Samsung has produced some successful foldable smartphones over the years, and this year’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 set a new record for an Android foldable smartphone with its impressive specs. What we expect next from Samsung are slidable or rollable phones.
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Meanwhile, a new report suggests that Samsung has no plans to make a rollable or slideable phone. UBI Research CEO and chief analyst Yi Choong-hoon told The Korean Herald, “The market for foldable phones overlaps with that for slidable phones. It will be difficult for slidable phones to create their own market.”
Therefore, the analyst says, “Samsung seems uninterested in slidable phones and will focus resources on foldable phones for some time.” However, it may be possible that Samsung will introduce a rollable or slideable smartphone in the future, but such innovation by the Korean company is not seen in recent years.
As of now, Samsung will continue to focus on foldable smartphones rather than experimenting with other form factors. Additionally, the company is working to improve its foldable technology as it wants to mainstream the foldable smartphone market.
In addition, Yi Choong-hoon also said that for consumers like the Book who are familiar with folding phones, sliding the screen may seem too complicated. Such devices would make phones less user-friendly and could also reduce Samsung’s profits.
But Samsung’s dominance in the foldable market may convince other smartphone vendors to explore the possibilities of developing commercial rollable phones — Chinese OEMs in particular. In this regard, the analyst said-
“Samsung Display has secured unrivaled competitiveness, especially on related patents and production know-how. It won’t be easy for Chinese rivals to compete for head-on. Chinese smartphone makers may seek to launch slidable phones in an attempt to differentiate themselves from Samsung. But the market potential seems limited.”
