The foldable phone industry, once considered the next big thing in mobile tech, seems to be facing some challenges. As reported by the Chinese outlet 163.com, a well-known smartphone maker has paused its work on large-screen foldable devices. The name of this brand has not been revealed yet.
Challenges in the Niche Market
While the foldable phone market initially sparked a lot of excitement, it has remained a small niche. So far, making money in this area has mostly been achieved by established brands like Huawei and Samsung. Other companies, including the unnamed one, are still figuring out if this phone style is worth pursuing.
Struggles with Sales
Take Xiaomi as an example. It recently released the Mix Flip, which has done quite well, with lifetime sales expected to go beyond 460,000 units by the end of the year. In stark contrast, the Mix Fold 4, a larger foldable, has had a hard time reaching even 100,000 units sold.
On another note, another Chinese brand, Oppo, has clearly delayed the release of its new foldables, the Find N5, for a year. It’s still unknown if these devices will actually come out in 2025.
Cooling Interest from Major Players
Transsion, a significant name in international markets, also seems to be losing interest in foldable devices. Their recent products – the Tecno Phantom V Fold 2 / Flip 2 and Infinix Zero Flip – might be their last attempt, as there are reports indicating that the brand has stopped further work on foldable phones.
These changes come at a time when the overall foldable market in China is slowing down. IDC’s recent data shows that shipments for Q3 2024 reached only 2.23 million units, marking a mere 13.6% increase from the previous year. This is a significant drop compared to the rapid expansion seen in the last couple of years.
In conclusion, the foldable phone market certainly has potential. However, the recent halt by a major player and the sluggish growth in China indicate that manufacturers must tackle important issues like cost and durability before foldables can really take off in the smartphone arena.
