Huawei CEO "5-Year Research Foldable Phone Launch"
Foreign Media "Triple Foldable Phone Expected... 20,000 Yuan"
Samsung Also "Slimming" in Chinese Foldable Form Factor Development
As Huawei announced plans to launch a foldable phone developed over five years, predictions have emerged about the appearance of a triple-fold foldable phone. Amid intensifying form factor competition among Chinese companies to expand their market share in the foldable phone sector, Samsung Electronics, the market leader, has also expressed its intention to improve design.
Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, is conducting an interview with influencer Dong Wihou on the 15th. Photo by Billy Video Capture
According to industry sources and foreign media on the 22nd, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, recently stated, "We have researched foldable phones that other manufacturers cannot make for five years and will launch soon." Yu's remarks came during an interview with Chinese influencer Dong Wihu. The video is available on Bilibili, a Chinese video platform similar to YouTube.
This is the first time Huawei has mentioned its next-generation foldable product. Foreign media analyzed that the new product Yu referred to hints at a "triple-fold foldable phone." Chinese media outlet ChinaZ.com predicted that the triple-fold foldable phone will feature a double hinge design with a screen size of about 10 inches. It is also expected to be officially released in September to compete with the iPhone 16 series, with a price set at around 20,000 yuan (approximately 3,808,600 KRW).
Currently, Samsung Electronics holds the number one position in the foldable phone market. According to TrendForce's report on the 2024 foldable phone market share released in June, Samsung leads with 50.4%, Huawei follows with 30.8%, then Motorola (6.2%), Honor (3.9%), Xiaomi (2.8%), Oppo (2.8%), and Vivo (2.8%).
Chinese companies are trying to increase their market share through form factor competition, especially focusing on launching lighter and thinner smartphones. On the 16th, Xiaomi revealed some specifications of its Mix Fold 4, which has a thickness of 9.47 mm and weighs 226g. It is thinner and lighter than Samsung's new foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold (thickness 12.1 mm, weight 239g). Honor released the Magic V3 with a thickness of 9.2 mm and weight of 226g, and Vivo also launched the X Fold 3 weighing 236g.
Amid the intensifying form factor competition in China, Samsung Electronics has also expressed its intention to improve design. Tae-moon Roh, President of Samsung Electronics MX Division, recently said at a press conference regarding the Galaxy Z Fold6 slim model, "We have been steadily releasing special editions for China," adding, "There is demand from some countries outside China as well, and we are aiming for a launch." If a new foldable phone series is released, the 'Simgyecheonha series,' which was supplied as a thinner product for the Chinese market, could be expanded for global sales. Roh also said, "Under the direction of ultra-modern and slim, we plan to develop a design that can realize this."
The foldable phone market is expected to expand further. Market research firm TrendForce predicted that foldable phones will account for 1.5% of total smartphone shipments this year but are expected to rise to 4.8% by 2028.
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