event on August 11, and as months of leaks and rumors have foretold, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable smartphones are likely to be announced. If you're hoping to get your hands on either of these phones at launch, Samsung is offering a unique bargain to prospective buyers.

For the first time, Samsung is letting smartphone buyers trade in two existing handsets, reducing the final purchase price.As Android Police first reported, Samsung has launched a website for people to "reserve their next Galaxy smartphone. The teaser image shows the familiar Z Fold and Z Flip silhouettes, but no names are mentioned.

On the website, after entering their names and contact information, customers can choose from a variety of phones, tablets, smartwatches, and other devices (up to two total) to trade in. Simply let Samsung know which devices are eligible for trade-in in case a final purchase is made.

Samsung will alert prospective buyers when the new devices are available for purchase, at which point the customer can go through the actual process and find out how much they will pay for their dusty gadgets.

Today, device trade-ins are a more common sight when purchasing a new smartphone. As U.S. mobile carriers have moved away from subsidizing handset prices by tying customers into long-term contracts, manufacturers have sought ways to trim the luxury price tags of today's flagship-level smartphones. Indeed, Samsung and Apple often display prices on their websites

that include theoretical discounts based on trade-in of the handset.

However, this is the first time we have heard of a smartphone manufacturer allowing trade-ins of two devices at once. On the one hand, this may suggest that device trade-ins are a viable business model for tech giants, as manufacturers can either refurbish and resell such devices or recycle and reuse the potentially valuable parts inside. Perhaps Samsung will allow multiple trade-ins on other devices in the future, or Apple and other manufacturers will follow Samsung's lead.

On the other hand, given how expensive Samsung's new foldable smartphone is likely to be, it makes sense in this particular case. Last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy Z Flip 5G launched for $1,999 and $1,449, respectively. Both amounts are considerably higher than typical flagship smartphones like Apple's iPhone 12 and Samsung's Galaxy S21 (both $799).

However, leaked information about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 suggests that the price could be lower than last year's models. Between the possible price drop and double trade-ins of the handsets, the sticker shock of these gorgeous foldable smartphones may not be as surprising this time around.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 3 is expected to be more refined and enhanced than last year's model, which will have a large built-in screen with an under-display camera and support for an S Pen stylus (but will also hold a stylus (but no slot for a stylus). Leaks indicate that the Z Fold 3 will be lighter than its heavier predecessor.

Meanwhile, leaks about the Galaxy Z Flip 3 indicate that the pocketable flip smartphone will have its own tweaks, including a two-tone exterior finish that places the outer screen and dual camera setup inside a black bar. There will also be more color variations, better battery life, and (unlike the Z Flip 5G) possibly a top-end processor.

In addition to the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, Samsung's next Unpacked event will also feature the new Galaxy Watch 4 based on Google's WearOS platform (instead of Tizen), the low-cost Galaxy S21 FE smartphone, and Galaxy Buds 2 wireless earbuds are also expected to be announced.Here's a complete breakdown of what to expect at the big August event.