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Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 has reportedly seen a fresh increase in sales activity in South Korea following Apple’s launch of the iPhone Duo. The development comes at an important moment for the foldable phone market, as Apple has now entered a category where Samsung has spent years building its products and customer base.
Reports published after Apple’s announcement point to a rise in Galaxy Z Fold8 sales in Korea. One report puts the increase at about 10% after the iPhone Duo launch, although the figure should be viewed as an early sales measurement rather than proof of a long-term trend.
Apple’s iPhone Duo Changes the Foldable Phone Market
Apple officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Duo, a $1,999 device with a large 7.6-inch inner display. The launch puts Apple directly against Samsung’s latest foldable phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold8.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $1,899 in the United States, putting it about $100 below Apple’s new foldable. The two phones use a similar book-style design, opening to provide a larger screen while remaining a phone when closed.
The arrival of the iPhone Duo gives consumers another choice in the premium foldable market. It also gives Samsung a reason to remind buyers about the features and experience it has developed through several generations of foldable phones.
Galaxy Z Fold8 Sales Were Already Strong in Korea
The Galaxy Z Fold8 did not wait for Apple’s entry to attract strong interest in South Korea. Samsung’s latest foldable series recorded 1.44 million pre-orders in the country between July 28 and August 3, according to reporting on Samsung’s early sales performance. That was a 38.5% increase compared with the previous year’s foldable launch period.
The early response is important because South Korea is Samsung’s home market and one of the places where the company has a particularly strong presence.
After Apple introduced the iPhone Duo, reports indicated that Galaxy Z Fold8 sales in Korea increased again. SamMobile reported a 10% sales jump following Apple’s announcement, while also reporting that the latest Fold model was attracting more people switching from iPhones than the previous generation.
These numbers describe specific periods and sales measurements. They should not be interpreted as evidence that all iPhone users are moving to Samsung or that the trend will continue over the long term.
Why Apple’s Announcement Could Help Samsung
The iPhone Duo launch may have increased attention around foldable phones in general. Many consumers who had never seriously considered a foldable now have a reason to compare Apple’s approach with Samsung’s established products.
That could benefit Samsung because the Galaxy Z Fold8 was already available when Apple entered the market.
The comparison is also straightforward for shoppers looking at price and design.
| Feature | Galaxy Z Fold8 | iPhone Duo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting U.S. price | $1,899 | $1,999 |
| Main inner display | 7.6 inches | 7.6 inches |
| Design | Book-style foldable | Book-style foldable |
| Foldable experience | Several generations of Samsung development | Apple’s first foldable iPhone |
| AI platform | Gemini integration | Apple Intelligence |
| Physical SIM | Supported | eSIM-only |
| Launch position | Established Samsung foldable line | Apple’s first foldable |
The two phones are not identical, and the differences extend well beyond the specifications listed above. But the similar form factor makes the Galaxy Z Fold8 an obvious comparison for people considering Apple’s new device.
Samsung Has Years of Foldable Experience
Samsung introduced its first Galaxy Fold in 2019 and has continued developing the design through multiple generations. Apple has taken a different approach by entering the foldable market much later, after the technology had already matured through products from Samsung and other manufacturers.
That history is now part of Samsung’s message to consumers.
The company has launched advertising and other promotional efforts around Apple’s arrival in the foldable market. Samsung has highlighted the company’s experience with foldable phones while drawing attention to differences between the two products.
Samsung’s position is also helped by its manufacturing experience. Reuters reported that Samsung remains a major player in the foldable market and that Apple is itself using Samsung Display as part of its supply chain for foldable screens.
Younger iPhone Users Are Also Part of the Story
The reported increase in Galaxy Z Fold8 sales is particularly interesting because Samsung says the latest model is attracting people who previously used iPhones.
SamMobile reported that the Galaxy Z Fold8 is seeing about twice as many iPhone switchers as the Galaxy Z Fold7 did, with younger buyers contributing to the change.
That does not mean the Galaxy Z Fold8 is replacing the iPhone across the market. Apple’s ecosystem remains a major part of the buying decision for many people.
However, the data suggests that the arrival of Apple’s foldable may have encouraged some consumers to look more closely at Samsung’s existing foldable options.
The Price Difference Could Matter
Price is another important part of the competition.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $1,899 in the United States, while Apple’s iPhone Duo starts at $1,999. That creates a $100 difference at the entry level.
For a phone that already costs close to $2,000, the difference may not be enough by itself to determine a purchase. However, buyers comparing two similarly designed foldable phones may consider price alongside cameras, software, battery life, displays, durability and ecosystem features.
Samsung also has the advantage of offering a product that consumers can already buy and evaluate, while Apple’s foldable represents the company’s first step into the category.
Apple’s Entry Could Grow Interest in Foldables
The competition between Samsung and Apple may ultimately bring more attention to foldable phones as a whole.
Foldables remain a smaller part of the overall smartphone market, but Apple’s entry gives the category a much larger presence among mainstream smartphone buyers. Reuters reported that analysts expect Apple’s arrival to have a significant effect on the foldable market, with Counterpoint forecasting a sizable share for Apple as the category grows.
For Samsung, that creates both an opportunity and a challenge. More consumers may become interested in foldable phones, but Samsung now has to compete directly with Apple’s hardware, software and brand loyalty.
The Korean Sales Increase Is Still Early
The reported increase in Galaxy Z Fold8 sales after the iPhone Duo announcement is notable, but it is too early to say what it means for the wider market.
The initial numbers cover specific sales periods in South Korea rather than a complete picture of global demand. Future sales data will be needed to determine whether the increase continues after Apple’s foldable reaches more customers.
For now, the immediate effect is clear: Apple’s entry has made the foldable market more competitive and has given Samsung another reason to promote the Galaxy Z Fold8.
The Galaxy Z Fold8 already had strong momentum in Samsung’s home market before Apple’s announcement. The reported sales increase afterward shows how closely the two companies are now competing in the premium foldable space. With Apple entering a market Samsung has helped build since 2019, the next stage of the foldable phone battle is likely to be closely watched.