As Samsung Electronics prepares to unveil its latest Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 7 devices in New York next month, attention is focusing on whether Samsung can maintain its lead in the competitive foldable phone market, particularly against Chinese companies.
According to CNBC on Thursday, foldable phones first captured public attention when Samsung introduced a design that allows the display to be folded in half.
However, Chinese companies like Honor and Oppo are competing with Samsung by offering thinner and lighter models, posing a significant challenge to Samsung’s dominance.
Oppo’s Find N5, released earlier this year, has a folded thickness of just 8.93mm (0.35 inches) and weighs 229g (8.08 ounces). Similarly, Honor’s Magic V3, launched last year, measures 9.2mm thick (0.36 inches) when folded and weighs 226g (7.97 ounces). In comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, released last year, measures 12.1mm (0.48 inches) thick and weighs 239g (8.43 ounces) when folded.
Ben Wood, chief analyst at market research firm CCS Insight, emphasized the growing importance of thinness in foldable devices. He stated that while consumers desire the expansive displays of foldable phones, they do not like the bulky, heavy designs.
Samsung is set to unveil its Galaxy Z Fold and Flip 7 series next month, its thinnest, lightest, and most advanced foldable phones to date. In a blog post, the company stated that these new models will feature precise hardware, powerful performance, and AI capabilities optimized for the form factor.
Chinese competitors are not sitting idle. Honor plans to launch its latest foldable smartphone, the Magic V5, in China on July 2. Wood suggests that if Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Flip series can match the thinness of Honor’s offerings, it would mark a substantial improvement over previous models.
Despite these advancements, CNBC predicts that the foldable phone market may not grow explosively.
The reason is that many consumers still do not feel the need for foldable phones. While thinner devices might help overcome this stagnation, experts agree that a shift in consumer preferences is crucial for market growth.
CCS Insight forecasts that foldable phones will account for just 2% of the overall smartphone market this year. Wood believes that if much thinner foldable phones that more closely resemble traditional smartphones are released, consumers might reconsider their interest in these devices.
Rumors are also circulating about Apple’s potential entry into the foldable phone market. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from TF International Securities suggests that Apple, which has not yet entered the foldable market, may be considering making an entry.
