Despite applying for numerous patents (and being granted several) for a foldable iPhone, I still don’t think Apple will release such a smartphone. However, I could be wrong as foldables continue to be the fastest growing smartphone product category this year, according to Counterpoint Research.
The research group expects their shipments to grow 73% year-over-year in 2022 to 16 million units. Samsung continues to lead the category it created with the first Galaxy Fold device.
Samsung’s share of the foldable market was 62% in the first half of this year. Counterpoint expects this to jump to 80% in the second half with its new Galaxy Fold 4 and Flip 4 product launches.
On the significance of the foldables segment across the broader market, Counterpoint Senior Analyst Jane Park says, “Foldables not only bring fresh design to smartphones – traditionally ruled by bar-type form factors – but also more screen real estate. This is growing in importance with smartphone use cases expanding, especially across media, entertainment and work.”
I think foldable smartphones are a gimmick that will pass. What’s more, as noted by Screenrant, foldable screens are difficult to produce and the hinges are prone to failure, as demonstrated by such high-profile manufacturers as Samsung and Motorola that struggled and failed on their first attempts.
