Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales up 20% in Korea as iPhone Duo launches

The troubled start of the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone, appears to have pushed some buyers toward Samsung's foldable. According to reports, sales of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 rose noticeably in the week Apple's new device went on sale.

The figures so far cover only the Korean market, and exact unit sales have not been shared. Even so, the trend suggests that Samsung's foldable is drawing more interest alongside Apple's first attempt at the form factor. What might be behind the increase, and what does the number actually tell us? Here is what is known so far.

A one-week jump in Korea

The iPhone Duo went on sale on October 23. According to reports, Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales in Korea rose 20 percent between October 23 and October 29, meaning the increase coincides exactly with the week Apple's device reached shelves. Interest in the Galaxy Z Fold 8 had also climbed in the days after Apple announced the Duo in September, so the attention on Samsung's foldable was not limited to launch week; a rise was already visible after the announcement.

Because exact unit figures were not disclosed, it is unknown what baseline the 20 percent change is measured against. The number should therefore be read as a directional signal rather than a measure of volume. And since the data covers only Korea, there is no information on whether the same trend appeared in other markets.

What could explain it?

There is no firm data on why buyers turned to Samsung, but a few possibilities stand out. The first is price: in Korea, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is considerably cheaper than the iPhone Duo, and ongoing discounts may make it an even more attractive option. In a market with a large price gap, it would hardly be surprising if someone considering a foldable looked at the cheaper choice.

The second is software. Some apps may not yet be optimized for Apple's software, which could be hurting the user experience. The third is an issue dubbed 'crackgate', which is said to stem from a manufacturing defect and has reportedly left some buyers with devices whose inner display arrived cracked, damaging first impressions. There is currently no evidence that any of these directly drove the sales increase; each is only a plausible factor, and how much each one matters remains uncertain.

Samsung's foldable strategy

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is currently selling at prices as low as $1,599. Rumors are also circulating that Samsung will invest more heavily in this form factor in 2027. It is worth noting that these rumors are unconfirmed and that the company has made no official statement.

Apple's entry into the foldable market with the iPhone Duo coincided with a period of rising interest in Samsung's model. Whether the increase seen in Korea will last, and whether it spreads to other markets, remains unclear for now; the picture should sharpen as more data arrives.