IDC has released a new market survey revealing that China’s foldable phone market experienced both growth and challenges in 2024. Huawei, which launched foldable phones such as the Mate X6 and Mate XT Ultimate in 2024, currently leads the foldable phone market in China.
Huawei leads the foldable phone market in China
Huawei maintained its dominance with nearly 50 percent of the market share, followed by Honor at 20.6 percent and Vivo at 11.1 percent, supported by strong product line-ups like the X Fold 3 series. Xiaomi secured fourth place with a 7.4 percent share, thanks to the success of its first clamshell foldable.
Despite not releasing new foldable phones in 2024, Oppo held a 5.3 percent share due to strong user recommendations. However, a notable absence is Samsung, the global leader in foldable devices, which has yet to carve out a significant presence in China’s highly competitive market.
As far as market trends are concerned, shipments of foldable phones reached 9.17 million units in 2024, reflecting a 30.8 percent year-on-year increase. However, the fourth quarter saw a 9.6 percent decline in shipments, totalling 2.5 million units. This marked the first drop after nine consecutive quarters of rapid growth. While improvements in design, durability, and battery life have enhanced the appeal of foldable phones, high prices, limited durability, and restricted internal space continue to hinder their adoption among a broader audience.
China’s smartphone market made a notable recovery in 2024
Following two consecutive years of decline, China’s smartphone market rebounded in 2024, with shipments reaching approximately 286 million units, up 5.6 percent year on year. This growth was driven by demand for AI-powered features, improved displays, and longer battery life, particularly during the first half of the year. While demand tapered off towards the end of the year, the upcoming government-backed consumer subsidy programs in 2025 are expected to further stimulate the market.
Analysts suggest that this recovery presents a critical opportunity for manufacturers to innovate and capitalise on shifting consumer preferences. However, companies must balance short-term gains with sustainable growth to avoid the risk of prematurely exhausting future demand.
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