An average of 140 devices were sold every minute during the seven-day preorder period, with the company attributing the demand to its new passport-sized foldable.
Samsung Electronics’ new Galaxy Z foldable smartphone lineup — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 — racked up 1.44 million preorders in Korea, setting a new record for Galaxy smartphone preorders.
The milestone also reflects growing demand for foldable smartphones as more users switch from conventional bar-type devices.
Domestic preorders for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 posted the record during the seven-day preorder period from July 28 to Monday, according to Samsung on Tuesday.
The figure surpassed the previous Galaxy preorder records set by the Galaxy Note 10 in 2019 with 1.38 million units, the Galaxy S26 series earlier this year with 1.35 million units and last year’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 with 1.04 million units.
An average of about 140 devices were sold every minute during the preorder period.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8, which folds to roughly the size of a passport, accounted for about 70 percent of total preorders, making it the most popular model in the lineup.
Samsung attributed the strong demand to the device’s new 4:3 aspect ratio and updated design.
Among customers who preordered through Samsung.com, the company’s official online store, those in their teens, 20s and 30s accounted for half of all buyers. The number of female customers in those age groups more than doubled from the previous model. Cream was the most popular color for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, while pink was the top choice for the Galaxy Z Flip 8.
Preorder data from the country’s three mobile carriers – SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ — also pointed to growing demand for foldable devices. The carriers began activating preordered devices on Tuesday.
Among SK Telecom customers who placed preorders, 62 percent were switching from conventional bar-type smartphones, up 10 percentage points from the previous generation, indicating a growing shift from traditional smartphones to foldable models.
Customers who preordered the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 began receiving device activations on Tuesday. Beginning with Korea on Friday, the new lineup will be launched sequentially in around 100 countries.
BY PARK YOUNG-WOO [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]
