Adam Kos In September 2019, Samsung introduced its first flexible smartphone. It was named Fold and now we have its third generation in the form of the Galaxy Z Fold3 device. However, Samsung did not stop there, and offered its customers a second variant of a flexible device of the "clamshell" type. Practically immediately after the presentation of the first model, however, there is lively speculation as to when Apple will come up with its solution.
If you can think of the Z Fold3 as a hybrid between a smartphone and a tablet, the Z Flip is "just" a smartphone. Its added value is primarily in size, because even in a very compact device you get a 6,7-inch display, i.e. the size that even the largest of the iPhones – the iPhone 13 Pro Max – has. The Motorola Razr 5G then offers a 6,2" display. And there is also the Huawei P50 Pocket (6,9" display) or the Oppo Find N. Google is also planning its "foldable" device. But are these devices so successful that it is already worthwhile for Apple to come to the market with its solution? Since Samsung was the first major company to launch foldable smartphones on a large scale, it still faces relatively little competition.
It could be interest you
Samsung Magazine Contradictory sales
A total of 1,35 billion devices were shipped to the global smartphone market last year, representing a year-on-year growth of 7%. The first place was once again defended by Samsung, which shipped 274,5 million smartphones and whose market share reached (as in the previous year) 20%. This was reported by an analytical company Canalys. Apple finished in second place with 230 million smartphones delivered and a market share of 17% (11% year-on-year growth), while Xiaomi came in third with 191,2 million smartphones shipped and a 14% market share (year-on-year growth 28%).
According to Canalys analysts, the key growth drivers were budget segments in the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, South America and the Middle East. Demand for high-end devices from Samsung and Apple was also "strong", with the former meeting its target to sell 8 million "jigsaw puzzle" and the latter recorded the strongest fourth quarter of all brands with 82,7 million deliveries. Canalys predicts that the solid growth of the smartphone market will continue this year as well.
But it's questionable whether 8 million flexible phones sold out of Samsung's total estimated 275 million phones sold is a success. With regard to the flagship Galaxy S21, you could say yes, as it sold 20 million units. At the same time, due to the strong demand for this year's novelty in the form of the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung increased its production to 12 million units for each model. In total, Samsung plans to sell 36 million Galaxy S22 phones this year alone. After all, his plans are more pompous than they were in 2021, because this year he wants to deliver 334 million units of smartphones to the market. But with respect to flexible devices, it should also be mentioned that only a million of them were sold in the domestic South Korean market.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3
Even so, it is clear that 28 million units of Samsung's top models were sold last year, which is a small total, whatever the company's plans may be, and whether it is satisfied with the number of sales of the Galaxy S21 series or those of the Galaxy Z Fold models and Z Flip does. Low-end phones in the form of the Galaxy A, Galaxy M and Galaxy F series simply made up the majority of sales. Of course, Apple only sells its iPhones, which except for the SE model can all be considered premium.
It could be interest you
So is 2022 the year in which we should look forward to Apple's "jigsaw puzzle"?
If Apple were to be guided only by the number of sales of flexible phones at Samsung, it probably wouldn't make much sense. He is certainly also afraid of the effect such a device would have on the "cannibalization" of his iPhones and especially iPads. Indeed, many users would certainly be satisfied with a folding device similar to Samsung's Fold, rather than owning it and an iPad.
One of the flexible iPhone concepts
On the other hand, there is a bandwagon that is not slowing down much yet. Other companies are gradually jumping into it, and Apple should respond. In addition, with its popularity, it is quite possible that its presentation could be a real hit, because it would finally give bored iPhone owners something different.
It could be interest you
Android Magazine 