Before 2019, it felt that we had reached peak smartphone design. All phones felt too similar, looked similar, and didn't really get your imagination going. It seemed like nobody was making an effort to push the envelope and that manufacturers had become complacent. That changed when Samsung came out with the original Galaxy Fold. Here was the stuff of sci-fi movies presented to us in a product we could actually purchase.
The original Galaxy Fold was a proof of concept. It enabled Samsung to show that foldable smartphones could be more than just a novelty. That's one of the reasons why it was produced in such limited quantities and released only in select markets. However, the next year it followed up the device with the incredible Galaxy Z Flip that was made available worldwide. Here was a device that brought back a form factor that we were all familiar with from back in the day and modernized it completely.
The Galaxy Z Flip was the device that made a lot of people sit up and take notice of where the smartphone market was heading towards in the future. Customers had an exciting new device that could buy, one that looked unlike anything else on the market. It was also perhaps the most stylish device to hit the market in years.
Later that year, Samsung came out with the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The device made major strides in the durability department. The company's objective with this device was to address any durability and reliability concerns that people may have had with this form factor. That, coupled with the impressive specs and design changes, did a great job in finally attracting the attention of power users.
Enter 2021 and Samsung once again shows the world why it's the undisputed king of foldable smartphones. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched to widespread acclaim. Everything from its revamped design to its build quality and performance was impressive. Similarly, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 came with major design and performance changes, including support for the S Pen. Both were also the world's first water-resistant foldable smartphones. This evolution of Samsung's foldable technology enabled it to claim these bragging rights that its marketing department is all too happy to brandish.
The response from the market was instant and encouraging. It showed Samsung, and many of its rivals now trying to copy it, that customers are willing to take chances on exciting new products as long as they're able to inspire confidence. That's the edge Samsung has compared to others making foldable smartphones. Its foldable smartphones have gone through enough iterations to show that this is a form factor that Samsung is serious about and its tech is now far more evolved from the rest.
Samsung ended up selling far more units of the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 than it had originally anticipated. This has given the company hope that the successors for these devices will be able to perform even better in the market. So it's now raising its shipment expectations for the next round of foldable smartphones due later this year.
If you've been on the sidelines, this is now the time for you to switch to a Samsung foldable smartphone. There's not much to doubt anymore. The Galaxy Z Flip series is going into its third iteration and the Galaxy Z Fold series into its fourth. With every new release cycle, Samsung advances the tech, improves durability, and provides new features that conventional smartphones can't deliver.
Customers were initially apprehensive about these devices because they didn't know if Samsung would stick with the project for the long term. There were also concerns that perhaps foldable smartphones would just be a passing fad and that the phase will eventually go away. None of that has happened.
If anything, foldables are increasingly becoming more popular in the market. As for Samsung's commitment to the foldable project, its investment, and dedication to the project speak for themselves. Samsung effectively killed its highly popular Galaxy Note lineup just because it wanted foldables to have all of the attention in the second half of the year. If that doesn't speak to its commitment, not much else will.
Samsung has shown incredible progress and stability in this respect. Over the past few years, it has gradually warmed up the market to the idea of using foldable phones as daily drivers. Countless people across the globe, many of us here at SamMobile included, have been using a Samsung foldable as our main device for a few years now. Some of us, yours truly included, can't even think about going back to a conventional smartphone anymore.
The reliability and durability concerns have all been settled. The question now isn't if foldable phones are worth buying. It's what Samsung can now do to elevate the user experience on these devices as more people switch over. There is still a lot that the company can achieve and it does feel that Samsung is holding its cards pretty close to its chest. It may have incredible ideas about foldables that it wants to execute, but it's going to do it gradually.
If you've sat on the sidelines as Samsung foldables have emerged as the leading candidate for your hard-earned money, now is the time to get off the fence and join the revolution. Later this year, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 will be arriving, and they will undoubtedly be further refined, polished, and durable.
The rumors about these devices have told us that much. We've also seen leaked Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 renders that showcase some of the design changes that can be expected. Both of these smartphones are also likely going to feature the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset for truly flagship-level performance.
Will there be any rivals for these devices? Not really, since the ones trying their luck in the foldable space have a very limited reach compared to Samsung's. The Korean manufacturer also has the first-mover advantage in this market and can now ride on the incredible goodwill that its existing foldables have earned.
One thing is for sure, though. The future is foldable. It's time for you to be a part of it.
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