Samsung’s surprise folding hit sets the stage for Apple

Samsung has a reputation for testing ideas on a large scale, even when it comes to their larger smartphones. The Galaxy Note, which debuted in 2011, was initially designed to push the limits of screen size, but eventually became a staple in Samsung's lineup. Recently, Samsung has been at the forefront of creating the foldable phones, despite some imperfections in their initial releases.

The Galaxy Fold, which launched with obvious flaws like a tiny outer screen and questionable durability, was followed by the Galaxy Z Flip, which was more polished but still offered limited functionality beyond its unique clamshell design. This year, Samsung is set to launch a new foldable device that directly competes with an existing model, sparking a fascinating experiment to see which one will appeal more to the public.

This development comes at a time when Apple is preparing to enter the market with its highly anticipated folding phone. Power users may find the Galaxy Z Fold8 intriguing, as it is positioned as a device specifically designed for them. It has a wider, more rectangular outer display, similar to a passport, and folds out into a landscape 4:3 orientation, which makes it more suitable for regular tablet use.

The 7.6-inch inner screen is very close in size and shape to the iPad mini, making it a more comfortable choice for video watching and using Android apps in portrait mode. The Z Fold8 also features a more capable camera system, including a telephoto lens, although the 10-megapixel 3x module has been present in Samsung's phones for quite some time.

However, the Z Fold8 has a few unique quirks, such as the placement of the earpiece and bottom-firing speakers, which only emit audio from one side when the phone is unfolded, and an awkwardly positioned fingerprint reader in tablet mode. Despite these minor issues, initial responses suggest that people are impressed with the Z Fold8.

Samsung has reportedly ordered an additional million devices for its launch production run after the Z Fold8 accounted for around 70% of preorders for this latest foldable lineup. This success, coupled with universally positive reviews, indicates that there is genuine excitement surrounding this phone. Samsung is not the first to attempt a foldable phone with a wider form factor.

Other companies, such as Oppo and Google, have tried similar designs, but they were still relatively square. Huawei also experimented with a similar device, the Pura X, which was reminiscent of a flip phone and never made it past China. It is clear that Samsung has introduced something new to the market, and this development bodes well for Apple, which is also rumored to be working on a folding phone.

Apple's upcoming device is expected to follow a similar widescreen approach to the Z Fold8. Given Apple's extensive developer ecosystem and its popular Apple TV+ content, the Z Fold8 could be a strong contender in the foldable phone market. While these niche, high-end devices may not sell in large numbers initially, Samsung's new approach sets a precedent that could lead to mainstream adoption in the future.