Samsung is losing its leadership in foldable products: Do competitors now have better models?

The foldable smartphone market is about to undergo a significant change. According to Counterpoint Research’s report, Manufacturer Samsung will probably be surpassed As the leader of the industry

Change must happen At the end of the first quarter of 2024, Huawei ranks first and confirms the present perfect stage. While Motorola and Honor brands are on the rise with their foldable models, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo and Google continue on their way without threatening their competitors.

The move poses a warning sign for the South Korean manufacturer: After years of isolated dominance, it lost its leadership in the global smartphone market to Apple last year. However, the situation is a little different with foldable devices.

Current foldable mobile phone market

According to the report, the foldable screen smartphone market is experiencing a boom. Sales increased by 33% in the last months of 2023 compared to the previous year, Reached 4.2 million units marketed.

This represents an increase in the sector. It concentrates models that practically turn into tablets when opened, as well as flip-up models.They are more compact and shell-shaped.

Traditionally, Samsung has led the foldable industry, especially as it is one of the industry’s pioneers. It has been releasing models in the format since 2019 and is currently in its fifth generation.

According to the Omdia report, in 2021, SAMSUNG It was responsible for 88% of sales in this segment. Huawei was already in second place, but was far behind its rival (10%).

A year later, competition began to awaken and other brands began to capture larger market shares; especially Motorola and Xiaomi.

Is Huawei’s leadership temporary?

While the shift in the foldable market leader seems real, There is a possibility that Huawei will remain in first place for a short time.

This is because, according to Counterpoint’s study, overtaking will occur specifically due to the launch window. While Huawei recently introduced the new models of the format, Mate X5 and Pocket 2, Samsung was missing new foldable devices for a while.

Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Galaxy Z Fold 6 devices are expected to be introduced in the second half of 2024. Apple will continue to be in the prototype field with its own foldable models, at least for now.

Moreover, the regional problem also plays in favor of the South Korean company: Huawei and Xiaomi, for example. They are not launching foldables in Brazil and some other markets this can help increase sales.

Therefore, it is possible that Samsung. Retake leadership in the final months of 2024 and end the year again ahead.

Competition from Huawei and Samsung in foldable technology

Apart from the mentioned Huawei models, there are other competitors in this industry. Competitors are still few, but they are becoming more competent with each generation and have the capacity to threaten Samsung’s dominance. Discover some of them below.

Honor Spell V2

Formerly a subsidiary of Huawei, Honor is now independent and rising in the market. Current foldable Magic V2, Only 9.9mm thick when closed and is one of the thinnest on the market.

still exist high quality OLED displays It has properties that reduce eye fatigue. Additionally, the model is 5,000 mAh battery and 66W fast charging.

Xiaomi Mix Folding 3

Although Xiaomi launches less foldable devices, it already has a traditional structure in the industry. Its latest model is the top-of-the-range Mix Fold 3 with a modern processor (Snapdragon 8 Gen 2) and an 8-inch main display.

But its standout feature is the cameras. The lenses are the result of a partnership with Leica and feature four high-quality rear sensors.

Motorola Razr 40 Ultra

Motorola revived the Razr brand a few years ago to name its line of flip-format smartphones. It seems to have reached the expected quality in this segment with the Moto Razr 40 Ultra, the brand’s current top model.

The phone has a 3.6-inch external display; so you can browse apps, read notifications, as well as take photos using the most powerful cameras. In addition to 8 GB RAM, the model also has a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor.

Google Pixel Folding

Google’s first foldable device has a 7.6-inch screen when opened and stands out with its own processor. Tensor G2, which is the same as last year’s Pixel phones.

Despite being praised for being very thin and having a pure Android experience, the Pixel Fold followed the trend of the brand’s other devices and introduced several issues at launch.