The trends for the foldable smartphone market are positive, according to data from Canalys released last Tuesday, but the foldable segment is already a success in the short term. IDC has revealed a new report that points to a sharp growth in sales of smartphones with flexible displays during the year 2021.
According to the report, around 7.1 million foldable devices were sold last year, representing a jump of 264.3% over 2020, a period in which less than 2 million shipments were recorded. IDC attributes this solid growth to the success of Samsung’s Galaxy Z line-up, which includes the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Despite its high price range — that is, suggested prices starting at P52,990 for the Galaxy Z Flip 3 in the Philippines — the South Korean folding line models achieved record demand in their homeland.
These and other standout models such as the Huawei P50 Pocket and Motorola Razr 5G are expected to contribute to the expansion of a segment that is expected to generate unprecedented revenue with the sale of 27.6 million foldables in 2025 alone . This would take the foldables market share to 1.8% from 0.5% in 2021.
While the market share of foldable smartphones is still an almost insignificant share compared to the general market, analysts note that its demand is growing significantly due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has created a need for convenient, productive and easy to transport devices.
The expansion of this market arouses the interest of several manufacturers. Soon, it is possible that we will see the alleged Google Pixel Fold and even an iPhone Flip, in addition to new generations of launched devices, such as the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, the Galaxy Z Flip 4, among others.
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