Samsung Poised for Unforeseen Advantages Amid Apple’s Foldable iPhone Launch
Analysts speculate that Samsung could receive an unexpected advantage from the impending release of Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone.
The estimates suggest that the tech behemoth’s most expensive smartphone to date could create an opportunity for Samsung to elevate the pricing of its own Galaxy lineup.
Set to debut in September, Apple’s foldable iPhone is projected to carry a hefty price tag of approximately US$2,500 (A$3,600), as reported by The Korea Herald.
This significant valuation might render Samsung’s forthcoming Galaxy Z Fold 8 series relatively more affordable, even in the event of an internal price hike by Samsung.
Nabila Popal, a senior research director at IDC, indicated in her remarks to The Korea Herald that Samsung could augment its flagship foldable prices by around US$100 this year, while still maintaining a considerable price disparity from Apple’s first foray into foldables.
The unveiling of Samsung’s next iteration of the Galaxy Z Fold is anticipated to take place in London during late July, coinciding with a time of escalating memory and processor costs across the consumer electronics landscape.
This predicament has already affected Apple, which has raised prices for several models, including the Mac, iPad, HomePod, and Apple TV, after acknowledging that soaring component costs were becoming a dependency.
Moreover, Samsung has also escalated prices on various Galaxy devices this year. This includes elevated versions of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy S25 FE, Galaxy S25 Edge, and Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra, according to SamMobile.
Such price pressures are predominantly driven by a surging demand for memory chips utilized in AI data centers, which has tightened the supply of traditional DRAM and LPDDR memory critical for smartphones, tablets, PCs, and gaming consoles.
While Samsung has the capability to manufacture its own memory chips, its mobile division is not insulated from market fluctuations.
Reports indicate that despite robust sales of the Galaxy S26, mobile operating profits for Samsung plummeted by 35% in the first quarter, as the rise in component costs outpaced price adjustments on devices.
Market analysts assert that Apple’s entry into the foldable sector could engender a “price umbrella” for the entire category.
A foldable iPhone priced at approximately A$3,600 could potentially make a Galaxy Fold—priced between A$2,600 and A$2,900—appear more palatable to consumers.
Nevertheless, Apple’s timing intensifies the competitive pressures on Samsung’s lead in the foldable space.
Motorola has made significant inroads in the US market, while Huawei continues to dominate China, the world’s largest foldable market.
Currently, foldable phones remain a niche segment, capturing less than 2.5% of the global smartphone market, as noted by IDC.
For Samsung, Apple’s belated entry might provide a rationale for increased pricing. However, the more arduous task lies in persuading consumers to recognize foldables as a worthy investment, justifying any uptick in cost.
Source link: Channelnews.com.au.
