The truth is that foldable smartphones continue to excite many technology enthusiasts. And this particular form of smartphone has not particularly evolved over the last ten years.
It is also a fact that the biggest name in the foldable market has always been Samsung. The technology giant from Korea has – and not unjustly – the largest market share in this category. However, it seems that in 2023 Samsung’s supremacy will be challenged.
This development may be particularly positive for foldable smartphones, as their technology has been stagnant in recent years. Devices like the Galaxy Z Flip 4 are almost copies of their predecessors.
Perhaps the most important reason why the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 did not introduce notable improvements to Samsung’s folding line is because they remain the only directly available option for Western consumers in the foldable smartphone market.
Lack of competition
The vast majority of Samsung’s competitors in foldable smartphones rarely launch their devices internationally. This means that Samsung has little incentive for innovation, due to limited competition.
New “players” in the market
However, it seems that this reality will change. Chinese manufacturers of foldable devices will expand internationally and bring their devices to more Western consumers. The new foldable smartphones from Oppo (the Find N2 and the Find N2 Flip) are lightweight, have an almost invisible crease, and fold without a gap. In terms of hardware, some Chinese foldables are superior to those of Samsung in many respects.
If you put the Xiaomi Mix 2 Fold next to the Z Fold 4, the first one looks like a much more elegant version of the second. This competition could eventually force Samsung to address a series of persistent problems plaguing its foldable smartphones. The issue is not whether another manufacturer manages to dethrone Samsung, after all, the chances of that happening are very slim. However, it is important to put pressure on Samsung to make necessary improvements to these mobiles.
Is Apple entering the game?
Competition is, after all, what drives product innovation in the world of smartphones. Things will change dramatically if Apple decides to enter the foldable smartphone market!
Information suggests that in the first half of 2023, Google will announce a foldable Pixel. This date is very close to the debut of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Galaxy Z Flip 5, in August 2023.
Google has the necessary financial resources to “pressure” Samsung, especially in the US. If Samsung loses even more ground in such a significant market, then it is expected that they won’t just stand by.
