Expectations indicate that the Korean brand's range of foldables will increase. See more!
In July, Samsung unveiled its latest line of foldable smartphones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 5, a multitasking model that can be used as a tablet when the screen is open, and the Galaxy Z Flip 5, which folds vertically into a clamshell.
At this year's event in South Korea, the brand's head of mobile devices, Roh Tae-moon, spoke about the future of foldable devices and commented on the success of the Z line. In addition, the executive commented on expectations for other devices with foldable screens. Read on to find out more.
Z Line growing
Roh confirmed that last year, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Flip 4 have sold nearly 10 million units. In 2023, Samsung plans to sell another 50% of these phones. According to the executive, if the company reaches 100 million cumulative annual sales by 2025, the Foldable smartphones will become major players in the premium segment.
This represents a $15 million increase in annual revenue and should keep Samsung as the leader in the foldable market. And according to IDC, more than 20 million foldable smartphones are expected to be sold in 2023, with the Galaxy Z line accounting for three-quarters of them (75% of the market).
Roh predicted that by 2025, the Z foldable line will surpass the Galaxy S series in sales. Therefore, the company is prioritizing actions to popularize the format, hoping to build a strong user base in its segment. And this is indeed possible if growth rates remain at the same pace.
Those who followed the latest Samsung UNPACKED may have noticed a very clear trend. The focus is on the Galaxy Z Flip5. The company’s “cheapest foldable” has received the most obvious upgrades, such as a larger external display and a strong design appeal designed to satisfy those looking for a style icon in a smartphone. Even so, this model is not that cheap. The current price is R$ 7,199.
However, it's a gateway for those looking to check out Samsung's foldable smartphone for the first time. This year, it has a larger external display, reduced bezels, improved edges, and a new hinge that closes completely (without any gap) when folded.
Foldable notebooks and tablets
Samsung has demonstrated prototypes of foldable displays in various formats at CES 2023. Things are only going to get more interesting in the future. In an interview in South Korea, Roh said that Samsung has already developed a new foldable device to capitalize on this type of technological trend and practicality. The executive said that Samsung is already developing new devices, such as foldable laptops and tablets, and the announcement will happen when they are ready for launch.
This information represents an evolution of the topic. Considering that at CES 2023 held in January of this year, Samsung dedicated an entire room to demonstrate its next foldable screen format. However, the launch date for this type of product has not yet been defined.
Either way, foldable displays on devices like tablets and laptops will make using large screens safer and more convenient. In particular, other companies are also experimenting with their own form factors. Lenovo already has a foldable tablet in 2020, the Thinkpad X1 Fold, and ASUS has developed its first foldable laptop, the Zenbook 17 Fold, for 2022. Samsung's move is likely to intensify the competition to develop foldable laptops and tablets.
