Samsung’s new foldables: High-stakes game changers in smartphones

Samsung Electronics Co. on Wednesday unveiled its fourth-generation foldable phones – new additions to its high-end line of Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones as the world’s top smartphone maker by volume faces growing competition from Apple Inc. and Chinese companies.

During its Galaxy Unpacked 2022 event, the South Korean tech giant showcased two new folding phones, the Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4; three new smartwatches, the Galaxy Watch5, Watch5 Pro and Watch5 Golf Edition; and a set of new wireless earbuds, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

At its "Unfold Your World" online event, Samsung said it is launching the new models equipped with enhanced features, including upgraded cameras and longer-lasting batteries, to rival Apple’s high-end line of iPhones.

“Our smartphone innovations will continue. We want more of our customers to experience and enjoy foldable phones,” said TM Roh, president and head of Samsung’s mobile experience, or MX, division.

The latest models are Samsung’s fourth-generation foldables in the Galaxy Z series, first unveiled in 2019 when no other major smartphone makers were commercializing such phones.

UPGRADED FEATURES

Samsung said its latest foldable smartphones are packed with several upgraded features.

The Galaxy Z Flip4 uses a camera with a sensor that enables images 65% brighter than its predecessor, the Galaxy Z Flip3. It has a battery capacity of 3,700 mAh, a 12% improvement from the previous model's battery. When using a 25W or higher charger, it can be charged up to 50% in just half an hour, according to Samsung.

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Fold4 has a 54-megapixel wide-angle lens and up to 30 times Space Zoom. The Fold4 is lighter. The cover screen is wider and the weight is reduced by 8 grams compared to its predecessor, making it the lightest Galaxy Z Fold model ever, at 263 grams.

Both foldable phones are powered by Qualcomm Technologies Inc.'s latest application processor (AP) Snapdragon 8 Plus, the speed and power efficiency of which are improved by 10% and 30%, respectively, compared to the first generation of Snapdragon 8 installed in the Galaxy S22 series released in February.

Samsung said it is offering the Galaxy Z Flip4 with a 256 GB capacity at 1.35 million won ($1,030) and the 512 GB phone at 1.47 million won – both up 7.9% from the  previous models' price tags.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 with a 256 GB capacity will retail for 2 million won, while the 512 GB will be priced at 2.12 million won.

Targeting Generation Z users, Samsung is also unveiling the “Bespoke Edition” of the Galaxy Z Flip4.

The Galaxy Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 will be available for pre-order beginning Aug. 16 with an official launch scheduled for Aug. 26 starting with select markets, including in the US, Europe and Korea.

DUAL SIM SMARTPHONE

Samsun’s latest foldable phones will support an embedded subscriber identity module (eSIM), which alongside a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), enables two separate phone numbers in one device for users in Korea.

Samsung already has eSIM-equipped smartphones, but they are only available in overseas markets.

Apple has implemented eSIM on its iPhone XS for the global market since 2018, but not on products for Korea.

According to market research firm Omdia, the global foldable phone market is forecast to grow to over 30 million units by 2024.

GAME CHANGER

Analysts said Samsung intends the Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 to be game changers in the smartphone segment, which is reeling from the global economic slowdown.

Data from industry tracker Counterpoint Research showed that global smartphone shipments totaled 294.5 million units in the second quarter, down 9% from a year earlier.

Samsung is known to have set its foldable phone shipment target for this year at over 15 million units, more than double its 2021 sales.

"Global smartphone shipments will continue to decline into the second half of the year. Sales of high value-added products such as foldable phones will influence each company's performance,” said an industry official.

Write to Ji-Eun Jeong and Sungsu Bae at jeong@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.