Samsung Explains Why Foldables Exist and How Competition Helps

A few years down the memory lane, my first smartphone came with a 3.5-inch screen. I wanted something bigger, so I moved up to a 4-inch device soon after. To put things in perspective, the Galaxy Z Flip 7’s cover screen is around 4.1 inches in 2025. Back then, carrying a 4- or 5-inch smartphone felt like you were holding the ultimate immersive experience.

The smartphones kept getting bigger and it’s probably why foldables exist

JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, remembers that era well (via PTI). “I remember when we had a 5-inch smartphone, we thought it was the biggest, immersive. Now, it’s like 6.8-inch and it’s becoming bigger and bigger… it doesn’t go into your pocket, it’s hard to hold.”

That growing frustration with size sparked Samsung’s push into foldables. Park explains the company’s thinking. “So we started thinking about how we can make it a small form factor. That’s when we flipped it or folded it. I think it’s a trend that other brands are following.” He didn’t mention any specific brand, but it doesn’t take long to guess what he probably would be talking about.

Competition helps the company “innovate”

The foldable market isn’t overcrowded yet, but more brands are stepping in. Samsung still dominates the foldables category, though reports suggest its market share is shrinking. Whether the recent foldables will reverse that trend remains to be seen. According to Samsung’s own numbers, Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 are a big hit, helping the company maintain its foothold.

Park welcomes competition. “It’s not that one brand can dominate the whole market. I think having competition enables Samsung to always innovate and look for different technology that does not exist today.” Like runners in a race, having others chasing you pushes you to run faster and do better. For consumers, that means faster innovation and more choices.