Samsung might soon find itself unable to keep up with the booming demand for the Galaxy Z Fold 7. Who could have predicted that a $2,000 foldable phone would sell like hotcakes, especially in such challenging economic times for many across the globe? Definitely not me, nor many analysts, and, surprisingly, not even Samsung and its key suppliers.
The overwhelming success of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 has taken the company by surprise, and it may soon need to ramp up production-a task that might not be so easy.
The $2,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 has exceeded expectations, and if its sales keep surging, Samsung could find itself in a difficult situation. Samsung set a production goal of 2.4 million units for 2025, considering it an optimistic target, as they shipped only 2.2 million units of the Z Fold 6 last year. But demand for the Z Fold 7, especially in major markets like India, South Korea, and China, has already far surpassed pre-order numbers for its predecessor, making it clear that Samsung might have underestimated demand.
Though it’s still early to predict the phone’s performance once the pre-order phase ends, if demand stays strong, Samsung will need to increase production quickly. However, with the Z Fold 7’s sleek design and sophisticated components, suppliers may struggle to adjust their production plans. Despite this, Samsung would rather face this challenge than a lack of demand.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip 7 is seeing a more lukewarm response. Samsung hopes to reach 2.3 million units in sales for the Z Flip 7 this year, but with the higher-priced “Fan Edition” Z Flip 7 FE expected to sell an additional 700,000 units, the total could match last year’s Z Flip 6 figures. It’s fair to say the Z Flip 7’s sales aren’t impressive, and Samsung might need to resort to deals and discounts to improve its value proposition.
In total, Samsung’s foldable line, including the Z Fold 7, Z Flip 7, and Z Flip 7 FE, is expected to hit 6.1 million units this year. While this matches 2024’s foldable sales, it falls short of Samsung’s goal of 6.8 million. So, while the Z Fold 7’s early success is promising, Samsung’s foldable lineup overall isn’t as successful as it hoped.