In Samsung’s home turf, Apple’s allure captures foldable enthusiasts, yet its cohesive ecosystem and software ultimately clinch the purchase.
A Korea Herald correspondent presents Apple’s latest iPhone Duo (left) alongside an iPhone 17 Pro Max at Apple Myeongdong in central Seoul last Friday.
“I placed an order for Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 with my spouse, but returned mine unopened upon learning of Apple’s impending foldable release.”
Kim, a mid-40s employee at a gaming firm in Seoul, was among the eager consumers collecting Apple’s iPhone Duo priced at 3.29 million won ($2,300) at Apple Myeongdong on Friday, while his wife retained her Samsung device.
“I pondered switching to an Android device due to the Fold8,” he recounted. However, relinquishing his Apple Watch, AirPods, and the intuitive iPhone interface presented too significant an impediment.
Patrons queue outside Apple Myeongdong in Seoul on Friday morning to retrieve the iPhone Duo, Apple’s inaugural foldable smartphone.
The Duo became available for purchase on Friday in South Korea and more than 70 additional countries and regions, marking seven years since Samsung unveiled its first foldable smartphone.
Priced over 1 million won higher than Samsung’s contemporary Fold8, Apple’s foray comes at a premium.
Approximately 30 to 40 patrons queued outside the Myeongdong location before its 8 a.m. opening—a modest turnout considering Apple’s most significant redesign since the iPhone X debuted in 2017.
Nonetheless, this figure does not necessarily reflect burgeoning demand: Apple restricted walk-in purchases for the Duo in Korea, and preordered collections were staggered throughout the day.
For numerous Duo purchasers interviewed by The Korea Herald, the alternative to Apple’s hefty new foldable was not invariably Samsung’s more affordable variant, but rather another iPhone altogether.
What precisely renders the Duo a worthwhile acquisition?
“I’ve anticipated this for years,” declared Park Seong-geon, a creative director in advertising and music videos, who camped overnight outside Apple Myeongdong to become the initial Duo buyer.
An Apple aficionado since his art school days, Park remarked that Samsung’s foldables had “never crossed my mind.”
He aspires to utilize the Duo to supplant the iPad he employs as a camera monitor during shoots, with the expectation of Apple Pencil compatibility via a forthcoming software update later this year.
“If it can effectively replace both my iPhone and iPad, the price becomes justifiable,” he noted. Customers interact with Apple’s iPhone Duo at Apple Myeongdong in Seoul on its inaugural sales day in South Korea.
“Every time I handled a Fold, I yearned for it to be an iPhone instead. I favor the seamless integration of Apple’s devices,” expressed Do Young-kyung, 31, an employee in the restaurant sector, who opted for the Duo after previously owning multiple Samsung foldables.
“I’d estimate that approximately 70 percent of the appeal is derived from it being an Apple product,” he articulated.
Another buyer in his 40s, who clung to his iPhone 11 Pro for seven years, perceived the Duo as the cue to “finally upgrade.”
He is hopeful that the foldable will amalgamate the roles of his phone, iPad, and e-reader into one cohesive device.
Apple Music displays lyrics on the upper segment of the iPhone Duo’s folding screen, with playback controls positioned below during an interactive demonstration at Apple Myeongdong last Friday.
A brief hands-on demonstration at the Myeongdong outlet provided tangible insights into the device’s allure, notably its adaptability.
When folded halfway, the Duo’s Music app reorganized, positioning lyrics above playback controls. When upright and locked, the device transformed into a useful StandBy display featuring customizable widgets.
The 7.6-inch inner display appeared impressively cohesive, though its matte finish rendered videos somewhat lackluster.
The 5.4-inch outer screen proved to be more functional than anticipated, albeit with limited space for the keyboard, affecting accessibility.
“While individual features might seem incremental, altogether they enhance the user experience and lend credibility to the Duo’s premium status,” remarked Linda Sui, founder of Smart Analytics Global and former head of mobile device markets at TechInsights.
Apple may not necessitate mass-market appeal after all
Chae, a designer in her 30s with over a decade of iPhone usage, visited Apple Myeongdong to explore the Duo.
She had never contemplated owning a Samsung foldable but was taken aback by how the Duo’s software adjusted to various folding orientations, enabling her to take photos of her young child or view videos sans a separate stand. The anticipated addition of Apple Pencil support also piqued her interest.
However, the price tag of 3.29 million won, particularly with AppleCare+, caused her to hesitate.
“I cannot comprehend preordering such an expensive item without physically experiencing it first,” she remarked.
Even among those who had preordered, skepticism lingered.
“Truthfully, had this not been an iPhone, I would have never considered purchasing something of this nature,” confessed a customer who owns Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold and wished to remain anonymous.
Disenchanted by the Duo’s restricted multitasking capabilities revealed in early YouTube reviews, he almost rescinded his preorder on Thursday but ultimately proceeded with the purchase on Friday. Consumers scrutinize the iPhone Duo at Apple Myeongdong in Seoul last Friday.
Nonetheless, analysts assert that Apple might not require widespread market appeal. Its expansive iPhone user base could foster a niche for ultra-premium foldables.
Sui forecasts global shipments of the Duo to reach 6 million this year, envisioning foldables constituting over 20 percent of Apple’s iPhone shipments by 2030 or 2031.
In South Korea, IDC anticipates Apple will secure merely 5 percent of foldable smartphone shipments by 2027.
Nabila Popal, senior director of worldwide device research at IDC, characterized the iPhone Duo as “the ultimate flex in the tech sphere,” positioning it as a coveted status symbol.
However, limited initial stock and preorder deliveries extending into January complicate early demand assessments.
“The pivotal factor in determining its success will be whether it can maintain this level of interest a year from now, when the novelty factor has dissipated,” Popal elaborated.
Even Do, who parted with his iPad mini to finance the Duo, admitted he would not advise others to buy it.
“The hardware alone fails to justify the additional 1 million won over Samsung’s Fold8,” he said. “For me, the integration within Apple’s ecosystem transforms the experience.”
Source link: Theinvestor.co.kr.
