Latest news with #RohTae-moon
Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Indian Express
Samsung smartphone head breaks silence on tri-fold phones, hints at 2025 debut
Ever since Huawei launched the Mate XT Ultimate Edition – the world's first tri-fold phone, rumour had it that Samsung was also working on a similar device. Recently, Samsung rolled out a One UI 8 beta build, which features new animations that suggested that a tri-fold phone was indeed in development. Now, Samsung Electronics' Device Experience Division head Roh Tae-moon has confirmed that the company is indeed working to launch a tri-fold phone by the end of the year. 'We are working hard on a tri-fold smartphone with the goal of launching it at the end of this year. We are now focusing on perfecting the product and its usability, but we have not decided its name. As the product nears completion, we are planning to make a final decision soon', said Roh in a press conference. In a statement to Android Authority, a Samsung executive said they had decided on the tri-fold design, but the company was debating whether the market had demand for the new form factor. The recently leaked animation from the One UI 8 beta build hints that, unlike the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition, Samsung's tri-fold phone, which may bear the Galaxy G Fold moniker, may have hinges that fold inwards instead of outwards. It also suggests that Samsung's tri-fold phone will have two hinges of different sizes, with the left side folding inwards and the right side sandwiching on the top. And like the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition, Samsung might warn users that they are not to fold the right panel side as the protruding camera island may prevent the phone from folding flat and damage it. This means that it will be similar to the G-shaped prototype, which the company showcased earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress. And while not much is known about Samsung's tri-fold phone, it will likely feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset and cross the $3,000 price mark. Rumour also has it that the phone will have a screen size of between 9 and 10 inches when unfolded, which might make it more appealing for power users who want a tablet-like device in their pocket.
Korea Herald
10-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung takes margin hit to strengthen foldable leadership
Tech giant holds firm on prices amid rising costs, tariff threats, looming Apple foldable Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest foldable smartphones — the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 — at the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event in New York on Wednesday, drawing attention for keeping price hikes to a minimum despite upgraded features and rising trade tensions. Samsung has decided to maintain the price of the Flip7 in both Korea and the US, while the Fold7 saw a modest increase of around 150,000 won ($109), or about 6 percent, from its predecessor — a smaller hike than the 10 to 20 percent anticipated by industry watchers ahead of the launch. 'Pricing is always a key consideration with new product launches,' Roh Tae-moon, acting head of the device experience division, said in a press briefing following the unveiling event. 'There were significant innovations in this year's models, which increased production costs. To expand foldable phones and democratize AI experiences, we decided to absorb those costs internally.' The Galaxy Z Fold7 and Flip7 come with slimmer designs and enhanced AI capabilities, placing additional pressure on the tech giant's pricing strategy. Industry watchers said that Samsung internally debated the necessity of price hikes, balancing the products' upgraded value against concerns over market share erosion. 'Given the Z Flip series' recent sales decline, a price hike could further dampen its competitiveness,' said an industry source who requested anonymity. Sales of the Z Flip6 last year reached 2.89 million units, a 21 percent decrease from the 3.66 million sold for the previous year's Z Flip5. In contrast, Z Fold6 sales rose 11 percent on-year to 2.32 million units. Another major variable was the potential impact of new US tariffs. US President Donald Trump recently announced plans to impose tariffs of at least 25 percent on smartphones and appliances manufactured in countries like China and Vietnam — a move that would affect smartphone-makers such as Samsung and Apple. While the Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 are largely produced at Samsung's facilities in Bac Ninh and Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, the latest negotiations between the US and Vietnam have reportedly reduced the expected tariff rate on Vietnamese-made products from a planned 46 percent down to around 20 percent. That allowed Samsung to mitigate drastic price fluctuations in the US market. Samsung held global pricing steady for its Galaxy S25 lineup earlier this year, even amid rising material costs and exchange rate volatility. Referring to growing US pressure for onshore semiconductor and electronics production, Roh said, 'Samsung's key strength has long been its globally distributed manufacturing network. We are fully prepared to respond swiftly to changing trade dynamics in the US and other major markets.' Apple is rumored to be preparing its first foldable iPhone for release in the second half of next year. Industry watchers expected the device to carry a premium price tag of $2,000 to $2,500 even before potential US tariffs were factored in. If current trade policy conditions worsen, prices could surge further, potentially reshaping the competitive dynamics of the global foldable market. Another anonymous industry source said, 'With Apple relying on China for about 80 percent of its iPhone production, the potential implementation of reciprocal tariffs could make the US tech giant's foldable phone about $100 to $300 more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold7." "It would place Apple in a dilemma — either risk losing market share due to higher prices or absorb the additional cost internally, thereby compromising profitability," the source added. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 will be released sequentially in global markets, including Korea, starting from July 25. Preorders in the domestic market are to begin Tuesday.
Korea Herald
09-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Samsung pushes foldable frontier with AI-powered Z Flip7, Fold7
From AI chips to larger displays, new foldable phones deliver flagship upgrades with modest price hikes Samsung Electronics unveiled its new slimmer, lighter and even more advanced artificial intelligence-powered foldable phones -- the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 -- in New York on Wednesday. It marks the first time in three years that the Korean tech giant has held an unveiling event in the US city since the release of the Galaxy Z Flip4 and Fold4 in August 2022. As the venue for the biggest product launch in the latter half of this year, Samsung chose Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn, inviting some 1,200 journalists and industry people from around the globe. The site regularly hosts major fashion shows and auto shows. 'The Galaxy Z Flip7 combines a compact design with powerful mobile AI features. The Galaxy Z Fold7 merges advanced hardware with AI to deliver the most sophisticated smartphone experience ever introduced by Samsung,' said Roh Tae-moon, acting head of the Device eXperience division. The vertically folding Galaxy Z Flip7 is the first in the series to feature a 4.1-inch cover screen, called the Flex Window, an upgrade from its predecessor's 3.4-inch cover screen. It boasts a slimmer 1.25-millimeter bezel and measures 13.7mm thick when folded, with a lightweight design at 188 grams -- maximizing portability and ease of use. For the first time in the Z Flip series, the device is equipped with a powerful 4,300 milliampere-hour battery paired with Samsung's latest 3-nanometer processor. It also supports Samsung DeX, allowing users to seamlessly connect the Z Flip7 to external display devices for enhanced productivity. Camera capabilities have also seen a major upgrade. The Z Flip7 features a 50-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 12MP ultra-wide dual camera system. With real-time filters and the dual preview function -- allowing simulaneous preview on both the cover and main displays -- users can capture high-quality selfies with ease. The horizontally-folding Galaxy Z Fold7 is the slimmest and lightest model in the Galaxy Z Fold lineup, measuring 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded, and weighing 215 grams. The device boasts Samsung's largest smartphone display yet -- a main 8.0-inch screen that is 11 percent larger than its predecessor. It also features a 6.5-inch cover display with a ratio of 21:9, offering a user experience comparable to traditional bar-type smartphones even when folded. A newly introduced Armor Flex Hinge enhances durability by evenly distributing external impacts while maintaining a sleek profile. The main display is reinforced with a titanium layer, further boosting structural integrity. Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chipset, the Z Fold7 delivers a 41 percent improvement in neural processing unit performance, 38 percent in central processing unit performance and 26 percent in graphics processing unit performance compared to the previous generation -- ensuring top-tier speed and efficiency for demanding tasks. The Z Fold7 is also equipped with a 200MP wide-angle camera, offering a professional-grade photography experience typical of the high-end Ultra models of Samsung's flagship Galaxy S series smartphones. Additionally, a 100-degree ultra-wide selfie camera allows users to easily capture high-quality shots with minimal effort. The Galaxy Z Flip7 and Z Fold7 will be released in Korea on July 25, with seven-day preorders starting Tuesday. The price tag of the Z Flip7 ranges between 1.49 million won ($1,085) and 1.64 million won depending on the amount of storage, while the Z Fold7 is priced between 2.38 million won and 2.93 million won. Color options for the Z Flip7 are blue shadow, coral red and jet black, while the Z Fold7 will be available in blue shadow, silver shadow and jet black. For both models, a mint color will be available for customers who purchase the phones at the company's online shopping mall or at Samsung Gangnam, its flagship store in southern Seoul. At Wednesday's event, Samsung also debuted its thinnest smartwatches -- the Galaxy Watch8 and Galaxy Watch8 Classic. Compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Watch7, the new model is 11 percent slimmer and boasts a display brightness of up to 3,000 nits -- 50 percent brighter than the previous generation. The Galaxy Watch8 models also become the first smartwatches to feature an antioxidant index function. Users can measure their carotenoid levels -- an indicator of antioxidant presence -- in five seconds. Pricing for the Galaxy Watch8 models varies based on size and connectivity options, ranging from 419,000 won to 489,500 won. The Galaxy Watch8 Classic is priced between 569,000 won and 599,500 won.
AU Financial Review
09-07-2025
- AU Financial Review
Samsung's new folding phone feels just like a regular phone
Samsung has announced the foldable phone it says we've all been waiting for: one that is just like a regular phone when it's closed, and only reveals its true size when it opens up. At the company's annual Unpacked launch event, this year in New York, Samsung president Roh Tae-moon announced the Galaxy Z Fold7, which is significantly slimmer and lighter than the company's previous foldable models, yet has a much bigger front screen.
Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- Health
- Korea Herald
Samsung to acquire US digital health firm Xealth in connected care push
Samsung Electronics said Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to acquire Xealth, a US-based digital health care company, in a move to strengthen its connected care services across wearable devices, including Galaxy smartphones, smartwatches and the Galaxy Ring. The acquisition marks a significant step in Samsung's long-term vision for Samsung Health, which aims to integrate wellness and medical care to help Galaxy users manage their health in daily life and prevent disease. Founded in 2016 as a spinoff from the major US hospital group Providence Health System, Xealth has established itself as a leading digital health care platform. The company partners with over 500 hospitals, as well as more than 70 specialized digital healthcare solution companies in fields such as diabetes, pregnancy and post-surgical care. Xealth offers a platform that enables physicians to assess a patient's health status comprehensively and prescribe or recommend appropriate digital health solutions. Medical professionals can also monitor patients' conditions in real time. Under the deal, Samsung plans to link biometric data collected from its wearables directly to professional medical services via the Xealth platform. The company also aims to expand the digital health care ecosystem by integrating the platform with smart home appliances to deliver tailored health solutions. The tech giant expects to finalize the acquisition by the end of the year. 'Samsung aims to improve the health of everyone through our extensive platform combining Samsung's innovative technologies and open collaboration with industry leaders,' said Roh Tae-moon, acting head of the device experience division at Samsung Electronics. 'We believe the acquisition of Xealth, with its accumulated expertise and extensive health care network, will be an anchor to accelerate Samsung's efforts to support health systems and digital health partners through truly connected care.' The latest acquisition is part of Samsung's broader push into future growth sectors. Other recent deals include Rainbow Robotics, Oxford Semantic Technologies, Sonio, Roon, Masimo's audio division and FlaktGroup.
