Rumors are swirling that the foldable phone market, once hailed as the next major innovation in smartphones, may be facing some unexpected challenges. According to tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS), at least three major brands have halted or significantly delayed their foldable phone projects.
DCS reports that one of the top five smartphone manufacturers worldwide has completely suspended its foldable device efforts. Additionally, two more companies have put flip-style foldable phone projects on hold.
Major Brands Facing Challenges
The reasons for these project suspensions are not clear yet, and the specific brands involved have not been disclosed by the tipster.
Currently, the foldable smartphone market is dominated by Android manufacturers. Samsung, for example, holds the largest market share and is reportedly working on its next iteration of Z-series foldable phones, including a triple-folding model.
Market Developments
Huawei is also said to be developing a triple-folding style phone. Oppo and Vivo are other major players, having released at least a couple of iterations of their foldable devices.
However, a recent report suggested that both Oppo and Vivo have decided to withdraw from the foldable market. The decision for this is said to be due to a significant decline in their market share in this segment last year.
However, there’s been no official statement from either brand, so it’s best to wait for further reports to understand the situation better.
If these rumors are true, it could also impact OnePlus’ foldable efforts, as they have been heavily relying on Oppo and have only launched one foldable device under their brand name.
Challenges Ahead
In other news, Apple’s foldable iPhone project is also reportedly facing challenges due to fragile screen issues. While foldable phones offer unique form factors and possibilities, they remain expensive and some would argue, quite fragile.
Details:
- Samsung: Working on next iteration of Z-series foldable phones, including a triple-folding model.
- Huawei: Developing a triple-folding style phone.
- Oppo and Vivo: Reportedly withdrawn from the foldable market due to a decline in market share last year.
