Will the Galaxy Fold smartphone be the game changer Samsung is hoping for?
Analysts unsure what kind of response Samsung will get when it releases more foldable devices
Samsung Electronics has been enjoying a better-than-expected worldwide response from consumers for its Galaxy Fold smartphone, which delivers a new user experience with its big foldable screen, analysts said on Monday.
“Samsung seemed to succeed in offering new experiences to users with the Galaxy Fold. Though there are only a small number of devices available on the market, which is not enough to get precise and unbiased user reviews, the Galaxy Fold was received well as it offers a new type of multitasking experience with its big screen,” said Ham Young-min, an IT columnist.
Samsung released the Galaxy Fold on September 6 in South Korea with a price tag of 2.39 million won (US$2,017) in the hope that the foldable device would become a game changer in the stagnant smartphone industry. The new device got off to a good start, with about 3,000 sales in less than 24 hours.
Some sellers are taking advantage of the situation by reselling the device abroad for more than US$4,000. Samsung will start the second round of preorders of the 7.3-inch foldable smartphone on September 18, and they will be delivered from September 26.
ITSub, a popular device reviewer on YouTube, also said the Galaxy Fold could be a game changer, enabling users to easily do more at the same time.
“The Galaxy Fold changed my perception that Samsung is not good at its first-generation products,” the reviewer said in his video. “It still has a crease in the middle and is heavier than other phones, but the most desirable feature of the device is its big screen size.”
He added the Galaxy Fold offers an enhanced multitasking experience, recommending the device for early adaptors or entrepreneurs who need to perform many tasks at once.