iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
JB Park’s India playbook, as he described it in a July 28, 2026 interview report, is to make advanced devices easier to adopt and buy, extend premium products beyond major cities, build software around Indian users, and connect phones to a wider device ecosystem. The figures and outlook below are Park’s claims as reported by 91mobiles, not independently verified measures of Samsung’s performance.
Deepak Dhingra reported the London roundtable on the sidelines of Samsung Unpacked, alongside the launch of the Galaxy Z8 series. Dhingra said he attended the event on Samsung India’s invitation. That context matters: the report offers Park’s account of Samsung’s strategy, not an independent assessment of whether its ambitions have been achieved.
Why does Park think foldables still need more consumer education?
Sales mix is not the same as market share
Park said foldables now account for more than 20 percent of Samsung’s flagship sales in India. That is a share of Samsung’s own flagship sales, not a claim about foldables’ share of India’s overall smartphone market. He argued that judging the category only by unit volume misses whether more people are adopting the form factor.
Awareness and useful reasons to switch remain barriers
In Park’s view, shoppers still need a clearer understanding of what a foldable lets them do that a conventional phone does not. He said competition could help raise awareness of the category, while Samsung’s distribution and consumer education efforts could support adoption. He also said rural foldable sales were growing faster in percentage terms, without providing a basis for treating that as a national market-wide trend.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
An FE foldable is not confirmed
Park said Samsung was watching consumer response and might consider a more affordable Fan Edition foldable if the category became ready. He did not confirm a specific FE device, launch date, or price.
How does Samsung plan to take premium devices beyond metros?
Park described Samsung’s premium-device sales as extending into tier 2, tier 3, and rural markets. He said 65 percent of Samsung’s flagship device sales in India came from those markets. He also cited a distribution network spanning 18,000 postal codes, more than 80,000 small, independent “mom-and-pop” stores, and roughly 20,000 in-store promoters. These are figures from Park’s interview account, not independently verified distribution or sales data.
The strategy he outlined links reach with physical access and consumer education: a product has to be available outside major cities, and shoppers need a reason to consider it. The interview presents this as Samsung’s approach; it does not establish how the network compares with competitors or how much each element contributes to sales.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Rank #2
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
What did Park say about device prices and financing?
Cost pressure and Samsung’s position
Park said memory and other component costs were rising across the industry. He said, “Samsung has been absorbing more of the cost increase than competitors over the past eight months”. He framed a smartphone as a multi-year customer investment rather than a product that should be repriced in step with volatile component costs. The report does not independently substantiate the comparison with competitors.
At the July 2026 interview, Park expected memory-price pressure to keep pushing device prices up for another year or two. That was his outlook at the time, not a current forecast.
EMI and Galaxy Forever
Park said Samsung bears the interest component on flagship EMIs for 24 to 30 months in India’s open market. The report also describes Galaxy Forever as offering no-cost EMI alongside an upgrade or return option with an assured buyback value. These statements do not establish that the scheme is currently available on those terms: check the current offer for eligibility, duration, fees, and return or buyback conditions before relying on it.
Rank #3
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Will Galaxy AI remain free?
Park described Galaxy AI at the time of the interview as largely on-device and included in the device cost, with some cloud features delivered through partners. He said everyday baseline features would remain free, while heavier professional cloud use might eventually involve a partner subscription. In his account, any such subscription would belong to the partner platform rather than create a new Samsung Galaxy AI paywall.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →This was a possible future arrangement, not an announced subscription or confirmed pricing plan. The interview does not specify which features, if any, would require payment.
What does Samsung’s India R&D team build?
Park said hardware architecture and design largely originate in Korea, while Samsung’s Noida and Bengaluru centres focus on software, AI, and research into Indian consumer personas. He cited Pay Now, a Samsung Wallet feature for bill-payment reminders and payments, as an example of local engineering aimed at local needs. The report said it would launch exclusively for Indian consumers on the new foldables; it does not establish its current release status or feature availability.
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Why does Samsung treat TriFold as a technology-leadership project?
Park said the TriFold did not make economic sense at the time of the interview, but could demonstrate technology leadership. He suggested costs might fall as components scale and competitors follow. He also mentioned rollable and TriFold-style devices as possibilities. These comments are strategic arguments, not confirmation of future products, launch plans, availability, or profitability.
How does the ecosystem fit into Park’s leadership argument?
Park pointed to phones, watches, tablets, appliances, and displays as parts of a connected ecosystem. He also cited seven years of OS upgrades as a differentiator. These are Samsung’s stated strategic advantages in the interview, not comparative test results or an independent assessment of competing ecosystems.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteCan Galaxy Watch health features work with a non-Samsung phone?
Park said Galaxy Watch can pair with other Android devices or iOS using Samsung Health, but noted that advanced functions such as ECG and blood-pressure monitoring may depend on hardware enablement. Compatibility and feature access can vary by phone, watch, region, and regulatory status; his interview comments are not a general guarantee that every feature works on every supported phone. He also described non-invasive blood-sugar tracking as a longer-term industry aspiration, not a currently available Galaxy Watch feature.
Best Value
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
How did Park describe Samsung’s internal business structure?
Park said the Device Experience (DX) and Device Solutions (DS) divisions operate independently and compete for component allocations and pricing. He also described pressure on consumer electronics from competition in appliances and air conditioners. These are management characterizations from the interview, not a substitute for financial reporting.
What the India playbook adds up to
Park’s account ties leadership to adoption rather than specifications alone: make foldables easier to understand, take premium devices to more places, localize software and consumer research, and link devices into a longer-term ecosystem. Its sales, distribution, cost, and financing figures should be read as claims from one interview report; the account does not independently establish Samsung’s market position or confirm that the described offers and features remain current.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
