◀ Anchor ▶
China’s Xiaomi has released a foldable smartphone and a foldable phone.
However, not only the shape of the product, but also the promotional video was copied from Samsung Electronics.
Although Samsung is ahead in the foldable phone market, the challenges of Chinese companies are unlikely.
Reporter Lee Yoo-kyung reports.
◀ Report ▶
This is a promotional video of a foldable phone released by Xiaomi in China four days ago.
The composition, atmosphere, and music are almost similar to the promotional video of Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Fold two years ago.
In particular, the highlights of the video, where the foldable screen unfolds, are embarrassingly the same.
When the actual product is folded, it has a narrower and elongated appearance than a general smartphone.
The most striking thing is that it follows Samsung Electronics’ in-folding method in which the screen is folded inward.
Meanwhile, Chinese companies such as Xiaomi and Huawei have tried to differentiate themselves from Samsung Electronics by insisting on the out-folding method in which the screen is folded outside.
[리차드 유/화웨이 CEO]
“The thickness when folded (foldable phone) is 10.9mm. Other (Samsung) products are 17mm. There is also a gap between them.”
However, the out-folding method exposed its limitations, such as the screen facing outward, weak to impact, and severe wrinkles when unfolded.
In the end, Huawei gave up out-folding in February, and Xiaomi also adopted Samsung’s method.
[이창민/KB투자증권 연구원]
“Because the out-folding phone had technical flaws and the efficiency was inferior, all of the smartphones released afterwards came out as in-folding phones.”
It is true that the copycat image could not be taken off, but there are parts that threaten Samsung, such as applying a liquid lens for the first time in the world and producing semiconductor chips with its own technology.
First, Samsung Electronics responded by lowering the factory price of the Galaxy Fold 2 to a level similar to that of Xiaomi products.
However, in the foldable phone market that Samsung has been pioneering with life and death, China’s challenge is expected to become even more intense.
This is MBC News Lee Yoo-kyung.
(Video editing: Jang Yeeun)
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