Apple's arrival in the world of foldables was supposed to hit Samsung's sales, but the first data in South Korea says just the opposite. According to the figures collected after the presentation of the iPhone Duosales of Galaxy Z Fold 8 They rose 10% week over week in the days following Apple's announcement, rather than plummeting as many expected.
It makes sense if you look at the context: the iPhone Duo is, for the first time, the direct rival that Samsung had been waiting for for years in this segmentand yet the announcement seems to have pushed some undecided buyers to look (again) at the South Korean proposal instead of moving away from it.
The price, the great advantage of Samsung
The most obvious explanation is in the wallet. In South Korea, the Z Fold 8 starts at about 2.28 million won (about $1,550)while the iPhone Duo starts at 3.29 million won (about $2,390). The difference is around $840, it's not inconsiderable that you want to buy a high-end foldable and are not married to a brand.
Added to that is that the Fold 8 is already available in the South Korean market, while the iPhone Duo will not arrive there. until October 16and that Samsung continues to reinforce its discourse with a thinner and lighter body than Apple's.
Of course, the sales have risen 10% It does not demonstrate that there has been a real transfer of customers from iOS to Android; It is data from a single week in a single country, and it is advisable not to draw global conclusions yet. What does seem clear is that Apple's entry is putting the focus on the entire foldable category, and that, paradoxically, could benefit both manufacturers instead of just one.
Do you think the iPhone Duo will make a comeback when it reaches more markets, or will Samsung's price margin be too big to overcome?
