The Cooling Foldable Phone Market: Triple-Folding Phone Development Halted, What's Next?

The Cooling Foldable Phone Market: Triple-Folding Phone Development Halted, What's Next?According to a bloggers report, the development of the industry's second triple-folding phone has been suspended, casting a shadow over an already uncertain market. While market forecasts predict continued updates and iterations of large horizontal and small vertical folding phones in 2025, triple-folding phone development has stalled

The Cooling Foldable Phone Market: Triple-Folding Phone Development Halted, What's Next?

In the smartphone market's relentless pursuit of innovation, foldable phones were once hailed as the technological symbol of the future, with major manufacturers pouring resources into their research and development. However, reality has diverged significantly from initial expectations. Instead of experiencing explosive growth, the foldable phone market has gradually faded from the public eye. This is primarily due to two factors: the need for improved durability and the persistently high price point. Furthermore, aggressive hardware stacking and the need for refined software support require time, leading to waning consumer interest during purchase decisions.

Despite this, the development direction of foldable phones remains intriguing. From the initial inward-folding designs to outward-folding and smaller vertical folding variations, diverse forms are emerging, showcasing considerable appeal. Huawei, with its Mate X series of triple-folding phones, created a significant market ripple, experiencing periods of high demand and demonstrating strong market impact. Surprisingly, shortly after the launch of the Mate X series, other manufacturers announced their intentions to release triple-folding phones, with related patent information even surfacing. This should have signaled a new peak for the foldable phone market, but recent news has been disheartening.

According to a bloggers report, the development of the industry's second triple-folding phone has been suspended, casting a shadow over an already uncertain market. While market forecasts predict continued updates and iterations of large horizontal and small vertical folding phones in 2025, triple-folding phone development has stalled. This isn't coincidental; according to a previous report by Counterpoint Research, while the foldable phone market experienced initial rapid growth since its inception, growth has significantly slowed. China's foldable phone shipments are projected to reach 9.1 million units in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth rate of only 2%, a stark contrast to the triple-digit growth rates of previous years.

It's evident that Android manufacturers are generally adopting a conservative strategy, no longer rushing to launch multiple foldable phone models at once, but instead focusing resources on creating one all-around flagship model. While this reduces risk, it could also limit market diversification. However, as the author suggests, survival is paramount.

• Currently, triple-folding phones face numerous challenges. For manufacturers other than Huawei, the question isn't whether they can produce a triple-folding phone, but whether there's sufficient market demand. On one hand, the high manufacturing cost guarantees a high price; on the other, the considerable weight after folding makes it cumbersome for daily use as a primary device. Therefore, even if other manufacturers possess the technical capability, the decision to launch a triple-folding phone requires a careful assessment of market demand. Only with substantial demand does the research and development make sense.

There have been reports that Apple plans to launch a foldable phone in the second half of 2026. While relatively late to the game, Apple's technological prowess and brand influence will undoubtedly inject new energy into the market and potentially spark a new wave of interest. This highlights the differing strategies of various manufacturers. For consumers anticipating triple-folding phones, the stalled development from other manufacturers is undoubtedly disappointing.

Despite the stalled development of triple-folding phones from competitors, Huawei hasn't stopped. Market rumors suggest upgrades to the Huawei Mate X series, such as a processor upgrade to the Kirin 9000 series (similar to the Mate X6), 5G-A support, and significant improvements in performance and power consumption. The imaging system has also been enhanced with features like an infrared imaging system and a large-sensor main camera, representing substantial improvements compared to the Mate X5 (released in the second half of 2023) and Mate X3 (released in the first half of 2023). While other manufacturers remain concerned about market saturation, Huawei continues to push forward, showcasing its brand strength.

Finally, it's crucial to emphasize that this information doesn't signal a hopeless future for the foldable phone market. It simply means a new direction and strategy are needed to maintain momentum. The foldable phone market needs to continuously explore new technologies and applications to meet growing consumer needs and achieve a breakthrough. The market's trajectory remains uncertain.