What you need to know
- Reports from overseas claim that Samsung may switch up its production tactics for its next foldable wave by pushing the Fold 8 into the limelight.
- Rumors state Samsung could produce ~3.8 million Galaxy Z Fold 8 units and lower its Flip 8 production to ~2.5 or ~3 million units.
- The Galaxy Z Fold 7 was extremely popular, more popular than Samsung imagined it would've been, which caused it to scramble to ramp up production to meet demand.
Some rumors are swirling about regarding Samsung's alleged perception of its next Galaxy Z Fold model this year.
A report from ETNews (Korean) claims that Samsung might make an internal shift with its foldable models (via 9to5Google). Supposedly, "insiders" close to the matter have informed the publication that Samsung could focus its production more on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 than on the Flip 8. The report alleges that Samsung could look to produce ~3.8 million Galaxy Z Fold 8 units this year. The Flip 8 may only see ~2.5 to ~3 million units produced.
While the Flip series has typically been the most popular, the Fold series, specifically, the Fold 7, captured consumers.
Rumors claim that the Fold 8 will try to push the envelope on thinness and weight. Moreover, the display crease is an object on anyone's mind when purchasing a foldable, which is also a place Samsung will focus on next. Some closing statements see the report adding that this would be the "first time" Samsung has ever made a production change with its Fold and Flip models.
The Fold 7 took off, Samsung's looking for more
Shortly after Samsung's summer Unpacked, the company had a glaring truth to accept: it needed to make more—and it needed to hurry. Reports from September showed that Samsung was scrambling to produce more Galaxy Z Fold 7's after a sheer influx of pre-orders and market purchases stunned its original outlook. Samsung was reportedly looking to generate 200,000 more units in September; however, due to its popularity, it pumped that number up by 60,000.
This only followed reports from July, which showed how the pre-order numbers shaped up. The Fold 7 pulled roughly 60% of the popularity pie, a number that the Flip series usually held. Not only was the Fold 7 extremely popular in South Korea, but consumers in the U.S. couldn't get enough of it either.
Android Central's Take
Foldable phones are an interesting alternative form-factor, I'll say. I also don't want to say that I've been sleeping on them, because I've had my eyes on them for a while, but the Fold 7 really tempted me to make a purchase. Samsung had upgraded the Fold 7, which received several improvements over its previous iteration. It's lighter, thinner, and its display has been upgraded generously over the Fold 6, too. Here's to hoping that Samsung, considering it wants to switch up production tactics, doesn't sit back on its laurels. Hopefully, it surges.
