Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold 7. [The Korea Herald]
Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold 7. [The Korea Herald]

"Oppa, do you use 'Galgeoji' (a derogatory term for Galaxy)?" (a comment by a person in their 20s on Sung Si-kyung's YouTube channel)

Samsung's Galaxy lineup, once dismissed as a phone for middle-aged ajeossi, has undergone a striking turnaround. More than eight in 10 smartphone users in South Korea now use a Galaxy device, with the preference cutting across gender lines.

According to a smartphone usage survey released Tuesday by Gallup Korea, 81 percent of respondents said they currently use a Samsung Electronics Galaxy device, while 19 percent use an Apple iPhone. The survey covered 1,675 men and women aged 13 and older across the country — 836 men and 840 women.

Breaking down the results by gender, 84 percent of male respondents use a Galaxy and 16 percent use an iPhone. Among women, Galaxy accounted for 78 percent and iPhone for 22 percent.

By age group, Galaxy usage stood at 62 percent among those in their 30s, 84 percent among those in their 40s, 97 percent among those in their 50s, and 100 percent among those 60 and older. Galaxy's share rose with each older age bracket. The only group where iPhone usage outpaced Galaxy was adults in their 20s (ages 19–29), where iPhone led 53 percent to 47 percent.

Even within that iPhone-leaning 20s cohort, women showed the strongest preference for Apple, with 67 percent using an iPhone. In every other gender and age group, Galaxy users outnumbered iPhone users.

The Galaxy S26 series. [Samsung Electronics]
The Galaxy S26 series. [Samsung Electronics]

Galaxy's dominance extended to future purchase intentions as well. When asked which brand they plan to buy next, 78 percent of respondents chose Galaxy and just 21 percent said iPhone. Among men, the split was Galaxy 80 percent and iPhone 19 percent; among women, Galaxy 76 percent and iPhone 23 percent.

Galaxy led in purchase intent across all age groups except teenagers (ages 13–18) and those in their 20s (ages 19–29).

"As the smartphone market matures, the convenience and AI features Galaxy offers have created a lock-in effect that keeps existing customers from switching," an industry official said.

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics plans to hold its "Galaxy Unpacked 2026" event in London on July 22, where it will unveil a new foldable phone called the Wide Fold — a passport-ratio device joining the existing Fold and Flip lineup.

The Wide Fold is wider and shorter than the standard Fold, giving it a larger overall screen area and an aspect ratio that shifts from 10:9 to 4:3. The device is expected to carry the Snapdragon 8.5 Gen chip — the same application processor found in the Galaxy S26.


ko@heraldcorp.com