Samsung learned some tough lessons from the Galaxy Fold debacle
0Reported today on The Verge
For the full article visit: https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/12/21134380/samsung-galaxy-z-flip-fold-foldable-success-lessons-changes-report
Reported today in The Verge.
Samsung learned some tough lessons from the Galaxy Fold debacle
Samsung didn't waste any time unveiling its latest foldable Galaxy Z Flip phone during the company's Unpacked event on February 11th. It was the opening act, a stark contrast to last year's Galaxy Note 10 launch when the Galaxy Fold was barely mentioned. Samsung was in the midst of a foldable disaster at its last Unpacked event, preparing to relaunch the Galaxy Fold after review units fell apart. It was a disaster that's generated a lot of doubt over folding phones, so this second folding phone from Samsung has a lot to prove.
Samsung's latest attempt at a foldable phone goes in a totally different direction to the Galaxy Fold. Instead of turning a phone into a tablet, the Galaxy Z Flip converts into a miniature pocketable device. It can even be partially unfolded and propped up on a table to take hands-free selfies.
The Z Flip was clearly built for sharing content on Instagram and YouTube. It has a small outer display you can use as a selfie viewfinder for the main (better!) rear camera. Samsung has also worked with Google to optimize YouTube and split it across the foldable display so you can watch content on the top half and browse comments or other videos on the bottom.
While the Fold was clearly targeted at a premium market with its $1,980 price point, the Z Flip pushes more toward the mainstream with its $1,380 pricing. That's cheaper than some Galaxy S20 configurations and a big step toward making foldable phones more affordable in the near future.
Unlike the Galaxy Fold, the new Galaxy Z Flip compromises less on being an actual phone. There are no ugly giant bezels, no screen notches, and it folds out into what looks a regular phone (albeit a really long one). Samsung i