Insights At a Glance:
- A truck carrying 12,000 Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 phones was reportedly stolen near London Heathrow Airport.
- Estimated loss: $10.6 million.
- Ironically, Samsung had just been pushing anti-theft features in the UK.
In what feels like a scene straight out of Fast & Furious: Foldable Edition, a truck loaded with Samsung’s hottest new foldables, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7, has reportedly been hijacked near London Heathrow Airport (LHR).
According to a post shared by Ice Universe, the ever-reliable Samsung leaker from China known for getting the scoop before Samsung’s own press team, the cargo contained an estimated 12,000 units of the unreleased foldables. The economic hit? A staggering $10.6 million.
And no, Samsung hasn’t made this public yet. But given Ice Universe’s track record, this isn’t your average tech forum rumor.
It’s Not Just a Heist, But A Highly Timed One
This theft comes at a curious moment. In early June, Samsung UK was on a PR push urging customers to enable new anti-theft features designed to make stolen phones worthless bricks in thieves’ hands. The timing now feels eerily prophetic.
What makes this sting even more painful for Samsung is that the Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 are two of its most anticipated devices yet. The Fold 7 in particular is smashing pre-order records in the U.S., with early reviews praising its thinner design, brighter screen, and upgraded cameras; making it a prime target not just for consumers, but clearly for thieves too.
While customers in the U.S. and UK are placing record pre-orders — or in this case, unknowingly fueling a black market — folks in Kenya are still watching from the sidelines. Samsung decided to skip the Kenyan market altogether for the new Fold and Flip lineup this year.
This isn’t the first time high-value electronics have been targeted in transit, but this heist is particularly bold. Not just for the scale, but because the phones are just hitting shelves across the globe. If anything, expect these stolen units to show up in grey markets, or possibly stripped for parts.
Whether Samsung decides to acknowledge the incident or not, this theft highlights the real-world stakes of global tech logistics. It also re-emphasizes the importance of built-in security, not just for consumers, but for the brands themselves.
As for the robbers? Let’s just hope they didn’t forget to turn off Samsung’s Find My Phone.
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