Samsung reportedly bracing for a drop in sales of foldable phones

While Samsung is hyping up the Galaxy Z Fold 7 as an ‘Ultra' phone, it could actualy be bracing for a drop in sales. A new report claims that the company has lowered the initial manufacturing target for the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 compared to their predecessors.

A report from TheElec claims that Samsung plans to manufacture 1.35 million units of its upcoming foldable phones (Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7) during the initial production phase. Despite the addition of a new model in the lineup, the initial production target is 260,000 units lower than last year, which accounts to a huge drop of around 20%.

The company's revised plan includes making 550,000 units of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, 170,000 units of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and 630,000 units of the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That is a total of 1.35 million units, and it is 190,000 units less than the company's plan that was released in May.

The South Korean firm's initial plan was to make 590,000 units of the Galaxy Z Flip 7, 170,000 units of the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, and 770,000 units of the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

Samsung reportedly shared its production plans with several component manufacturers this week. It plans to make 13.9 million phones and 400,000 tablets this month. Out of those 13.9 million phones, 1.34 million units are of the three upcoming foldable phones.

This reduction in the production plan is likely due to the current unstable situation with US tariffs and the globally weak economic outlook.

Samsung has reportedly increased the production target for the Galaxy S25 series, though. It is said to have plans to make 690,000 units of the Galaxy S25, 270,000 units of the Galaxy S25+, and 1.13 million units of the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Compared to the plan presented last month, this new production plan includes 740,000 additional units.

Last year, Samsung shipped 30 million smartphones in the USA and 230 million phones globally, In comparison, Apple sold 60 million iPhones in the USA and 230 million iPhones globally. Research firms expect smartphone shipments to drop 6.7% globally this year to 1.14 billion units due to US tariffs (and retaliatory tariffs by other countries).