Foldable smartphone shipments are forecast to increase by a CAGR of 53% between 2021 and 2024 to exceed 30 million in 2024, according to the latest Canalys forecasts. The segment is forecast to grow by a CAGR of 122% between 2019, the year the first foldable products launched, and 2024.

Driven by Samsung, foldable smartphone shipments reached 8.9 million in 2021. The foldable segment grew 148% year on year despite high price tags, while the overall smartphone market only grew 7%.

“The key catalyst for foldable smartphones has been the booming use of large-screen devices during the pandemic,” said Runar Bjørhovde, Research Analyst at Canalys. “As consumers are constantly looking for a better experience on their day-to-day mobile devices, the bar has now been set even higher by the productivity and entertainment experience on large screens. As the world continues to reopen, it brings new opportunities for smartphone vendors to provide products such as foldable smartphones that can fulfill consumers’ needs and desires.”

“Foldable form factors present vital differentiation for vendors to stimulate smartphone sales. They are especially appealing to early adopters and high-end users,” said Toby Zhu, Canalys Analyst. “Android vendors are under big pressure in the premium segment, as shipments of US$800-plus smartphones have fallen 18% below the 2019 level while iOS shipments have grown 68% over the same time. Google and the major Android device vendors must double down on their investments in differentiated hardware and state-of-the-art user experiences to keep appealing to high-end customers.”

“Fortunately, the supply chain ecosystem for foldable devices has developed rapidly over the last few years, thanks to Samsung. While there are an increasing number of suppliers for foldable displays, hinges and other key components, device vendors are also highlighting innovative engineering solutions and product designs for a better user experience while constantly pushing down prices,” said Amber Liu, Research Analyst at Canalys. “In addition to major hardware design innovations, the real battlefield for device vendors is the software user experience, which requires substantial investment in the user interface and capable software as the foldable app ecosystem is still far from optimal. Last November, Google’s Android Dev Summit brought many new features for foldable and dual-screen app developers, providing a vital booster for this category with promising user experience improvements likely to come soon.”

“Major smartphone vendors are getting ready to compete in the foldable category, which will become a vital part of their high-end strategies and corporate branding. We expect this year will see many new foldable device launches as vendors continue reducing thickness, weight and price, which will be vital for mass-market adoption. The leading players will start to flex their muscles in the ecosystem to leapfrog their competitors with advanced and differentiated experiences,”

said Liu.

Samsung faces some stepped-up competition from the Microsoft Surface Duo 2, which also improves upon its predecessor. And Oppo has joined the foldable game, revealing its Find N smartphone for China. Huawei has also pushed deeper into foldables with the Huawei P50 Pocket.

Types of Foldable Smartphones

There are primarily two main types of foldable smartphones:

• Book-style foldable: These phones unfold like a book, revealing a larger inner screen. Examples include the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series and the OnePlus Open.

• Flip-style foldable: These phones fold vertically like a traditional clamshell phone, offering a compact form factor when closed. Examples include the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip series and the Motorola Razr.

Advantages of Foldable Smartphones

• Larger screen: Enjoy immersive content like movies, games, and multitasking on a bigger display.
• Compact design: When folded, they are easy to carry in your pocket.
• Unique form factor: Stand out from the crowd with a stylish and innovative device.

Challenges and Considerations

• Price: Foldable phones tend to be more expensive than traditional smartphones.
• Durability: The folding mechanism can be susceptible to damage.
• App compatibility: Some apps may not be optimized for foldable screens.

Would you like to buy a foldable smartphone?