Evolution of Folding Phones and the Anticipation of Future Innovations
Folding Phones: A Growing Mainstream Segment
The world of smartphones has witnessed a significant shift in the past few years, with the emergence and growth of foldable devices. This transformation began in 2018 and has continued to gain momentum, turning foldable smartphones into a mainstream segment by 2025.
In the early stages (2018-2019), pioneering companies like Samsung and Huawei introduced innovative foldable display technology in various form factors, such as flip-style and book-style folds. These developments represented a new segment in an otherwise saturated smartphone market.
The market growth (2020-2024) saw a notable increase in foldable smartphone unit shipments, with Samsung dominating the market share. By 2023, Samsung accounted for over two-thirds of total foldable shipments worldwide, maintaining a market share of around 50.5% in 2024. Chinese manufacturers like Huawei, Honor, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo significantly expanded their presence, with Huawei holding roughly 31% of the foldable market in 2024.
Consumer adoption and product variety have also been key factors in the growth of the foldable smartphone market. Surveys in 2023 showed over half of smartphone users in the U.S., China, and South Korea open to purchasing foldables next. The market offers a wide range of foldables, differing in size, display resolution, battery capacity, and price. For instance, the Honor Magic V2 boasted high battery capacity in 2023, while Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Huawei Mate X5 were among the most expensive options.
Looking ahead, foldable smartphone shipments are forecast to rise from nearly 18 million units in 2024 to about 70 million by 2027, illustrating accelerating market growth and increased consumer adoption. This surge reflects continued innovation, diverse offerings, and expanding manufacturer competition.
In the flip phone market, competition has been more limited, with Motorola and Samsung dominating. Honor, however, began focusing on thin and light design with the Honor Magic V2 in 2023. Motorola revived the Razr flip phone line in 2019 with the Motorola Razr, and the latest addition to this line, the Razr Ultra 2025, continues to push the boundaries of flip phone design.
Notable releases in the foldable market between 2021 and 2022 include the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 from Samsung, the Mate X2 from Huawei, Xiaomi's first and second-generation Mix Fold, Oppo's first folding phone, and Vivo's first folding phone. Samsung also unveiled the Galaxy Z Flip in February 2020.
In 2023, Google entered the foldable market with the launch of the Google Pixel Fold, and Apple is rumoured to launch the iPhone Fold in September 2026, potentially enabling folding phones to reach a wider market.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, unfolded, is the first folding phone to be indistinguishable from a regular smartphone due to its 4.2mm thickness and 8.9mm folded thickness. This makes it the lightest folding phone currently on the market, weighing just 215 grams. The new Galaxy Z Flip 7 features a design that sets a new benchmark for how folding phones should feel.
Google is set to announce its new Pixel 10 Pro Fold later this month, joining the growing list of foldable devices. The OnePlus Open (Oppo Find N3) launched in December 2023 and remains a strong folding phone in the US market. Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5 in August 2023, further expanding the company's foldable portfolio.
In the book-style folding phone market, Samsung adopted a full-screen on the front design in the Galaxy Z Fold 2, setting a trend for other manufacturers to follow. The market continues to evolve, with each new release pushing the boundaries of what is possible with foldable technology.
[1] Market Watch: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/foldable-smartphone-market-to-reach-70-million-units-by-2027-2023-03-30 [2] Samsung's Market Share: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139945/samsungs-market-share-worldwide-smartphones/ [3] Huawei's Market Share: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139945/samsungs-market-share-worldwide-smartphones/ [4] Xiaomi's Market Share: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139945/samsungs-market-share-worldwide-smartphones/ [5] Oppo's Market Share: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139945/samsungs-market-share-worldwide-smartphones/ [6] Vivo's Market Share: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1139945/samsungs-market-share-worldwide-smartphones/
Smartphones, along with their gadget counterparts like foldable phones, are becoming more mainstream, with the market for foldable smartphones projected to reach 70 million units by 2027. Leading companies in the field, such as Samsung and Huawei, continue to introduce innovative foldable display technology, attracting a growing number of users.
