Core Viewpoint - Samsung Electronics has aggressively expanded its presence in the foldable smartphone market since launching the Galaxy Z Fold in February 2019, recently introducing its seventh generation of foldable devices, including the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, with plans for an Android tri-fold phone by the end of the year [2][3] Group 1: Market Position and Competition - Samsung has alternated leadership in the global smartphone market with Apple, with foldable phones being a key strategy for growth in the high-end market and a crucial factor for increasing shipments in China [2][3] - In Q1 2023, the global smartphone market saw a slight year-on-year growth of 0.2%, with high-end devices (priced above $600) accounting for about 30% of shipments, growing by 12% year-on-year. Apple holds nearly 60% of this high-end market, while Samsung's share is 22%, reflecting a 1% decline [3] - In the Chinese smartphone market, major brands including Huawei, Vivo, Xiaomi, OPPO, Apple, and Honor dominate with over 95% market share, while Apple leads the high-end segment with a 43% share, down 9% year-on-year, and Huawei follows with a 38% share, up 69% [4][5] Group 2: Foldable Phone Market Dynamics - The foldable smartphone segment is seen as a critical area for competition among domestic brands, with Huawei capturing over 75% of the domestic foldable market in Q1 2023, followed by Honor, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Samsung [6] - Analysts suggest that Samsung's expertise in display technology gives it a unique advantage in the foldable market, which is essential for maintaining its market share in China despite poor sales of traditional smartphones [5] - The pricing of Samsung's new foldable devices starts at 13,999 yuan for the Fold7, 7,999 yuan for the Flip7, and 6,499 yuan for the Flip7 FE, indicating that these models do not qualify for local subsidies [5] Group 3: Market Growth Challenges - Despite the initial rapid growth of the foldable phone market, recent reports indicate a slowdown, with Q4 2022 seeing a 9.6% year-on-year decline in shipments in China after nine consecutive quarters of growth. Q1 2023 showed a recovery with a 53.1% growth, but still below previous high growth rates [8] - Industry insiders report that many manufacturers have adjusted their production lines and lowered shipment targets for foldable phones, with some even canceling plans for smaller foldable models due to a lack of positive market expectations [8][9] - The decline in growth is attributed to inherent disadvantages of foldable phones, such as price, quality, and internal space limitations, which hinder their appeal and market penetration [8][9]