Samsung’s new foldable smartphones Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are not yet on the market, but pre-order data indicate that they are likely to sell. According to local media citing anonymous industry sources, as of Sunday, the two models are estimated to have received a total of 450,000 pre-orders. Pre-orders starting on August 17 will end on the 23rd.
The source said that the final total pre-order quantity may reach at least 600,000 units. If you include the sales of unlocked phones (that is, phones that are not locked to a specific mobile operator), this number may even reach 800,000. Samsung’s previously launched foldable mobile phone Galaxy Z Fold2 sold a total of 80,000 units in the pre-sale.
The popularity of Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 is even higher than that of Samsung’s other two popular series of the latest models, namely Galaxy S and Galaxy Note. Industry sources said that Samsung’s foldable phone bookings were twice and 1.5 times that of the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy Note 20 released last year.
Samsung’s new foldable phone is especially popular among young customers. According to statistics from a mobile operator, 49% of Galaxy Z Fold 3 bookings are customers in their 20s to 30s, and they also account for 57% of Galaxy Z Flip 3 bookings. This is much higher than the booking rate of customers in their 40s and 50s.
The strong pre-order data is conducive to Samsung’s strategy to promote foldable phones, to defend its position as the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, and to respond to challenges from competitors such as Xiaomi. While making the latest foldable devices lighter and more practical, and equipped with the latest features, Samsung has also significantly reduced prices.
Among them, the price of the high-end model Galaxy Z Fold 3 (256 GB) is 16.6% lower than the entry-level model of its predecessor Galaxy Z Fold2, which is about 1.9 million won (US$1,600). The price of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 is lower, less than 1.3 million won (US$1,100). An industry analyst predicts: As the local market’s demand for new smartphone models grows, Samsung’s foldable smartphone lineup will quickly replace the popularity of the Galaxy Note series.
