The foldable smartphone market is about to see a big change, with Apple reportedly preparing to launch a clamshell-style gadget and Huawei Technologies almost ready to launch a tri-folding smartphone.
Meanwhile, Huawei is planning to launch the first triple-folding smartphone with dual hinges in history. The gadget is expected to use cutting-edge AI technology to increase its appeal.
Huawei has a history of success in the foldable smartphone industry; in the first quarter of this year, it surpassed Samsung to become the best seller with a 35 percent market share.
But access to American technology is limited, limiting Huawei’s appeal outside of China and hindering its foreign sales.
Apple is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone, possibly as early as 2026, according to a report by The Information.
Apple is reportedly in talks with Asian suppliers to develop parts for the new gadget, an initiative that signals the company’s intention to enter the fast-growing foldable phone industry.
With this move, Apple is entering a market currently dominated by rivals such as Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung Electronics and Oppo.
Despite the overall stagnation of the smartphone business, there has been an increase in activity and competition in the global foldable smartphone market.
The world’s third-largest smartphone maker, Xiaomi, recently unveiled the book-style Mix Fold 4 and a clamshell variant, the Mix Flip.
Meanwhile, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, which will come with AI-driven features built in conjunction with ByteDance’s Duobao language model.
With the foldable smartphone market rapidly developing, Apple and Huawei can significantly influence its direction.
