Apple’s iPhone Duo Debut Drives 300% Spike In Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 Searches

Samsung's latest foldable smartphone, the Galaxy Z Fold8, has attracted a lot of focus, Samsung executive Richard Chang exclusively told me. Here's the latest.

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The foldable smartphone has been around for years, with Samsung routinely to the fore in terms of innovation and design improvements. But it seems that the recent announcement of the first foldable iPhone has added to the interest.

Chang, who is Corporate Vice President for the Mobile Division, Samsung U.K. and Ireland, said the company has seen improvements in customer demand and overall interest.

"Samsung's foldable momentum is undeniable," he said. "Customer demand for the Galaxy Z Fold8 family has increased 16% since launch, and with a 300% increase in active Google searches for Samsung foldables in the last month alone, our market leadership is stronger than ever."

The timing is interesting. The Galaxy Z Fold8 went on sale in early August, and created more of a buzz around foldable phones than before, thanks to its exceptionally slim profile and innovative shape. Its proportions and size are similar to a passport — an intentional similarity, I was told earlier this year.

Hubert Lee, Samsung's Executive Vice President, Head of Design Team, Mobile Experience told me in July that the shape and size were important. "We looked at familiar objects that we live with," he said. "In this case, the passport. It has utility based on one-handed usage, and this is something that was very inspiring. We like that proportion. The natural way is so important because if you force something, if it's unnatural, then people don't like using it anymore."

Samsung has been working on foldables for a long time, but Chang acknowledged it's no longer Samsung's preserve. "As others enter the category we pioneered eight years ago, our heritage speaks for itself. While competitors are introducing their very first foldable options, Samsung is already leading with three distinct and innovative foldable form factors that cater to different lifestyles," he said.

Though he doesn't name the competitors — and several Android brands are working on passport-style devices — I think it's clear that the biggest influence came from Apple. It's been predicted for months that Apple's foldable would have a similar form factor. And on the principle that a rising tide lifts all boats, Apple's incoming phone (it goes on sale on Oct. 23) may have added to interest for Samsung's phones. After all, if you prefer Android to iOS but are inspired by Apple's new release, you might want to look at Samsung more closely.

"It is clear that foldables have officially gone mainstream," Chang concluded. "The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 series is our most-awarded foldable generation yet, earning top recognition from mainstream tech press and coveted Which? Best Buy endorsements across the entire range. With switching to Samsung easier than ever using Smart Switch, we look forward to welcoming even more customers to the Galaxy family."

Samsung has a couple of aces up its sleeve. The Galaxy Z Fold8 is thinner and lighter than the iPhone Duo, weighing 201g against Apple's 259g. The unfolded thickness of the Z Fold8 is 4.5mm, but the iPhone Duo is 5.2mm thick.

And it's cheaper: the Duo costs from $1,999 while the Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $1,899 — though you can find it at $1,699 from sellers like Best Buy.

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This article was originally published on Forbes.com