While Apple is expected to unveil a foldable iPhone as early as next month, it is predicted that the..

Price rises due to lack of memory supply
Foldable high-priced parts also increase factor

사진 확대 In a report on the 10th (local time), the analyst team of US investment bank Jefferies suggested that the price of the “iPhone 18 Fold” will be between $2,199 and $3,099 (about 3.12 million won to 4.39 million won). [Reuters = Yonhap News]

While Apple is expected to unveil a foldable iPhone as early as next month, it is predicted that the price of the new product will be around 3 million won. It is the aftermath of rising memory prices, and the industry is paying attention to how much pie it will take from Samsung Electronics, the current leader in the foldable market.

According to U.S. economic media MarketWatch, the analyst team of U.S. investment bank Jefferies suggested in a report on the 10th (local time) that the price of the “iPhone 18 Fold” will be between $2,199 and $3,099 (about 3.12 million to 4.39 million won). This product is Apple’s foldable product name that is expected to be released this fall.

Product prices are expected to be high because the recent surge in demand for memory for artificial intelligence (AI) data centers has led to a shortage of memory for smartphones and PCs. Apart from foldable, it is reported that Apple’s All Glass iPhone, which has been preparing, has also been canceled due to production yield problems.

Although the supply and demand of memory is also difficult, foldable smartphones contain a number of expensive parts such as flexible panels, cover displays, and hinges. There is also a possibility that Apple may take a premium strategy as manufacturing costs are higher than existing bar-type products and iPhone is an early product in foldable form.

If the price of 3 million won becomes a reality, the foldable iPhone will become one of the most expensive products in the smartphone market. Although Apple is considered to be highly loyal to its brand, it is highly likely that the economic power of iPhone users, who are mainly in their teens and 20s, will act as a significant variable in expanding market popularity.

사진 확대 The new Galaxy Z series on display in the Unpacked Experience Zone. (From left) “Galaxy Z Flip 8,” “Galaxy Z Fold 8,” and “Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.” [Courtesy of Samsung Electronics]

In addition, although Apple is expected to provide new experience to existing iPhone users with interworking between operating system (OS) and service, Samsung Electronics has already entered the foldable market more than seven years ago and has solidified its position in the “Galaxy Ecosystem.”

Samsung Electronics has continuously improved the usability of foldable smartphones through the ‘Galaxy Z Fold’ series. It has been strengthening multi-tasking and productivity functions using large internal displays while reducing problems such as durability, thickness, and weight that were pointed out in early foldable phones.

As if to prove this, Samsung Electronics’ recently released “Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 8” series recorded 1.44 million pre-sales in Korea, marking the highest record ever for Galaxy smartphones. The number of purchases by women in their teens and 30s, who have a high proportion of iPhone users, has more than doubled compared to their previous models.

Counterpoint Research, a market research company, predicted that if Apple participates in the foldable war this year, its market share (based on shipments) will be 32 percent for Samsung Electronics, 25 percent for Apple, 24 percent for Huawei, and 8 percent for Motorola. Last year, Samsung Electronics accounted for 40% of the market, Huawei 30% and Motorola 12%.

The IT industry also believes that it will not be easy for Apple to shake Samsung Electronics’ stronghold in a short period of time. This is because it is not easy to secure product completeness in a short period of time due to the structural characteristics of foldable phones that fold and unfold the screen. The durability of displays and hinges, product thickness and weight, battery efficiency and heat generation must also be satisfied.

The outcome is more likely to be determined by price, completeness, and usability than by brand alone. Whether Apple will be able to present a differentiated experience enough to bear the price of 3 million won as predicted by the market, or how clearly Samsung Electronics will show its dominance as a market leader.