The foldable phone market, once touted as the future of mobile technology, appears to be hitting a snag. According to the Chinese publication 163.com, a major smartphone brand has reportedly paused its development of large-screen foldables. The brand’s identity remains undisclosed, however.
Although the foldable market generated early excitement, it remains a niche segment. Profitability in this space has largely been limited to established players like Huawei and Samsung, while other manufacturers, including the unnamed brand, are still exploring the viability of the form factor.
It’s difficult to sell foldable phones, apparently
Xiaomi offers a case in point. Its recently launched Mix Flip has seen strong sales, with lifetime sales expected to surpass 460,000 units by year-end. This success contrasts sharply with the Mix Fold 4, a larger foldable model, which has struggled to reach even 100,000 units.
Meanwhile, another Chinese brand, Oppo, has clearly postponed the launch of its latest foldables, the Find N5, by a year. And it’s still uncertain uncertain if the devices will debut in 2025.
Transsion, a major player in overseas markets, also appears to be cooling on foldables. Their recent launches – the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 / Flip 2 and Infinix Zero Flip – seem like a last hurrah, as reports suggest the brand has halted further development on foldable phones.
These developments come amidst a broader slowdown in the Chinese foldable market. According to IDC’s latest report, shipments for Q3 2024 reached 2.23 million units, representing only a 13.6% year-on-year increase. This pales in comparison to the explosive growth witnessed over the past two years.
The foldable phone market undeniably holds promise. However, the recent pause by a major player and the stagnant growth in China suggest manufacturers need to address key hurdles like affordability and durability before foldable can truly take flight in the smartphone world.
(Source)
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