Samsung Electronics Faces Complex Calculations as Apple Joins the Foldable Phone Market

[Financial News] With the launch of the world's first 'foldable iPhone' next year, the calculations for Samsung Electronics, the industry leader, are becoming complex. While the expansion of the foldable phone ecosystem due to the participation of Chinese companies and Apple is positive, there is also the challenge of fending off the fierce pursuit of latecomers. Samsung Electronics plans to accelerate the expansion of the foldable phone territory by launching innovative new products faster than competitors, such as introducing a 'tri-fold phone' that folds twice within the year.
According to the industry on the 25th, Apple is expected to launch a foldable iPhone, currently being developed under the codename 'V68', next year. 
Apple's first foldable iPhone is likely to adopt a book-type form similar to the Galaxy Z Fold, featuring a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.8-inch foldable panel. It is expected to have a total of four cameras: one on the front cover display, one on the internal panel, and two on the rear. The mobile application processor (AP), known as the 'brain of the smartphone', is expected to be the next-generation chip 'C2' to be installed in the iPhone 18 series. 
Chinese companies are also tightening the reins of pursuit. Honor is set to launch its new foldable phone 'Magic V5', which was first released in China in July, in the European market on the 28th of this month. The official specs of the Magic V5 are approximately 8.8mm thick, 4.1mm when unfolded, and weighs about 217g. Although the Galaxy Z Fold 7 was found to be thinner than the Magic V5 in actual measurements, China's foldable phone technology is still considered to be at a level that cannot be ignored. Above all, the affordable price is the biggest advantage of Chinese foldable phones. The Honor V5's price in China is 8,999 yuan (about 1.74 million won), which is about 600,000 won cheaper than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 256 gigabyte (GB) priced at 2.3793 million won. Google has also recently unveiled its new foldable phone 'Pixel 10 Pro Fold', indicating that global smartphone manufacturers are eyeing the foldable phone market as a new source of revenue.
Samsung Electronics welcomes the growing foldable phone market but is wary of the pursuit of latecomers. Samsung Electronics recorded a 31% market share in the US smartphone market in the second quarter (Canalys data), an 8% increase from the same period last year (23%), driven by strong sales of foldable phones like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, confirmed to be the thinnest foldable phone currently available with a thickness of 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, has reportedly gained popularity in the US as well. Samsung Electronics plans to release a tri-fold phone, with the left and right panels folding inward, within the year. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, global sales of book-type foldable smartphones are expected to reach about 4 million units annually by 2028, exceeding 2% of total smartphone sales. The European market is predicted to account for about 10% of premium smartphone sales priced over $800. In major markets such as the UK and Germany, it is expected to exceed 10%.

mkchang@fnnews.com Min-kwon Jang, Reporter