Reports suggest Apple is developing a clamshell-style foldable phone, while Huawei is pushing the boundaries with a tri-fold model.
This would act as a big boost to the foldable phone market as many brands have entered the scene already including Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Motorola, and several others. Huawei itself has multiple Mate series phones with foldable screens.
According to the report, despite US sanctions, Huawei is reportedly gearing up to launch a smartphone that folds into three sections by the end of this year. The company has finished a prototype and is now preparing for mass production. Huawei is also integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into this new device.
The company’s CEO, Richard Yu, has confirmed Huawei has been developing new foldable phones for five years. They even filed a patent for a dual-hinge foldable device in 2022.
Huawei recently overtook Samsung as the world’s top foldable phone seller, capturing 35% of the market in the first quarter of this year. However, US sanctions have limited Huawei’s global reach due to restrictions on using Google services.
Foldable smartphones could be more profitable for Huawei due to their high prices, so the company will likely continue to invest in this area. This comes as Huawei faces challenges in obtaining chips for its 5G technology.
The foldable phone market in China is booming. Shipments doubled to 7.01 million units in 2023 compared to 3.2 million in 2022, according to a recent report.
Source: SCMP
