According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), Samsung Display is preparing to ship 8.7 million foldable panels for the Galaxy Z Flip 4 to Samsung Electronics. That would mean a massive 70 percent jump in the initial order from 5.1 million last year. The shipments will reportedly begin in April. As Young notes, the initial shipment for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 foldable screens last year also began around the same time. At this rate, the Galaxy Z Flip 4 could arrive in August 2022, or latest by September. We don’t have confirmation on that yet. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 will accompany it for sure.
Samsung is gradually increasing the production of foldable smartphones
This isn’t the first time we are hearing that Samsung would ramp up the production volume of its foldable smartphones. Having discontinued the Galaxy Note series, the company now sees foldables as one of its mainstream smartphone lineups. The Fold and Flip-branded devices don’t yet sell in as high numbers as the Galaxy S series phones. However, the Korean firm has been taking one step ahead at a time and building a strong foundation for when foldable smartphones become mainstream, not just for the company but for everyone. For that to happen, the entry price needs to come down while the devices themselves need to be more appealing, both in terms of functionality and durability. And Samsung has been gradually working its way up in these regards. Its Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 are the world’s first foldable smartphones to come with an official IP rating for water resistance. Going forward, Samsung is now preparing to introduce a built-in S Pen holster on the Galaxy Z Fold 4. This would certainly increase the appeal of the device. The company is also working on making the foldable screen more resilient. The current-gen UTG (ultra-thin glass) screen is highly susceptible to scratches and dents. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 will also reportedly get a bigger outer display, more cameras, and a bigger battery. All these upgrades without increasing the price should drive sales of the new foldables. No wonder why Samsung wants to make more foldable smartphones this year. We should get to hear more about these devices in the coming months.
