London: Ahead of the launch of a rival device from Apple Inc., the head of Samsung Electronics Co.’s mobile business has expressed confidence in the South Korean tech company’s foldable technology.
“The technological know-how and customer insights we have gained over seven years cannot be matched overnight,” Roh Tae-moon, Samsung Electronics’ co-CEO and head of the mobile business, told reporters.
According to a Yonhap news agency report, Samsung unveiled three Galaxy Z foldable smartphones powered by Alphabet Inc.’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI). This marks the company’s first major lineup expansion since launching its initial Galaxy Z model in 2019.
These remarks come at a time when Apple is expected to introduce a similar book-style design for its first foldable iPhone in September, setting the stage for fierce competition in the foldable smartphone sector.
“Both foldable technology and the market have matured,” Roh said. “The entry of more companies into the market signifies that foldables have already become a mainstream product, and there is potential for further market growth.”
Roh also noted that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones have played a pivotal role in pioneering the foldable market and delivering this experience to consumers.
When asked about Samsung’s decision to keep prices for its new foldable smartphones in South Korea lower than in overseas markets—despite rising costs driven by increased memory prices—Roh emphasized the importance of the domestic market.
“Fully recognizing the importance of the Korean market, we have set prices that are more affordable than in any other market worldwide,” he said.
The 256-gigabyte model of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is priced at 2.28 million won (US$1,541), which is 101,200 won lower than the previous model. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is priced at 2.58 million won—198,000 won higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 7—while the Galaxy Z Flip 8 is priced at 1.68 million won, which is 198,000 won more than its predecessor. The new smartphones will be launched sequentially in South Korea and other markets worldwide starting August 7. In South Korea, pre-orders will run from next Tuesday until August 3.
