Foldable smartphones made their debut nearly six years ago, promising to revolutionize the mobile industry with a unique form factor and unparalleled versatility. They offered the convenience of a tablet that could be easily carried in our pockets for reading, gaming, or browsing.
However, six years later, the reality hasn’t lived up to the initial expectations. Foldable devices remain luxury items, expensive and delicate, making them inaccessible to the average consumer who’s unwilling to make such a significant financial investment.
Recently, Huawei announced its Mate XT Ultimate Design, which boasts a triple screen and double fold. However, its steep base price of about $2,800 (¥19,999) illustrates how unattainable these devices are for most people. In fact, the trend seems to be moving towards higher prices rather than becoming more affordable.
The market has included more affordable foldable options lately, but they often come with reduced features. Devices like the Nubia Flip and Motorola Razr start at around $700, a price that puts them in competition with iPhones and higher-quality Android phones.
Another issue is their fragility. Replacing a foldable screen is complex and costly, sometimes up to $1,000. In other words, repair costs for foldable phones can be as high as buying a new high-end phone.
Brands see foldable devices as a lucrative market. Foldable phones remain ultra-premium products with expensive parts and a limited lifespan. The mass adoption of this type of device is still a pipe dream. Despite attempts to lower costs by reducing specs, foldable devices still have a small market share, projected to be only 1.5% in 2024, according to TrendForce.
When you break down that 1.5% by manufacturer, Samsung strongly dominates this segment, although Huawei is trying to compete and is not doing badly. The Chinese company has narrowed the gap compared to a couple of years ago.
In any case, it shows that the foldable market is still a very specific niche where volume matters less than margins.
The industry has brought innovation to the market but hasn’t been able to bring that technology to a significant number of users. As a result, it continues to do the same thing it was doing in 2018: creating desirable objects that are unattainable for the vast majority.
Meanwhile, the affordable, durable foldable remains a distant goal. This form factor has failed to gain significant traction in the market for more than five years now. Fast forward to 2028 and it’s projected to still be below 5%, according to TrendForce.
The situation hasn’t changed in recent years. As my colleague Ricardo Aguilar said back in 2023, the development of foldables is hindered by money and durability. Today, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to believe this is the next big leap in the phone sector.
Image | Xataka
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