2024: An In-Depth Analysis of the Foldable Phone Market From Featherlight to All-Rounder: A Technological and Market Struggle

2024: An In-Depth Analysis of the Foldable Phone Market From Featherlight to All-Rounder: A Technological and Market Struggle2024, hailed as a banner year for AI hard-tech innovation, saw the industry consensus shift towards "prioritizing applications over parameter increases." The AI wave swept across numerous sectors, including mobile phones, PCs, home appliances, and automobiles, with native AI applications emerging rapidly and profoundly changing our lifestyles

2024: An In-Depth Analysis of the Foldable Phone Market From Featherlight to All-Rounder: A Technological and Market Struggle

2024, hailed as a banner year for AI hard-tech innovation, saw the industry consensus shift towards "prioritizing applications over parameter increases." The AI wave swept across numerous sectors, including mobile phones, PCs, home appliances, and automobiles, with native AI applications emerging rapidly and profoundly changing our lifestyles. Amidst this technological revolution, the foldable phone market underwent a dramatic transformation. The journey from initial struggles with thinness and durability to today's all-around flagship devices, along with continuous exploration of form factors, deserves in-depth examination. This article will comprehensively analyze the prominent features and development trends of the 2024 foldable phone market from several aspects, including the progress in thinness, improvements in imaging capabilities, form factor innovation, and market competition.

I. Thinness is No Longer the Focus: Balancing Technological Advancement and User Needs

A few years ago, thinness and durability were major challenges for both foldable phone manufacturers and consumers. However, in 2024, with the application of new materials, more advanced hinge structures, and stacking technologies, foldable phones have made significant breakthroughs in thinness. The Huawei MateX6 boasts a thickness of only 4.6mm when unfolded and weighs 239g; the Honor MagicV3 is only 9.2mm thick when folded and weighs 226g figures that would have been unimaginable two years ago.

However, thinness is no longer the core competitive advantage in the 2024 foldable phone market. Manufacturers have gradually realized that the true value of a foldable phone for users lies beyond its thinness. The marginal benefit of thinness diminishes, and users crave stronger imaging capabilities, a more convenient user experience, and longer battery life. Therefore, manufacturers have shifted their R&D focus to other areas, such as upgrading imaging systems and optimizing software functions.

II. Imaging Enhancement: Foldable Phones Move Towards All-Round Flagship Status

In 2024, foldable phones finally shed the "not flagship enough" label. Models like the Xiaomi MIX Fold4 and vivo XFold3 Pro achieved significant improvements in imaging capabilities, enabling them to compete head-on with traditional straight-screen flagship phones.

The Xiaomi MIX Fold4 features a Leica quad-camera system, covering main, ultra-wide, telephoto, and periscope lenses, satisfying users' full-focal-length shooting needs. Its 60MP telephoto lens and 10MP periscope lens are particularly noteworthy, achieving near top-tier levels in image quality and resolution. The vivo XFold3 Pro is equipped with a Zeiss-certified triple-camera system and a self-developed V3 imaging chip, excelling in night photography, HDR processing, and dynamic capture, even surpassing some straight-screen flagships.

These imaging enhancements signify foldable phones transitioning from "show-offs" to "practical tools," from innovation in form alone to comprehensive functional enhancements. Foldable phones are no longer users' "second phones" but have become all-around flagship choices.

III. Tri-Fold Debut and Market Reaction: Balancing Form Factor Innovation and Practicality

In September, the Huawei Mate XT, with its tri-fold design, made a stunning appearance, capturing global attention. Unfolded, this phone reaches a 10.2-inch screen, resembling a tablet that fits in a pocket. However, its high price of 19,999 and controversies regarding practicality led to a rapid decline in market enthusiasm.

While the tri-fold design represents a technological breakthrough, it still faces challenges in balancing portability, durability, and everyday usage scenarios. The Huawei Mate XT is more of a test of technological boundaries and a form factor experiment; its value requires time and market validation.

IV. The Rise of Small Foldables: Motorola's Success and Market Segmentation

In 2024, Motorola achieved remarkable success in the foldable phone market with its Razr series, experiencing rapid growth in North America and Latin America, with a year-over-year increase of 1473% in the first quarter. Unlike large-screen foldable phones, small-screen foldable phones, with their lightweight portability and lower prices, have won over many consumers.

The Razr 50 series, combining a large cover screen with a compact body, meets users' needs in social media, navigation, and entertainment. More importantly, its price continues to decline, making foldable phones no longer exclusive to the high-end market. The success of small foldable phones demonstrates that not all users need a large unfolded screen; lightweight portability and more affordable prices also possess strong market competitiveness.

V. OPPO and vivo Slow Down: Challenges and Opportunities in the Foldable Phone Market

In 2024, OPPO and vivo slowed their foldable phone updates, attracting industry attention. OPPO did not release any foldable products throughout the year, delaying the planned Find N5 to 2025; vivo also suspended updates to the XFlip (small fold).

The underlying reasons include manufacturers' own strategic adjustments and the challenges facing the foldable phone market. On the one hand, the market size of foldable phones remains relatively small, and the return on investment is lower than that of flagship phones or overseas market expansion; on the other hand, market competition is intensifying, and the strong performance of Huawei and Xiaomi has further solidified the high-end market landscape. High R&D costs and limited market size also constrain profit margins.

OPPO and vivo's slowdown may be an attempt to gather strength for the next round of competition, seeking a balance between innovation and commercialization.

VI. AI Empowerment: A New Battlefield for Foldable Phones

In 2024, the rapid development of AI technology brought new differentiated experiences to foldable phones. Samsung and Xiaomi were the first to introduce "AI simultaneous interpretation" to foldable phones, using dual screens to display translated content in real time, significantly improving cross-language communication efficiency.

The combination of AI and foldable screens not only overcomes the limitations of traditional translation tools but also provides new directions for the future development of foldable phones. In the future, AI technology may further enhance foldable phone photography experiences, optimize secondary screen interaction, and offer users a more intelligent and convenient user experience.

VII. Small Foldable Phones Become a Trend: Balancing Aesthetics and Functionality

In 2024, small foldable phones (vertical folding) became a trendy wave. Models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, Huawei nova Flip, and Honor Magic V Flip have invested heavily in their appearance design, catering to female users' desire for "beauty is justice."

Social media platforms like Xiaohongshu show high user interest in accessories such as straps, personalized phone cases, and mini bags. Manufacturers have also launched exclusive fashion accessory sets, further strengthening the "wearable" nature of small foldable phones, transforming them from simple tools into fashion items.

VIII. Diversification of Small Foldable Cover Screens: A Showdown Between Large and Small Screens

In 2024, small foldable phone cover screen designs exhibited two distinct trends: large cover screens and small cover screens.

Motorola Razr 50 Ultra and Xiaomi MIX Flip adopted large cover screen designs, almost covering the entire front of the device, allowing complex operations without unfolding. This design prioritizes efficiency and functionality, appealing to young users seeking convenience.

Huawei Pocket 2, nova Flip, and Nubia Flip, on the other hand, adopted small cover screen designs, emphasizing lightweight and fashionable aesthetics, primarily targeting female users who value design and portability.

Large and small screens each have advantages, reflecting manufacturers' different considerations regarding the positioning of small foldable phones.

IX. Summary and Outlook of the 2024 Foldable Phone Market

The 2024 foldable phone market was full of opportunities and challenges. Thinness has become a basic requirement, while improved imaging capabilities and all-around flagship features are the new themes. From tri-fold experiments to the small fold trend, the form factor of foldable phones continues to evolve. Competition among manufacturers in cover screens, accessories, and AI experiences is essentially a battle over design, functionality, and user experience.

The future of foldable phones cannot solely rely on form factor innovation. Integrating them seamlessly into users' lives and making "folding" commonplace is a critical challenge that all manufacturers must continuously address. We look forward to foldable phones delivering more satisfactory results on their path to maturity in the coming year.

X. CES 2025: Anticipating More Innovations

CES 2025 will open on January 7, 2025. [Company Name]s reporting team will be in Las Vegas to cover the event, and we will continue to monitor the latest developments in the foldable phone market, providing our readers with first-hand information.