A Goldman Sachs analyst has predicted that if Samsung’s foldable smartphone were to become popular, Apple could struggle to keep up with the South Korean tech giant.
The firm published a note after the reveal of the Galaxy Fold saying that the new flagship would be the biggest challenge for Apple in the high-end luxury device market.
Analyst Rob Hall said in the note obtained by Business Insider:
In terms of competition for Apple we see the Fold as the main potential challenge in the ultra high-end with a compelling form factor that only Samsung’s foldable OLED technology can deliver in our opinion.
Samsung’s foldable smartphone is the first on the market that is consumer ready. It wowed audiences with its 4.6-inch screen that unfolds to become a 7.3-inch tablet. The device is being introduced to the market at $1,980, but it could sway those looking to upgrade to a new iPhone to spend a little bit extra for something more futuristic.
If the device – released on April 26 – does prove to be a hit, this could be a big problem for Apple. Samsung makes the OLED displays for the iPhone XS and XS Max, making the California-based tech giant reliant on the South Korean brand.
Goldman Sachs believes Samsung would postpone Apple accessing the display technology if it wanted to make their own foldable smartphones:
We see this as challenging for Apple who could find themselves with no access to the critical flexible OLED technology for which we believe Samsung has at least a two year lead over other display competitors.
It’s anyone’s guess as to how much of a hit this phone will be when it hits the market. A slight cause for concern is how Samsung didn’t allow any media attendees to try out the Galaxy Fold after the event.
If it works and becomes the high-end smartphone of choice, Apple can see themselves along way behind Samsung in the smartphone market.
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Matt Weston is a lover of electric cars, artificial intelligence and space. From Cornwall, he’s a UCLan graduate that still dreams of being a Formula One driver in the very near future. Previously work includes reporting for regional newspapers and freelance video for the International Business Times.