All the buzz around the hot new thing that is foldable phones has quickly turned into some rather serious roadblocks for that market. Chinese publication 163.com reports. The smartphone giant has apparently paused its plans for larger form factor foldable smartphones. While the company has not been named, it’s clear companies in the foldable market are facing uncertainty.
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A Major Brand Hits Pause on Foldable Phone Development Amidst Slowing Sales
While foldable phones created a lot of buzz in the beginning, the market continues to be niche. Monetization in this area has been limited to major players such as Huawei and Samsung, with other brands (among them the unnamed company) still determining whether the form factor can be a sustainable enterprise at all. A clear example of mixed results comes from Xiaomi. Its newly introduced Mix Flip is selling like hotcakes, with lifetime sales expected to be over 460,000 units at the end of the year. By comparison, its bigger Mix Fold 4 has been struggling, failing to even break the 100,000 units barrier.
Also delayed a year are foldables from Chinese brand, Oppo, and it’s unclear if the Find N5s will see the light of day before 2025. The only other Chinese brand with a major international presence, Transsion also seems to be retreating from foldables. Their recent releases, including the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2, Flip 2, and Infinix Zero Flip, might be the brand’s final push into the foldable market, as reports suggest the company has halted further development on these devices.
These developments come at a time of broader stagnation in the Chinese foldable market. According to IDC’s latest Q3 2024 report, foldable shipments reached 2.23 million units, reflecting only a 13.6% year-on-year increase, a sharp decline compared to the rapid growth seen in previous years. Despite the promise of foldable hold, recent challenges and slow market growth indicate that manufacturers must address key issues like affordability, durability, and market acceptance before foldable can truly become a mainstream technology.
FAQs
Why did a major brand pause its foldable phone development?
The brand halted development due to slowing sales and market uncertainty.
Which brands are leading the foldable phone market?
Huawei and Samsung remain the dominant players in the foldable market.
