The market research company Display Supply Chain has published a new report on the state of the foldable smartphone market (via 9to5mac). According to the report, growth has slowed somewhat faster than expected in 2024, and there is an expected decline in 2025.
Following explosive growth in demand for foldable smartphones over the past three years, which reached double-digit percentage points, growth is expected to be just five per cent in 2024 and even fall by four per cent next year. For the first time since observations began, orders for foldable displays fell. The drop was 38 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, and this negative trend is set to continue in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Display Supply Chain cites the lack of competition in the market and the inability of manufacturers to tap into the market potential of other regions as the reasons for this trend. Two major manufacturers currently dominate the market for foldable smartphones: Samsung and Huawei. Google, Honor and Motorola are not yet realistic competitors.
The latest models from the two largest manufacturers, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and the Mate X6, as well as the Pocket 3, have disappointed at market launch. Huawei has also delayed the release of the Mate X6 somewhat, which complicates matters. Display Supply Chain notes that foldable smartphones have only conquered the markets in Europe and Korea; neither China nor the USA are on the list of the largest buyers.
According to Display Supply Chain, the only hope for foldable smartphones is Apple, which is expected to present its first foldable smartphone in 2026. Any innovation in terms of form factor, functionality or durability is expected to reignite user interest and revitalise the market. DSCC believes Apple will unveil its foldable smartphone in the second half of 2026, the usual time for the iPhone launch.
Opinion of the editorial team
Rumours about the iPhone Fold have been circulating for several years, in fact ever since competitors introduced their own models. Why Apple has still not presented a foldable iPhone can be explained by the numbers.
The two key manufacturers, Samsung and Huawei, share a market of just 20 million devices sold in the past two years. Apple operates with different order volumes: Cupertino likes to order 90 million devices for the traditionally strongest fourth quarter of each year, which are sold over the counter.
If you’ve been considering a foldable, you can see our top recommendations in our round-up of the best foldable phones.
This article originally appeared on our sister publication Macwelt and was translated and adapted from German.
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