Apple’s first foldable is drawing global attention while renewing focus on Samsung’s journey in the category.
Apple’s official arrival in the foldable arena with the iPhone Duo has reignited the fiercest rivalry in mobile technology. But as The Wall Street Journal highlighted in an in-depth dispatch this week, the broader sentiment among existing foldable users is less about awe and more about perspective.
The report, titled “Samsung Fans Are Thoroughly Unimpressed by Apple’s Foldable Phone,” illustrates how long-time Galaxy foldable users view Apple’s hardware milestones through the lens of seven years of personal experience.
Seven Years of Mechanical Refinement
When Samsung announced the original Galaxy Fold in February 2019, it was navigating entirely uncharted waters. In the years since, the company has brought roughly 20 foldable iterations to market, according to WSJ data. Across multiple generations of Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip series, Samsung solved fundamental engineering hurdles in public view:
· Replacing polyimide film with Ultra Thin Glass.
· Developing sweeping bristles inside the hinge to repel dust.
· Achieving IP48/IPX8 water and ingress resistance.
· Eliminating hinge gap while optimizing internal display crease tolerances.
The playful social response from Samsung Mobile US—quipping, “Let us know when you’re done reheating our leftovers”—captured that sentiment online. Yet behind the banter lies a genuine engineering reality: Apple’s debut device must inevitably address first-generation physical trade-offs that Samsung has spent over half a decade resolving.
Expanding the Foldable Horizon
Ultimately, Apple entering the foldable category provides crucial global validation. Having two technology titans competing over flexible form factors will accelerate app development and mainstream adoption. But as Apple users unbox their first folding screen, Samsung’s head start has never looked more substantial.
Source / Reference: The Wall Street Journal, “Samsung Fans Are Thoroughly Unimpressed by Apple’s Foldable Phone,” Timothy W. Martin, September 17, 2026.
