You’d have to be a fool to pay $13,000 for this hideous Messi-themed Galaxy Z Fold 8

Samsung hasn’t officially unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra yet. However, that hasn’t stopped luxury customisation company Caviar from putting its own version up for sale.

The bespoke handset pays tribute to football icon Lionel Messi. It wraps Samsung’s upcoming foldable in 24-karat gold and handcrafted artwork, with a price tag to match.

Caviar is charging $13,130 for the limited-edition device. This makes it more than six times as expensive as the Galaxy Z Fold 7’s $2,000 launch price. If Samsung’s next Ultra model lands in a similar range, the price difference will be significant.

The custom phone features a handcrafted cloisonné enamel portrait of Messi in Argentina’s national colours. Alongside this, it offers 24-karat gold accents, the Argentina Football Association crest, a commemorative 2022 FIFA World Cup badge, and Adidas branding. Buyers also receive a bespoke presentation box finished in royal blue with additional gold detailing. They get a custom Caviar key as well.

Exclusivity is clearly part of the appeal. Caviar says it will produce just 19 units of the Messi edition. As a result, it is one of the company’s rarest smartphone releases.

Beyond the lavish (and quite hideous) exterior, the listing also hints at a few details about Samsung’s next foldable before its official debut. It suggests the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will start with 256GB of storage. Additionally, 512GB and 1TB configurations will also be available.

Perhaps more notably, the listing reinforces rumours that Samsung is preparing to launch an Ultra-branded foldable alongside a standard Galaxy Z Fold 8. While the Caviar model closely resembles last year’s Fold 7 in overall shape, reports have suggested the regular Fold 8 could adopt a wider design. This would result in a more conventional aspect ratio for media consumption.

The listing doesn’t reveal any additional specifications. Therefore, details such as the processor, cameras and display upgrades will have to wait until Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event.

Anyone hoping to secure one should also expect a wait. Caviar says production only begins after full payment has been received. Each handset is built to order due to the extensive gold plating and handcrafted enamel work.

For most buyers, the standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra will almost certainly be the more realistic option. But if a regular foldable isn’t exclusive enough, and you’ve got more than $13,000 to spare, Caviar’s Messi edition is about as extravagant as smartphone launches get.