The Rise of Chinese Foldable Phones: Is Samsung's Dominance Under Threat?

The Rise of Chinese Foldable Phones: Is Samsung's Dominance Under Threat?While the foldable phone market remains relatively small, it's a fiercely contested high-end battleground for major phone manufacturers. Although brands focus on different R&D and market strategies for foldable phones, one undeniable fact emerges: Chinese brands have become the absolute main force in the global foldable phone market, posing an unprecedented challenge to Samsung's leading position

The Rise of Chinese Foldable Phones: Is Samsung's Dominance Under Threat?

While the foldable phone market remains relatively small, it's a fiercely contested high-end battleground for major phone manufacturers. Although brands focus on different R&D and market strategies for foldable phones, one undeniable fact emerges: Chinese brands have become the absolute main force in the global foldable phone market, posing an unprecedented challenge to Samsung's leading position.

Consider data from a reputable market research firm reflecting 2024 global foldable phone brand rankings and year-over-year growth. The data reveals a 3% year-over-year growth in the global foldable phone market. While Samsung still holds the top spot, its year-over-year sales plummeted by a staggering 33%. In contrast, Huawei secured second place with a 54% year-over-year increase, and Motorola soared to third with a remarkable 253% growth. Honor, Xiaomi, and vivo followed closely with year-over-year growth rates of 106%, 108%, and 23%, respectively. Notably, OPPO experienced a 72% year-over-year decline, while the "Other Brands" category saw a massive 155% increase, indicating strong competitiveness from second- and third-tier brands.

Even more striking is the fact that four out of the top five global foldable phone brands, and six out of the top seven, are Chinese. This is particularly impressive given that most Chinese foldable phones haven't yet launched large-scale overseas campaigns. It's foreseeable that as Chinese foldable phones aggressively enter overseas markets in 2025, Samsung's market position will face even greater pressure. Whether it can maintain its top spot is questionable, and the possibility of Huawei surpassing Samsung to become number one is increasingly likely.

Huawei's rise isn't solely due to its strong brand influence; it's also a result of its exceptionally diverse foldable phone product line. Currently, Huawei offers not only common large horizontal and small vertical foldables but also innovative tri-fold and clamshell designs, providing consumers with extensive choices.

Crucially, in 2024, most Chinese brands saw growth in the foldable phone market, while Samsung experienced a 33% year-over-year drop. This stark contrast further highlights the booming development and competitive advantage of Chinese brands in the foldable phone sector.

In 2025, Chinese brands adopted new strategies, with some focusing on small vertical foldables and others on large horizontal foldables, demonstrating differentiated competition in market segments. This strategic adjustment injected new vitality and competitive momentum into the Chinese foldable phone market.

This data and the shifting market trends paint a bright picture for the rise of Chinese foldable phone brands in the global market. Through technological innovation, product diversification, and proactive market strategies, they are steadily eroding Samsung's market share. Samsung's once-dominant position is now facing an unprecedentedly severe challenge. The future will bring more exciting competition in the foldable phone market. Whether Chinese brands can ultimately surpass Samsung and firmly grasp leadership in this technological field remains to be seen. The rise of Chinese brands reflects not only their own strength but also China's continuous technological advancement and enhanced international competitiveness in the high-end smartphone sector. This isn't just a shift in market share; it's a leap forward and a demonstration of China's technological prowess. The future performance of Chinese foldable phones in the global market will continue to attract worldwide attention and profoundly influence the development direction of the entire smartphone industry.

In future market competition, technological innovation, user experience, and brand building will be crucial factors. Chinese brands must maintain their innovative vitality and continuously launch competitive products to remain undefeated in the increasingly fierce market competition. Samsung needs to proactively address the challenges and adjust its technological innovation and market strategies to regain its leading position in the foldable phone market. This competition is not just about market share; it's about the future direction of smartphone technology.

In conclusion, the 2024 data demonstrates the strong rise of Chinese foldable phone brands. Samsung's dominance faces unprecedented challenges, and the future competitive landscape of the foldable phone market will be even more exciting. This is not just a competition between phone manufacturers; it's a spectacular showcase of China's technological strength on the international stage.