Samsung Mobile Chief Asserts Foldable Lead and AI Focus Against Competitors
Samsung's mobile chief TM Roh stated that the company's seven-year head start in foldable technology gives it an unassailable short-term advantage over competitors like Apple. He also announced plans to expand Galaxy AI to 800 million devices by the end of the year, shifting the competitive focus from hardware to AI. As the foldable smartphone market matures and competitors like Apple prepare to enter, Samsung is leveraging its early-mover advantage and integrating on-device AI to maintain market dominance. This highlights how AI integration is becoming the primary differentiator in the premium smartphone segment. Roh emphasized that the next phase of competition will transition from hardware form factors to AI capabilities, with a strong focus on user privacy by keeping sensitive data processed locally on-device. Samsung aims to differentiate its AI experience by leveraging its diverse product ecosystem.
## BACKGROUND
Samsung introduced its first commercial foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019, establishing an early lead in the category. Galaxy AI, introduced in early 2024 with the Galaxy S24 series, combines on-device and cloud-based AI processing to offer features like real-time translation and advanced photo editing.