The buzz around Samsung’s future foldable devices, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, seems to be waning, according to insights from the industry. Though once hailed as the next big thing in smartphone innovation, foldables have struggled to capture the widespread attention expected of them. Experts suggest that Samsung anticipates a significant drop in sales for these high-tech gadgets in 2025.
Since their debut in 2019, foldable phones have been a staple of the Android smartphone market. Yet their hefty price tags have possibly played a role in their lukewarm reception. With Apple still sitting out the foldable trend, there could be valid reasons for their abstention. Recently, a South Korean industry report revealed that sales figures for Samsung’s foldable devices released in 2024 were underwhelming. Furthermore, the forecast for 2025 doesn’t look promising, with Samsung setting conservative sales expectations. The company expects to sell about 5 million units of its foldable lineup—3 million Galaxy Flip7s and 2 million Galaxy Z Fold7s—marking a steep downturn of approximately 39% from their previous target of 8.2 million.
Conversely, Samsung is banking on the popularity of its Galaxy S25 lineup, boosting sales projections from 35 million to 37.4 million units. This optimistic outlook even excludes anticipated sales of the new Galaxy S25 Slim, which is expected to contribute an additional 3 million units to the total. According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, manufacturers of foldables in China like Vivo, Oppo, OnePlus, and Xiaomi may also slightly lower their sales targets but might still seize market opportunities from Samsung.
The rapidly evolving smartphone market remains unpredictable. While Samsung may face challenges with its foldable series, its more conventional smartphone models appear to continue enjoying consumer enthusiasm. As the tech landscape unfolds, it remains to be seen how these dynamics will shift around innovative designs like foldable devices.
