Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 3 has earned the title of the best-selling foldable smartphone in a new quarterly report. The Q3 2021 report from Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) shows the phone making up for more than half of Samsung's total shipment for the quarter. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 follows as the 2nd best-selling foldable.
The Galaxy Z Flip 3 is a clamshell foldable smartphone from Samsung. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 3, it is not only smaller but cheaper. Its smaller form factor, attractive colors with the option for customization, and price tag have made it a hit.
The report states that a total of 2.6 million foldable smartphones were shipped in the third quarter of 2021. That figure represents a growth of 215% quarter-on-quarter and 480% year-on-year. Samsung accounted for 93% of the foldable phones shipped while Huawei, whose 2021 foldable smartphone, the Mate X2 (available in both 4G and 5G versions), accounted for 6%. Samsung's success is believed to be tied to its better-designed Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 3 when compared to their predecessors; their lower prices, and its marketing of the two products. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 launched with a bigger cover display, a 120Hz refresh rate for the inner display, a 31% lower price tag than the Galaxy Z Flip 5G, and a water-resistance rating. The Galaxy Z Fold 3 also got its own dose of upgrades such as water resistance, support for the S Pen stylus, an in-display camera, and a lower price tag than the Galaxy Z Fold 2.
An Even Better Fourth Quarter
Samsung also clinched the third spot with the Galaxy Z Flip 5G which had a 7% share of total shipments in Q3 2021. Huawei's 6% contribution to the total foldable smartphone shipments for Q3 2021 comes from the Mate X2 4G and the Mate X2. As rivals to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line, both phones launched before the Galaxy Z Fold 3 but didn't record many sales as a result of being exclusive to China and component issues borne from the United States ban.
DSCC believes there will be a new record shipment for foldables for the fourth quarter of 2021 as Samsung's new foldable smartphones will be available for a full quarter. The report states that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will hold on to the crown but will suffer a slight drop to 58% of total foldable smartphone shipments. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Fold 3 will see its share increase from 23% in Q3 2021 to 36% in Q4 2021. It forecasts that the total foldable smartphone shipments will rise from 2.6 million in Q3 to 3.8 million in Q4 of 2021. Their forecast for 2022 puts the total shipments of foldable smartphones at 17.5 million, an increase of 132%. Samsung is expected to be the main contributor to this figure but there will be contenders from brands such as OPPO, Honor, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Motorola.