3.29 million won vs. 2.28 million won — Apple priced over 1 million won higher than Samsung
iPhone Duo also heavier and thicker than its rival
Sales of Samsung Electronics' Galaxy Z Fold 8 have increased even after Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, industry sources said.
Analysts attributed the trend to the iPhone Duo's higher price and greater weight compared with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, factors they said are weighing on consumers' purchase decisions.
Domestic sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 rose about 10 percent over the past week compared with the previous week, according to the telecommunications industry Thursday. The gain came despite Apple opening pre-orders for its iPhone 18 series on Saturday and announcing that pre-orders for the iPhone Duo — its first foldable — would begin Oct. 16.
Industry observers said consumer demand appeared to shift toward Samsung's product after Apple revealed its new lineup, rather than away from it.
Price is the primary factor. The iPhone Duo's domestic launch price starts at 3.29 million won ($2,400) for the 256-gigabyte model — more than 1 million won above the Galaxy Z Fold 8's 2.28 million won for the same storage tier. The top-spec 2-terabyte iPhone Duo reaches 5.09 million won.
The pricing gap has also prompted concerns about discrimination against domestic consumers. In the United States, the price difference between the iPhone Duo and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 amounts to roughly 130,000 won at current exchange rates — far narrower than the more than 1 million won gap in South Korea, suggesting Apple priced the device more aggressively in the domestic market than abroad.
The two foldables also differ in weight and thickness. The iPhone Duo weighs 254 grams and measures 11.3 millimeters when folded — 53 grams heavier and 0.7 millimeters thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 in the same configuration.
"The core value of a foldable phone is the ability to carry a large screen in a compact, folded form," an industry official said. "Lighter hardware and portability are important criteria in consumer choices."
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 also draws favorable reviews for software versatility. While the iPhone Duo offers a fixed two-app split-screen mode, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 supports up to three simultaneous app windows. The iPhone Duo's domestic release is expected in mid-October, meaning buyers would wait more than a month to receive the device — another factor analysts said is steering consumers toward Samsung.
Meanwhile, industry observers said Apple's entry into the foldable segment is likely to expand the global foldable phone market overall.
"The more competitors enter the foldable phone market, the larger the market can grow and the broader the choices available to consumers," an industry official said.
ko@heraldcorp.com
