The CEO of Apple harshly criticized a rival's foldable smartphone, calling it "cheap-looking and crude." Although Samsung Electronics was not directly mentioned, interpretations suggest that the remarks were effectively aimed at Samsung Electronics.
According to Time magazine in the United States on the 19th, John Turners, Apple's CEO, recently stated in an interview that early foldable phones from other companies "felt somewhat cheap and crude."
CEO Turners made these remarks while pointing out issues such as the durability and usability of early foldable phones, as well as the crease that forms in the center of the screen. This indicates that Apple's decision to launch its foldable phone later than its competitors was based on an assessment of product quality.
Samsung Electronics fully pioneered the foldable phone market with the release of the Galaxy Fold in 2019. While durability issues were raised regarding the screen protective layer and hinge (joint) of the initial products, the company has improved its technology by unveiling new products every year since then. The Galaxy Z Fold8 released this year is considered a direct competitor to the iPhone Duo.
Apple paid particular attention to improving the crease that appears when the screen is folded and the surface material. According to Time, the company also considered using materials similar to those of its competitors but ultimately applied its own polymer-based surface technology. The hinge contains more than 100 ultra-precision components.
However, the limitations of the early foldable phones that Apple criticized are areas that Samsung Electronics has improved over the past seven years. While Apple delayed its market entry, Samsung Electronics developed its products based on the actual usage experiences of consumers.
Market interest in Apple's first foldable phone is also high. The iPhone Duo, which starts at a domestic retail price of 3.29 million won, saw its scheduled delivery date pushed back to late January next year after pre-orders began on the 16th. However, since initial supply is limited, evaluations of actual sales performance and product quality are expected to be determined after the official launch.
in TECH
