This file photo taken Aug. 23, 2021, shows Samsung Electronics Co.’s Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 smartphones displayed at a store in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 5 (Korea Bizwire) — Samsung Electronics Co.’s foldable smartphones are struggling in the Japanese market, partly driven by Japan’s aversion to Korean products.
Apple Inc.’s iPhone SE became the most sold phone in Japan last year, followed by the iPhone 12, Sharp Corp.’s Aquos Sense 5G and other iPhones and Japanese brand smartphones, according to the market tracker BCN Ranking.
Galaxy A21 was the only Samsung smartphone to rank in the top 10 bestselling phones in the Japanese market.
Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3 foldable smartphones did not make the top 10 bestselling list. Neither did the Galaxy S21 series.
Samsung’s struggles in Japan are noteworthy considering the company’s worldwide popularity.
The Japanese market is known for the highest consumption of high-end smartphones in the world. Nevertheless, Samsung phones have been shunned by consumers.
Samsung’s budget smartphones are the only exception. High-end smartphone consumption is mostly led by Japanese brands and iPhones.
According to a local market research agency, Samsung had a 10 percent share of the Japanese market, which was less than half of Apple’s 45 percent.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
