The market for foldable smartphones in China is booming, with sales doubling compared to the same period last year, according to new data from IDC.
Huawei is the clear leader, capturing nearly half of all foldable sales with its Mate X5 and Pocket 2 models. These phones use Chinese-made chips and offer satellite connectivity. Vivo is the runner-up, thanks to its slim X Fold 3 and X Fold 3 Pro models, powered by top-of-the-line Snapdragon processors. These devices were released just before the start of the quarter.
Between April and June 2024, 2.57 million foldable devices were sold. This is better than the same period last year and the first quarter of 2024, but still behind the record sales seen during the holiday season at the end of 2023. With growing interest in foldable phones, sales are expected to surge again this summer.
Huawei is aiming to boost its market share with the upcoming launch of the Nova Flip. This new foldable phone will have a larger outer screen compared to other Huawei clamshell models and is likely to be more affordable.
Huawei has confirmed that the Nova Flip is coming soon and has also shown what it looks like. The clamshell foldable will launch in China on August 6, likely with other Nova series phones. This could include the Nova 13, Nova 13 Pro, and Nova 13 Ultra.
The Nova Flip will be the first foldable under Huawei’s Nova brand and is expected to be cheaper for that reason.