A new report claims Samsung is internally debating whether to introduce its tri-foldable phone, rumored to be called the Galaxy G Fold, in the U.S.
This revelation comes from CNN Business, who cite a person reportedly close to the company’s plans. Apparently, Samsung is currently deciding if the U.S. and other markets will see a release of the G Fold or if it will remain region-specific. It’s a delicate choice as, if the phone is launched in the U.S., it will be the first phone of its kind in that market.
There is always the possibility that Samsung will keep the G Fold exclusive to South Korea and China. After all, the company has done this before. One recent example is the Galaxy Z Fold SE, which only launched in South Korea and China, although many of the phone’s upgrades eventually made their way to the Galaxy Z Fold 7.
However, there is also an argument for expanding the release, especially as the Huawei Mate XT is available in China, but is much harder to get in other countries. As such, expanding the release could create an incentive for people to buy the phone when they can.
What do we know about the Galaxy G Fold?
Samsung has been surprisingly tight-lipped when it comes to the new phone, beyond the statement that it would be launched by the end of the year. However, the report from CNN also includes an interview with Drew Blackard, senior vice president of mobile product management for Samsung Electronics America, and Minseok Kang, Samsung’s global head of smartphone product planning.
In the interview, Blackard stated that “We don’t want to offer the exact same experience in a slightly different form factor,” when asked for details on the screen size.
While we don’t know exactly what that means, we have seen concepts of the devices at shows like CES. On top of that, a rumors indicates that the phone could have a 9.96-inch inner display, a 6.49-inch outer screen and utilize an inward-folding design.
Minseok Kang, Samsung’s global head of smartphone product planning, told CNN to expect a “much larger screen than before.”
One major question that could affect a release in the U.S. market would be the price of the phone, and once again, we don’t have any solid information on what to expect. However, considering the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched with a price of $1,999, and the Huawei Mate XT costs the equivalent of $2,800, I’d doubt the phone will be close to what many might consider “affordable.”
For the time being, we’ll have to wait and see what the result is, and if the phone is coming to the U.S. If it does, there’s also the question of whether Samsung will limit the number of phones that actually go on sale/
If the phone does release, then it would certainly plug a hole in the market, but the question remains if this is a concept that will resonate with fans, or if it’s one that will be left in the dust.
Let us know what you think, and if you would be willing to drop nearly $3,000 for a triple-folding phone, or if it’s just too much for you to really consider.
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