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Samsung unveils slimmer foldable phones to counter Chinese rivals and boost AI leadership

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Samsung Electronics on Wednesday revealed thinner and lighter foldable smartphones as it seeks to defend its premium segment against growing Chinese competition from Huawei and Honor, while Apple has yet to enter this niche market.

Having lost its global smartphone crown to Apple in 2023, Samsung is pushing to regain momentum by integrating AI features into its foldable devices. Mobile President and COO Choi Won-joon highlighted foldables combined with AI as poised to go mainstream, offering users a unique and differentiated experience. Samsung aims to lead in AI-powered smartphones by collaborating with partners like Google, contrasting Apple’s in-house AI approach that has faced delays.

Alongside the foldables, Samsung launched its first smartwatches featuring Google’s AI voice assistant Gemini, which offers personalized recommendations such as running locations.

Samsung’s premium strategy continues amid U.S. tariffs that could raise costs. The new Galaxy Z Fold 7 is 10% lighter and 26% thinner than the Fold 6 and priced 5% higher at $1,999. The Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE offers a more affordable option at $899. The Fold 7 uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, while the Flip 7 runs on Samsung’s own Exynos processors.

Analysts say the new models address bulkiness concerns and strengthen Samsung’s premium brand image. However, foldables remain niche with just 1.5% market share globally. Research firm Canalys expects foldable shipments to stay flat or slightly decline in 2025, with Samsung’s foldables accounting for 4% of total phone sales but 16% of sales over $800. Samsung’s dominance is challenged by strong Chinese sales, especially in China.

Samsung will focus foldable sales on the U.S., Europe, and South Korea. The company is also developing a tri-fold phone to launch by year-end, allowing users to fold the device three ways.

To prepare for U.S. tariffs, Samsung accelerated production and shipments destined for the U.S., manufacturing primarily in Vietnam, South Korea, and India. It is also mitigating China’s rare earth export restrictions by diversifying suppliers and increasing internal stockpiles.

Foxconn Sends 97% of India iPhone Exports to U.S. as Apple Navigates Trump’s Tariffs

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Foxconn, Apple’s key contract manufacturer, shipped nearly all of the iPhones exported from India to the United States between March and May 2025, according to customs data reviewed by Reuters. The figure reached 97%, significantly higher than the 2024 average of about 50%, highlighting Apple’s strategic effort to bypass steep U.S. tariffs imposed on imports from China.

During this three-month period, Foxconn exported iPhones worth $3.2 billion from India, with shipments to the U.S. totaling nearly $1 billion in May alone—the second-highest monthly export value on record. Overall, Foxconn’s India-to-U.S. iPhone exports totaled $4.4 billion in the first five months of 2025, already surpassing the entire 2024 value of $3.7 billion.

Apple has been accelerating iPhone production in India as a means to reduce the impact of U.S. tariffs on Chinese-made devices, which Trump’s administration set as high as 55% on some Chinese goods. India faces a baseline 10% tariff and has been negotiating to avoid a 26% “reciprocal” tariff that the U.S. temporarily paused earlier this year.

Despite Apple CEO Tim Cook’s push for expanded production in India, former President Donald Trump criticized the move in May, insisting Apple should manufacture more phones in the U.S. rather than abroad.

Efforts to speed exports include Apple chartering cargo flights transporting billions worth of iPhone models directly to the U.S. and lobbying for faster customs clearance at Chennai airport, a critical hub for iPhone exports in southern India.

Analysts expect “Made-in-India” iPhones to represent 25-30% of global shipments in 2025, up from 18% in 2024, signaling a growing shift in Apple’s supply chain strategy.

Another supplier, Tata Electronics, part of India’s Tata Group, also exports mostly to the U.S., sending about 86% of its iPhone shipments from India there during March and April.

Despite government efforts to promote India as a smartphone manufacturing center, higher component import duties keep production costs relatively elevated compared to other countries. Apple continues to rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing, with around 80% of iPhones sold in the U.S. still produced there.

South Korea’s President Lee Vows Regulatory Easing and Tariff Talks to Support Trade

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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung pledged on Friday that his administration would ease regulations and accelerate working-level tariff negotiations with Washington, as part of a broader effort to support South Korean businesses facing international trade challenges.

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of the country’s top conglomerates, President Lee emphasized that his government would work to minimize the difficulties companies encounter in global competition and help them expand their economic footprint. The gathering included prominent figures such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung.

“Our companies are struggling with international competition,” Lee told the business leaders, adding that his administration would adopt a “pragmatic, flexible” trade policy focused on national interests. His spokesperson, Kang Yu-jung, confirmed that Lee intends to expedite discussions on tariffs with Washington.

Since his election on June 3, Lee — a liberal who campaigned on a business-friendly platform — has prioritized economic issues, especially in light of South Korea’s export-driven economy. Key sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, and shipbuilding are heavily reliant on global trade, making ongoing negotiations with the United States especially critical.

During the meeting, Lee invited executives to provide input on trade challenges. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who also heads the Korea Chamber of Commerce, voiced concerns about the uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs, which complicates corporate decision-making. Samsung’s Lee expressed hope that close cooperation between the government and private sector would help South Korea navigate what he described as a “multi-dimensional crisis.”

The U.S.-South Korea alliance also remains a focal point. On the same day, Seoul’s deputy minister for economic affairs Kim Hee-sang met with Sean O’Neill, a senior U.S. State Department official, to reaffirm bilateral cooperation. O’Neill emphasized opportunities to deepen collaboration in shipbuilding, economic security, and mutual investment.

The tariff negotiations come after President Lee and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed last week to work toward a swift deal during their first phone call since Lee assumed office.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s industry ministry announced plans to evaluate the impact of U.S. tariffs on domestic manufacturers, particularly in the home appliance sector, and to prepare targeted support measures.