It has been revealed that sales of Samsung Electronics' "Galaxy Z Fold8" have actually increased after Apple unveiled its first foldable phone, the "iPhone Duo." In Korea, it is observed that many people chose the Galaxy Z Fold8 due to a price gap of over 1 million won between the two devices, as well as considerations regarding weight, thickness, and release timing.
According to the telecommunications industry on the 17th, it is reported that domestic sales of the Galaxy Z Fold8 increased by about 10% compared to Jeonju during the week following the iPhone Duo's unveiling on the 10th. It is analyzed that pent-up demand from those waiting for Apple's first foldable phone shifted to Galaxy after the product was revealed. The fact that the iPhone Duo's domestic release is expected in late October to early November, requiring a wait of over a month, also appears to have had an impact.
The biggest difference is price. The iPhone Duo's domestic base price for the 256GB model is 3.29 million won. This is more than 1 million won higher than the Galaxy Z Fold8 256GB (2.2781 million won). Compared to the U.S., where the price difference between the two products' 256GB models is about $100 (approximately 130,000 won), the domestic price gap is particularly large. In particular, the iPhone Duo's 2TB model is priced at 5.09 million won, the highest level among smartphones ever. This is even higher than the base price of the Galaxy Z TriFold 1TB model (21,999 yuan, approximately 4.52 million won), which was released exclusively in China.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 also leads in weight and thickness. The iPhone Duo weighs 254g, making it 53g heavier than the Z Fold8. When folded, its thickness is 11.3mm, which is 0.7mm thicker. Given the nature of foldable phones that are folded for portability, weight and thickness are factors directly linked to actual usability.
There are also differences in large-screen usability. The iPhone Duo supports two-way multitasking, but the Z Fold8 can display up to three apps simultaneously. It is also possible to adjust window sizes or switch them to pop-up windows. Regarding AI features, the Z Fold8 offers "My FanCam," "Photo Assist," and "Now Nudge." In contrast, Siri AI's Korean language support for the iPhone Duo is expected in October.
In particular, this time, it also introduced "Smart Switch" to help users easily transfer data when moving from iPhone to the Galaxy ecosystem, and "Quick Share," which supports AirDrop compatibility.
With Apple's entry into the foldable market, competition is expected to become even more intense. Samsung Electronics has been defending the market by leveraging product experience accumulated since releasing its first foldable phone in 2019. The Galaxy Z series continues its successful trend, recording 1.44 million units in domestic pre-orders and seeing sales increase further after the iPhone Duo's unveiling.
Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics has been running "Welcome to Foldable" advertisements at Seoul Gwanghwamun and COEX since the iPhone Duo's release, emphasizing its status as the original brand that has released eight generations of foldable phones over seven years since 2019.
in TECH
