Foldables are sort of boring now - and that’s great news for Apple

Key Points:

• Foldable phones began with Royole’s FlexPai, followed by Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, which faced significant durability issues, delaying other launches like Huawei’s Mate X; early models scored poorly in reviews.
• Over time, foldables improved in durability, design, and price, with more manufacturers entering the market and devices becoming thinner, lighter, and more functional, including features like stylus support and better battery technology.
• Recent innovations include new form factors such as trifolds and wider foldables, with durability reaching IP68 and IP69 ratings, and advancements like nearly invisible creases and silicon-carbon batteries enhancing usability.
• Despite improvements, foldables remain a niche segment, accounting for just 1.6% of the smartphone market in 2025, though Apple’s anticipated foldable iPhone launch could significantly expand the market and influence design trends.
• The next year will test consumer interest in new foldable form factors, with uncertainty about the future of trifolds and rollables, while foldable phones currently offer strong performance but face challenges in camera quality and pricing.