Three codes are waiting: new shipments of expensive folding smartphones to Russia will be delayed

Smartphones of the ultra‑premium segment and other expensive equipment are distributed in limited batches. The reason is the shortage of RAM and semiconductor components that the business is still facing. In Russia, new folding smartphones with a triple screen sold out "like hot cakes," but new batches will not appear immediately, the retailer said. At the same time, the demand for such devices remains high both in stores and among "gray" sellers. When to wait for the next deliveries and which models are most popular — in the Izvestia article.

Which premium smartphones do Russians choose?

Smartphones of the ultra-premium segment arrive in Russia in limited quantities. The main reason is the careful logistics of expensive models and the continuing shortage of RAM in the global market, experts said. According to Izvestia's retail sources, new flagships are sold out almost immediately after they appear, which is why there are pauses of several weeks between deliveries. Customers often have to pre-order or track the availability of devices from different sellers. At the same time, despite the prices, demand remains high both in federal networks and from unofficial suppliers importing devices in small batches.

First of all, we are talking about folding smartphones — image devices with advanced work and multimedia capabilities. According to market participants, the demand for them is supported by both technological innovations and limited availability: small batches are quickly sold out, as buyers fear further price increases and shortages. Larger shipments are expected closer to the end of March, but they may also sell out quickly amid continued high interest.

The most expensive serial smartphones in the world, the Galaxy Z TriFold folding three—screen smartphones, proved to be in demand among consumers, despite the cost in Russia of 500 thousand rubles. In a conversation with the editors of Inventive Retail Group, it was reported that the entire batch of 30 pieces was sold out in the restore store chain: literally two weeks after the start of sales, which exceeded expectations and showed steady customer interest.

— If vendors had doubts about the solvency of Russians in 2026, the situation with TriFold dispelled them. Demand for it in Russia is obviously high, given the prices for similar models like Huawei's Mate XT," says technology specialist Andrey Baranov.

At the same time, retailers are still officially announcing plans to bring new products from Samsung in the near future without specifying delivery dates.

Therefore, the demand for premium electronics is growing.

Russians are increasingly choosing expensive and high—tech gadgets, from folding smartphones to smart accessories and household appliances with artificial intelligence. The growing interest in the premium segment is indicated by data from retailers and market analysts, who note high demand for both flagship devices and new categories of electronics. The experts interviewed attributed this to the strengthening of the ruble. According to Eldar Murtazin, editor-in-chief of Mobile Review, in March sales of the flagship Samsung Galaxy S26 line may reach about 30 thousand units.

— The first batch of TriFold folding smartphones (about 400 thousand rubles) was sold out in five days. In 2025, more than 100,000 folding smartphones worth 10.6 billion rubles were sold in Russia, which is 26% more in units and 22% more in money than a year earlier," explained Andrey Gubanov, CEO of the MTS retail chain.

In the company "M.Videos" confirm a similar trend. Nikita Tolpygin, Head of the Telecom and Gadgets Department, noted that folding smartphones are gradually moving from a niche segment to a mass one. One of the models is the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate with multiple fold lines. The expansion of the product range additionally affects sales of premium devices.

Growth is also observed in the secondary market. According to Avito, sales of new foldable smartphones increased by 31% year—on-year, and hand-held devices by 13%. Retail accounts for 62% of all sales of folding models, as prices there are noticeably lower.

"This option allows you to save money — some models cost almost twice as much as new ones," explained Sergey Nogin, head of telecom and IT at Avito.

CEO of the consumer electronics division of Inventive Retail Group (restore network:) Roman Romensky noted that customers are increasingly purchasing devices that combine functionality and an image component.

— The demand for health gadgets and smart accessories has grown in our network — Whoop fitness bracelets and Oura smart rings (starting from 50 thousand rubles), as well as smart voice recorders with AI functions and interactive robots. Sales of voice recorders with artificial intelligence and smart toys increased by more than 100% in units over the year. Among the new products are the LOONA robot (starting from 90 thousand rubles) and a limited—edition robot dog (499 thousand rubles)," he said.

In addition, there is an increase in sales of premium TVs: models with a large diagonal showed an increase of 35% compared to the same period last year. The range includes devices worth several million rubles.

Similar trends are recorded in the category of household appliances. Dreame reported an increase in sales of expensive models in late 2025 and early 2026. The main contribution was made by high-end vacuum cleaner robots, as well as televisions that have recently appeared in the range. New self-care devices were sold out by about 50% in the first weeks, and individual items (such as aerogrills) were completely out of stock.

— The component crisis has long been a harsh reality for the whole world, especially in the Russian Federation, taking into account all the restrictions, from international sanctions to defunct companies and vendors who do not supply products to the country through official channels. Deliveries against this background will be delayed for a number of reasons: economic, foreign policy, and many others," said expert Andrey Baranov.

Nevertheless, market participants note an increase in demand for premium electronics. Buyers are targeting devices with new features. Retailers estimate that this trend will continue as new models are released, despite the logistical difficulties that experts are talking about.