[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] SamsungElectronics(005930)’s new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z8 series, has gotten off to a stronger start in the global market than its predecessor. In South Korea, demand has been concentrated on the “passport-style” base model, the Fold 8—which is shorter and wider—while in India, preference for the top-tier model, the Fold 8 Ultra, has been particularly strong.

According to market research firm Counterpoint Research on the 10th, global pre-orders for the Galaxy Z8 series increased by more than 30% compared to the previous Z7 series. Pre-orders rose by 39% in South Korea and by more than 20% in Europe compared to the previous model. In the U.S., pre-orders for the Fold models increased by 30% compared to the previous model.

The Galaxy Z8 series consists of three models: the standard Fold 8, featuring a shorter and wider “passport-style” aspect ratio; the Fold 8 Ultra, with enhanced camera capabilities and specifications; and the Flip 8, which emphasizes a compact and stylish design.

The base Fold 8 led initial demand. In most markets—including South Korea, the U.S., Europe, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia—the base Fold 8 received the most attention. In South Korea, the base Fold 8 accounted for approximately 70% of all pre-orders. In the U.S., the Fold 8 accounted for nearly 50%, while in Europe, it was around 40%.

The response was particularly strong in South Korea. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Fold8, and Flip8 recorded a total of 1.44 million units during the seven-day pre-order period in South Korea. This marks the highest figure ever for Galaxy smartphone pre-orders. Compared to the 1.04 million units for the previous Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 series, this represents an increase of about 39%.

Buyers in their 10s through 30s accounted for half of all pre-orders. The number of female buyers in this age group more than doubled compared to the previous generation. According to data from SKTelecom, existing bar-style smartphone users made up about 62% of customers who pre-ordered the new foldable phones, a 10 percentage point increase from the previous generation.

In the U.S. as well, the Fold 8 led the pre-order trend. Combined pre-orders for the Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra in the U.S. were 30% higher than those of the previous Fold generation, which had set the previous record. Notably, more than three times as many Galaxy Z Flip users pre-ordered the Fold 8 or Fold 8 Ultra compared to the launch of the previous model.

Pre-orders in Europe also increased by more than 20%. The standard Fold 8 accounted for approximately 40% of all pre-orders in Europe. In the UK, the standard Fold 8 has a starting price of 1,699 pounds, which is lower than the Fold 8 Ultra’s 1,899 pounds. The price difference and improved usability appear to have driven demand for the standard Fold 8.

In contrast, in India, the Fold 8 Ultra accounted for about 60% of pre-orders. The standard Fold 8 accounted for about 35%, and the Flip 8 for about 5%. It is estimated that about 70% of buyers were between the ages of 35 and 50. Analysis suggests that high-income earners, business customers, and existing premium smartphone users preferred the top-tier model.

Interest in the standard Fold 8 was also high in Japan and Southeast Asia. In Japan, it was reported that most color variants of the 256GB Fold 8 were sold out on SamsungElectronics’ official Japanese online store. In Southeast Asia, demand for the standard Fold 8 was particularly strong in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

In China, the Fold 8 also garnered initial interest. The wider aspect ratio and lightweight body were cited as key advantages. The Fold 8 ranked first among Samsung smartphones on Tmall and JD.com. However, the lack of a telephoto camera and S Pen support drew criticism from some consumers.

Counterpoint projected that first-year shipments of the Galaxy Z8 series would see double-digit growth compared to the Z7 series and increase by more than 70% compared to the Z6 series. However, the firm noted that actual sales trends would need to be assessed after the official launch, as pre-orders can be influenced by initial incentives such as trade-in offers, installment plans, and promotional gift packages.

Liz Lee, a researcher at Counterpoint Research, analyzed, “As of now, the Z8 series has gotten off to a stronger start than its predecessor, and based on the Fold 8’s broader appeal and expanded product lineup, we expect its first-year sales to surpass those of the Z7 series.”