Samsung Electronics' new foldable smartphone, the 'Galaxy Z8 Series,' is experiencing a shortage even in Japan, traditionally an Apple stronghold, and is gaining significant popularity in Southeast Asia and Oceania. In response, Samsung is now fully launching its market penetration strategy in these regions.
On the 14th, Samsung Electronics announced the official launch of its new foldable smartphone 'Galaxy Z8 Series (Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, Flip8)' and wearable devices 'Galaxy Watch new products (Watch Ultra2, Watch9)' across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The Galaxy Z8 Series achieved record-breaking pre-order sales for the region in Southeast Asia and Oceania during its initial pre-sale period, marking a successful launch. While global pre-orders increased by more than 30% compared to the previous model, pre-orders for the 'Z Fold8 Ultra' and 'Fold8' in this region surged by as much as 60%, demonstrating even greater popularity.
In particular, the Z Fold8 drove performance. Amid high interest in its new form factor, six out of every ten customers who pre-ordered in the region chose the 'Z Fold8.' The new lineup also resonated strongly with younger generations; among customers purchasing phones on Samsung.com, those aged 10 to 30 accounted for approximately 60%.
Looking at product preferences by model, the most popular colors for the Z Fold8 were 'Grafit' and 'Lavender.' The Z Fold8 is optimized for content consumption such as short-form videos, webtoons, and games. Its 4:3 aspect ratio main screen maximizes immersion, and at just 201g, it is the lightest in the history of the Fold series.
For the 'Z Fold8 Ultra,' the preferred colors were 'Violet Shadow' and 'Grafit.' The Z Fold8 Ultra was chosen by consumers who prioritize large-screen multitasking. Its expansive main screen, measuring 203.1mm, excels in high-productivity tasks, while its significantly upgraded camera system delivers richer detail and sharper clarity.
Local consumers who chose the 'Z Flip8' most preferred the 'Pink' color. The Z Flip8, emphasizing portability and self-expression, features the thinnest profile ever in the Flip series and a newly designed 'Flex Window,' allowing users to smoothly utilize various apps, information, and AI functions directly from the cover screen.
Samsung Electronics also launched its new wearables, the 'Galaxy Watch Ultra2' and 'Galaxy Watch9.' Reflecting growing interest in health and wellness management, the new Watch series has also gained high popularity locally.
The 'Galaxy Watch Ultra2,' optimized for extreme outdoor sports, is equipped with top-tier hardware including an 800mAh large-capacity battery. The 'Galaxy Watch9' is set to serve as a core device for personalized healthcare.
Through this launch of new products, Samsung Electronics plans to provide Southeast Asian and Oceania consumers with even stronger and more organic connection experiences based on its further evolved 'Galaxy AI ecosystem.'
Meanwhile, the Samsung Electronics Galaxy Z Fold8 is gaining popularity even in Japan, often referred to as an Apple stronghold. On Samsung Electronics' official online store in Japan, some models of the Fold8 briefly went out of stock shortly after their launch on the 7th, sparking widespread attention.
According to Japanese market research firm MM Comprehensive Research Institute, Apple's share of the Japanese smartphone market for fiscal year 2025 stood at 51.6%, marking its fourth consecutive year holding more than half the market. Samsung Electronics ranks third, behind Apple and Google.
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