Samsung Electronics' twice-folding smartphone "Galaxy Z Trifold" is selling out in the United States after doing so in Korea. It launched in the U.S. on the 30th of last month and sold out immediately after sales began. The Z Trifold is priced at $2,899 (about 4.25 million won) in the U.S., higher than in Korea (3.594 million won).
According to the industry on the 9th, the Z Trifold that Samsung Electronics introduced in the U.S. sold out across U.S. online sites in about five minutes as soon as it launched at 10 a.m. on the 30th of last month. Inventory also disappeared in an instant at some Samsung Electronics offline stores in the United States, including in California and Minnesota.
A sellout frenzy is unfolding as the buzz of being Samsung Electronics' first twice-folding form factor product combines with the scarcity of limited sales volume. In Korea, the Galaxy Z Trifold has continued to sell out through the seventh sales round since its Dec. 12 launch last year. On used-goods sites, unopened units have appeared at 1.5 to three times higher prices.
In the U.S. as well, the Trifold supply is said to be at a similar level of several thousand units as in Korea. U.S. outlets initially predicted the Z Trifold would struggle to be competitive at its high price, but the market reaction was different.
However, while the Z Trifold carries heavy manufacturing and repair expense burdens, the company set the price in the mid-3 million won range, drawing assessments that its profit margin is low.
IT outlet PhoneArena said the Trifold's success "taught the lesson that if there is value, people choose Samsung products."