Foldable phones are notoriously expensive, even by premium phone standards, and Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 is likely to continue that trend.

According to Twitter leaker FrontTron, the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will start at $1,249 for a model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. This is cheaper than the Galaxy Z Flip 5G's initial price of $1,449, but far from affordable.

Of course, there is no guarantee that FrontTron's information is correct; we know that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is coming, but when the actual release date (rumored to be August 11) arrives, it could have an entirely different pricing structure.

It is also not yet clear if there will be a more expensive Z Flip 3 model; it is conceivable that a version with more RAM, storage, or both could be introduced, and if so, the price would naturally be even higher.

In any case, if the rumors are true, it is unlikely that the price of the foldable phone will drop significantly anytime soon. Obviously, that would be a major barrier to entry for most people, even those who split the cost of a cell phone over a two- or three-year plan.

Moreover, even the best and most expensive non-folding handsets are cheaper than this rumored price: why get a 256GB iPhone 12 Pro Max for $1,200 and a 256GB Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra for the same $1,249 when you can get a folding Why spend nearly $1,300 on a Samsung Galaxy when you can get a 128GB S21 Ultra for $1,199?

Both models are tops in their respective classes and have proven to work exactly as people want them to.

The foldable display is interesting, and the ability to store the phone's screen at half its normal size could be useful, but we are not at that stage yet. It definitely doesn't help that Samsung is one of only two cell phone manufacturers selling foldable phones in the United States. Most people have yet to use one and many have probably never even seen one in person. In this case, unfamiliarity breeds caution, and folding phones are not yet at a stage where people necessarily trust them.

The news also suggests that the Galaxy Z Fold 3, which offers more than the Z Flip 3, will be even more expensive than this. How much more expensive is not yet clear, but hopefully it will not be more than the $1,800 that the Galaxy Z Fold 2 cost when new.

The Galaxy Z Flip 3 has an upgraded 120Hz internal display, a dual-lens 12MP camera, an enlarged outer cover display, a 10MP selfie camera that may or may not be under the display, and a more powerful Snapdragon 88 processor is rumored to be included.

These are rather hefty upgrades, and we should appreciate that Samsung has reportedly included all of them while reportedly lowering the price. But that doesn't change the fact that foldable phones are too expensive. If Samsung wants people to buy more of them, something will have to be done.

Perhaps this latest rumor is unfounded and the Z Flip 3 will come at a much more affordable price. But if not, foldable devices will not yet become truly mainstream.