In-depth Analysis of China's Foldable Phone Market in 2024: Huawei Remains the Undisputed Leader

In-depth Analysis of China's Foldable Phone Market in 2024: Huawei Remains the Undisputed LeaderChina's foldable phone market demonstrated strong growth in 2024, with shipments reaching 9.17 million units, a year-on-year increase of 30

In-depth Analysis of China's Foldable Phone Market in 2024: Huawei Remains the Undisputed Leader

China's foldable phone market demonstrated strong growth in 2024, with shipments reaching 9.17 million units, a year-on-year increase of 30.8%, according to statistics agencies. Market competition intensified significantly. Huawei, leveraging its robust technological prowess and brand influence, maintained its dominant position, capturing a commanding 51.29% market share. This not only solidifies Huawei's leadership in the foldable phone sector but also highlights its absolute advantage in this niche market.

Huawei's success in the foldable phone market is no accident. Since entering the field, Huawei has consistently held over 50% market share, boasting a five-year average market share of 50.3%. This impressive achievement underscores Huawei's comprehensive strength in foldable phone technology R&D, product innovation, and market promotion. Huawei's success stems from its continuous investment in technology and its accurate grasp of user needs. From early technological exploration to its current mature product line, Huawei has consistently remained at the forefront of foldable technology, continuously overcoming technological bottlenecks to deliver an exceptional user experience.

Data from Counterpoint Research further corroborates Huawei's market dominance. Their best-selling model ranking shows Huawei MateX5, a representative large-foldable phone, leading the pack with a 28.1% market share. Meanwhile, Huawei Pocket S2 secured a 10.7% market share, making it a standout performer in the small-foldable phone segment. These two models alone account for 38.8% of total sales, demonstrating Huawei's strong competitiveness across different foldable phone sizes. The Huawei MateX5 won over consumers with its leading hinge technology, powerful performance configuration, and excellent camera system. The Huawei Pocket S2, on the other hand, caters to the demand for lightweight foldable phones with its compact and portable design and powerful functionality.

In stark contrast to Huawei's dominance, other manufacturers, while achieving certain market shares, remain significantly behind. vivo X Fold3 held the third position with a 5.3% market share, followed closely by Honor Magic VS2 with a 4.4% share. These two phones have made efforts in design and pricing, offering slimmer bodies and more affordable prices to lower the barrier to entry for consumers sensitive to price. However, their market share lags considerably behind Huawei's, reflecting Huawei's advantages in brand influence, technological accumulation, and supply chain management.

It's noteworthy that vivo and Honor's proactive performance in the foldable phone market signals increasingly fierce future competition. They are progressively enhancing their competitiveness in the foldable phone market through their technological capabilities and market strategies. The success of the vivo X Fold3 and Honor Magic VS2 provides a benchmark for other manufacturers, accelerating industry-wide technological innovation and product iteration.

Looking ahead, Huawei's leading position in the foldable phone market remains secure. Reports suggest Huawei is projected to capture 73% of the domestic market share in 2025, indicating its continued dominance in the foldable phone sector. However, Huawei faces challenges, such as supply chain issues. For instance, the highly anticipated Huawei MateX6 series is still not readily available on Huawei's official website; consumers can only purchase through a 90-day application and reservation system, which to some extent limits the growth of Huawei's foldable phone sales. The stability of the supply chain will directly affect Huawei's ability to maintain its market leadership.

In summary, China's foldable phone market saw vigorous development in 2024, with Huawei continuing to lead the market thanks to its strong technological capabilities and brand advantages. While other manufacturers are actively catching up, Huawei's lead remains substantial. The future will see even more intense competition in the foldable phone market. Huawei's ability to maintain its leading position will depend on its comprehensive strength in technological innovation, supply chain management, and marketing. The active participation of other manufacturers will also drive technological advancements and product iteration across the industry, ultimately benefiting consumers. The development of China's foldable phone market warrants continued attention.