The Galaxy Z Fold 8: A Game-Changer for Samsung, Thanks to Apple

Richard Chang, the Mobile Corporate Vice President for Samsung in the UK & Ireland, confidently stated that foldable phones have now become mainstream. This achievement, however, would not have been possible without the influence of Apple, Samsung’s famous rival.

The Impact of Apple

Despite being an Android enthusiast, it’s hard to deny the significant impact that Apple has on the smartphone market as a whole.

In recent months, we’ve seen Honor mimic the iPhone’s design with their Magic 9 flagship, and various brands adopt the same burgundy color scheme as the iPhone 18 Pro. Many companies have also introduced Pro Max-branded flagship phones, with Xiaomi even skipping the 16 series to align with the iPhone.

However, Apple’s influence was most evident with the iPhone Duo, as they shared their plans with Samsung, who manufactures the Duo displays, well in advance of the launch. Apple’s reputation for secrecy was momentarily breached, allowing Samsung to be among the first to know.

The collaboration between Samsung and Apple likely began two to three years ago, giving Samsung ample time to respond. Adapting the foldable design concept to a passport form factor was likely easier for Samsung compared to Apple’s entirely new device.

The timing of Samsung’s launch of the Z Fold 8 was strategic, capitalizing on the buzz surrounding the foldable iPhone to their advantage. This calculated move by Samsung seems to have paid off well.