Samsung is working on a foldable tablet: does it make sense or is it doomed to fail?

A folding tablet will hit the market in the future, said the executive from Samsung. A priori, the plan makes sense: the company has perhaps more experience in developing foldable mobile phones than any other. The South Koreans bet on this form factor in 2019 and have been consistently developing ever since. The recent launch of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 is proof of that. And now they are ready to accept an offer for teams with more inches.

in dialogue with Independent, T. M. Roh, head of mobile at Samsung, confirmed that after all The Galaxy Tab family will be replenished with a model with a folding screen. While he didn’t share details about a release date, he did show interest in the development. “The tablet leads the way in a very good product category where we can use the foldable format,” he said.

“People open a book to read and do the same with a notepad to write. When not in use […] They can be folded, making them more compact and portable. In addition, important information is protected. It’s just a natural part of human behavior,” added Roh, paving the way for Samsung’s foldable tablet. He also said that such a design could be part of laptops, although such an initiative seems to have come before.

Why Samsung’s foldable tablet makes sense

A number of variables support Ro’s plan and lead us to believe that it’s a good idea. For starters, who else besides Samsung has experience building a foldable tablet? There is no denying that the Asian firm has gained valuable experience since the launch of the first Galaxy Fold. Recall that the panel of this phone broke after a short time of use, a stumbling block that served as the basis for applying consistent improvements and obtaining products that are now generally well received.

The statistics also support the Samsung project. On the one hand, the South Korean company is second only to Apple in the tablet market, with a share close to 28%, according to StatCounter data from July this year. A subversive team might have helped him compete with more power.

On the other hand, it is the largest smartphone retailer in the world. In the second quarter, it was the leader in phone sales with a share of over 20%. When it comes to folding – this sector is dominated by the cradle of the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip – Counterpoint He indicated that 19 million units will be sold in 2023, up 45% from last year.

Along the same lines, IDC notes that sales of foldable smartphones will grow by 50% at the end of this year compared to 2022. Despite the rebound, the overall share is small, with foldable phones accounting for less than 2% of all phones sold each year.

Beyond the stats and form factor experience, there’s another transcendent element that makes sense of Samsung’s foldable tablet. South Koreans have been one of the few, if not the only ones, to continue designing and releasing high-end Android tablets for years when everyone thought these devices were dead. And they were the only real ongoing competition for Apple and its iPad.

The downside: Problems that could make this product a failure

After considering the points in favor of the plan in the analysis, a combination of factors emerges that allows us to risk the following: foldable tablet from Samsung will not work. This reinforces the notion that not always a good idea can become a successful product.

Let’s start with the fact that if the share of folding models on the market is very small, then a large team will not escape this fate. At this point, it’s worth asking if there’s a real market for proposals like the one the Samsung executive put forward.

To the limited market share of folding, we must add that Tablet sales are also decliningwith no signs of real recovery. Statista eloquently shows this in this chart. In addition, according to IDC, the segment is not expected to grow in the next four years.

Despite the conceptual sense, tablets with folding screens are practically not in demand in the market. With the exception of some more computer-like Lenovo models, such as the ThinkPad X1 Fold, the niche remains. quietpractically uninhabited.

From a practical standpoint, a device with more inches is more error-prone than foldable phones so far. In other words, tablets will only exacerbate the problems that smartphones have faced since low strength and short service life.

Durability, Complexity and Cost: The Real Keys to Consider

The analysis becomes more complex when one considers the following: foldable tablets will be more difficult to manufacture. Samsung has experience in developing tablets with a very wide range of inches – from 7 to 15 to be exact. And if logic plays a role in this story, then everything indicates that the folding model should be closer to the second extreme.

After all, the Galaxy Z Fold 5 has a 7.6-inch internal screen, while other foldable phones like the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 are just over 8 inches. So a Samsung foldable tablet would need to have at least an 11-inch screen to make sense. And develop a screen of this size, with a hinge that is strong and compact enough not to compromise on design and thicknessThis is an extremely difficult mission.

Finally, the picture worsens when considering the monetary aspect. Foldable mobile phones are sold at higher prices than traditional phones. concludes in the premium segment. In view of this, the Samsung foldable tablet will hit the market at a price that we estimate will be prohibitive and relegated to a very small group of consumers.

When will the Samsung folding screen tablet come out?

Without revealing specific details about launch dates, Ro noted that Samsung’s first foldable tablet will reach users. as soon as the company can introduce “meaningful innovations”.

Next telephone arena, this product has been rumored in the past. There was even a mention of a possible presentation in 2022, which, as we know, did not happen. In connection with the recent statements of the head of Samsung, rumors have appeared. reborn and aim for 2024. Although you also do not have to trust too much, given the problems that, as we have already mentioned, this type of device will entail.

It should be remembered that the brand’s traditional mobile phones (Galaxy S series) are announced in the first quarter of the year, usually in February. Folding, in turn, usually appear after a few months. In fact, this year the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 were introduced in July along with the updated Galaxy Tab S9, S9+ and S9 Ultra.

If Samsung thinks the foldable tablet will be a significant innovation, it makes sense that the first generation has its own presentation. And since the model is already installed on the market, yes, include it in a regular calendar with other products of the brand. We will closely follow the news.