Opening the Second Act of Galaxy with the 'Galaxy Z Fold2'

Galaxy Z Fold2 Unveiled on Day 1 'Unpack Part 2'
'Big Changer' Opening Ultra-Premium Category
Will It Elevate to Post-Flagship Following S Note?
Urgent to Recover First Half Slump... Foldables Expansion Is Opportunity

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Samsung Electronics is opening the second chapter of the Galaxy series with its third foldable smartphone, the 'Galaxy Z Fold2.' The company aims to pioneer the ultra-premium market beyond flagship models, revitalizing the stagnant smartphone market and driving replacement demand.

Samsung Electronics will hold the 'Galaxy Z Fold2 Unpack Part 2' event online starting at 11 PM Korean time on the 1st. Similar to the previous unpack event, a video filmed in Korea will be broadcast live worldwide. Wireless Division employees will appear as speakers to introduce the product specifications and features.

Innovation with a Larger Screen

The Galaxy Z Fold2 will be available for pre-order in Korea from the 11th and will be released on the 18th. To lower the entry barrier for foldable phones, the price is expected to be similar to the previous model, around 2.3 million KRW. Both the main and cover screens have been enlarged compared to the predecessor, and the screen durability has been enhanced using UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) material. The hinge can also be customized with the desired color.

The Galaxy Z Fold2 is a 'big changer' that will lead the popularization of foldable phones while establishing the ultra-premium category. Samsung Electronics has been advancing with foldable phones as the next goal in the smartphone market, which was thought to have completed hardware innovation. The first foldable phone, the 'Galaxy Fold,' overcame durability controversies by delaying its launch schedule, and the Galaxy Z Flip, released last February, demonstrated the potential for popularization. In February, No Tae-moon, head of the Wireless Division, explained, "Foldables are products that open a new category and are currently in their infancy," adding, "We are continuously researching and developing various types beyond the Fold and Z Flip."

The emergence of the new 'Z' lineup to refer to foldables from this year reflects Samsung Electronics' expectation that these products are differentiated from existing flagships. Unlike the 'S' series used in Galaxy smartphones, the intention is to pioneer a different market and glimpse the potential of the 'post-smartphone' era.

Expectations to Make Up for First Half Slump

The Galaxy Z Fold2 is expected to see increased sales as more people work and enjoy leisure at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, driving demand for large-screen devices. Until now, only the Galaxy S and Note series have been manufactured and sold in units of 10 million.

Park Kang-ho, a researcher at Daishin Securities, said, "The Galaxy Z Fold2 will lead the ultra-premium brand and improve sales by targeting early adopters," adding, "It is highly likely that the Galaxy Z Fold2 will replace the Galaxy Note as the main model in the second half of 2021."

Opportunity in Expanding Foldable Phone Market

Samsung Electronics is also aiming for a sales rebound in the third quarter with the Galaxy Note20 and Z Fold2. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic dampening consumer sentiment, Samsung's smartphone shipments in the first half of the year amounted to only 121 million units. At this pace, it is unlikely to surpass 300 million units annually or even come close to last year's shipment volume of 291 million units, prompting the company to accelerate efforts to make up for the first half's slump.

The foldable phone market is expanding, led by the Galaxy Z series. Market research firm Counterpoint Research forecasts the foldable phone market to grow from 700,000 units last year to 5.5 million units this year and 10.8 million units next year. While the global sales volume of the Galaxy Fold series was around 400,000 units, the Galaxy Z Fold2 is expected to exceed 500,000 units.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.