Samsung Rises in US Market with Foldable Phones: A New Challenge for Apple
Samsung has seen a dramatic increase in its US smartphone market share, rising from 23% to 31% in Q2 2025. In contrast, Apple’s dominance slipped from 56% to 49%, marking the most significant shift in the smartphone rivalry in over a decade. This surge is primarily attributed to strong sales of Samsung’s innovative foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip models introduced in July.
The Korean tech giant’s latest foldables are generating significant buzz on social media. Durability tests show the Z Fold 7 surviving over 200,000 bending cycles. Samsung’s VP of mobile product management, Drew Blackard, reported that the Z Fold 7 received 25% more pre-orders than any previous Samsung foldable and is selling 50% faster than its predecessor.
Pricing plays a crucial role in this market disruption. Samsung’s Z Fold 7 starts at $1,999, compared to Apple’s most expensive iPhone 16 Pro Max at $1,599. Industry analysts predict Apple won’t enter the foldable market until September 2026 with the iPhone 18 lineup, potentially starting at $1,999 to compete directly with Samsung’s premium offerings.
This shift echoes the 2014 smartphone wars when Samsung’s large-screen devices initially outpaced Apple before the iPhone 6 response. However, this time Samsung’s foldable innovation represents a fundamental form factor change that Apple has yet to match, giving the company a significant first-mover advantage in defining the future of mobile devices.
Source: CNBC