A Samsung UK and Ireland executive says demand for its Galaxy Z Fold 8 family is up 16% since launch, according to a Forbes interview with Richard Chang, its corporate vice president for mobile. He also cited a 300% rise in Google searches for Samsung foldables. As of Oct. 15, 9to5Google's report gives no unit sales figures.

The two figures

Forbes reports that Chang, Corporate Vice President of the Mobile Division at Samsung U.K. and Ireland, said: "Customer demand for the Galaxy Z Fold8 family has increased 16% since launch."

Per 9to5Google, the quote adds a "300% increase in active Google searches for Samsung foldables in the last month alone." That measures search interest in all Samsung foldables, not Fold 8 searches or sales. Samsung's UK and Ireland executive supplied the figures; their geographic coverage was not specified.

What the claims leave out

9to5Google ties the rise to the debut of Apple's iPhone Duo. In the quote it reproduces, Samsung does not name Apple.

As of Oct. 15, 9to5Google's report gives no starting level for the 300% search rise and no definition of "demand," and cites no independent verification. Samsung's launch release says general availability began Aug. 7 and names Fold8 and Fold8 Ultra in the lineup. Our assessment: "family" likely covers both.

What a Fold 8 costs next to the iPhone Duo

Forbes reports the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 and goes on sale Oct. 23, against a $1,899 starting MSRP for the Fold 8. It also lists weight and unfolded thickness: Fold 8 at 201g and 4.5mm, Duo at 259g and 5.2mm.

  • iPhone Duo (256GB): $1,999 in the US, per Apple's Sept. 9 press release. Pre-orders open Oct. 16, as our iPhone Duo coverage details.
  • Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked), Amazon: $1,699.99, new, sold by Amazon.com, against a $1,899.99 list price, as of Oct. 15. The 512GB is $1,899.99 (list $2,099.99).
  • Galaxy Z Fold 8 (256GB, unlocked), Samsung.com: $1,899.99, no instant discount shown as of Oct. 15.
  • Galaxy Z Fold 8 (1TB, unlocked), Samsung.com: $2,499.99 with no instant discount shown as of Oct. 15. Samsung advertises up to $800 instant trade-in credit or up to $1,900 in carrier deals, during Samsung Week, Oct. 12 to Nov. 1.

9to5Google says a Samsung.com discount puts the 1TB model $50 above Apple's base 256GB phone. As of Oct. 15, the Samsung.com 1TB listing shows no such price.

Why it matters

Our assessment: a 300% search rise says people looked, not that they bought, and a rise from a small base can look dramatic. The 16% figure is more relevant to buyers, but it comes from a company promoting its own phone, and the cited report gives no baseline as of Oct. 15.

Our assessment: the price gap is the firmer fact. A 256GB Fold 8 at $1,699.99 on Amazon sits about $300 under the iPhone Duo's $1,999, while Samsung.com charges the $1,899.99 MSRP. As of Oct. 15, the Duo is not yet on sale, so the cited reports offer no sales comparison.