Galaxy Z Fold 8 Sales Rise After Apple's iPhone Duo Reveal

Apple's foldable was supposed to shake up Samsung's home turf. Instead, it seems to have helped Samsung sell more phones.

The numbers

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 sales in South Korea rose about 10% week over week in the seven days after Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo on September 9. Industry sources say the increase caught people off guard, since a rival foldable launch usually pulls buyers away, not toward, the competition.

Why people are buying Samsung instead

A big part of it comes down to price. In South Korea, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 starts around 2.28 million won (about $1,550), while the iPhone Duo starts at 3.29 million won (around $2,390). That's roughly a 1 million won gap, much bigger than the $100 to $100 difference seen in the US.

Timing matters too. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 has been on sale in South Korea since August. The iPhone Duo won't open for preorders until October 16, with sales starting October 23. So buyers who were waiting to compare both phones before deciding had an easy choice in the meantime, buy the Fold 8 now, or wait over a month for the Duo.

On top of that, the Fold 8 is lighter and thinner than Apple's foldable, which matters to shoppers who care most about how a foldable feels in the hand.

A word of caution

Analysts note this is one week of data from one market, South Korea, which happens to be Samsung's home turf and a place where Apple already struggles compared to other regions. It's too early to say whether the same pattern will show up once the iPhone Duo actually goes on sale worldwide.