tech
Foldables are sort of boring now
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TL;DR
- Foldable phones have progressed from early, faulty models like the FlexPai and original Galaxy Fold to more durable and refined devices.
- Manufacturers like Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Google, and others have introduced various foldable designs, including flip phones and book-style foldables.
- Improvements include thinner and lighter designs, flatter creases, stylus support, better cameras, and advanced features like IP68/IP69 ratings and silicon-carbon batteries.
- New form factors, such as trifolds and wider folds, are emerging, with companies like Huawei and Samsung experimenting beyond the standard categories.
- Despite advancements, foldables still represent a small fraction of the smartphone market (1.6% in 2025), but Apple's expected entry is predicted to capture a significant share.
- Apple's upcoming foldable is anticipated to be a major catalyst, potentially driving the foldable market from niche to mainstream, depending on pricing and user adoption.
- The foldable iPhone's imminent release is already influencing competitors, with expectations of wider fold designs from brands like Oppo and Honor.
- While the technology is maturing, cameras remain an area where foldables generally lag behind top-tier standard phones due to cost and design constraints.
- The market is shifting towards wider fold designs, and flip phones, though historically popular, are seeing their popularity wane compared to other form factors.