This Year, 20 Million Foldable Phones Shipped... Samsung's 'No.1' Market Share Falls Below 40%

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] The shipment volume of 'foldable smartphones' that fold and unfold is expected to approach 20 million units this year. As major manufacturers such as Huawei and Xiaomi continue to release foldable phones, the market share of Samsung Electronics, which has led the market so far as the 'number one,' is expected to fall below the 40% range.

IT specialized media Digitimes Asia reported on the 10th (local time), citing Digitimes Research, that the global shipment volume of foldable smartphones in 2021 will reach 18 to 20 million units. By manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, which has secured the foldable phone market from the beginning by introducing models such as the Galaxy Z Flip and Galaxy Z Fold, is still expected to maintain the number one market share. However, the market share is estimated to fall below 40%.

This is because the market is rapidly expanding as Chinese manufacturers centered on cost-effectiveness, such as Huawei and Xiaomi, are actively entering the foldable phone market.

Xiaomi unveiled the 'Mi Mix Fold,' which lowered the price to around $1,600 in the first half of this year, and has started sales in the global market. In the second half, it plans to release a more affordable foldable phone. IT tipster Digital Chat Station revealed that Xiaomi is developing a foldable phone with higher performance and lower price than the previous model, with the model name J18s.

Huawei is also expected to release three foldable phones in the second half of the year. While the prices of the previously unveiled out-folding foldable phones Mate X, Mate Xs, and the in-folding Mate X2 exceed 3 million KRW, the foldable phones in the second half are known to focus on mid-to-low price ranges. Other Chinese manufacturers, Vivo and Oppo, are also focusing on unveiling foldable phone form factors. Analysts say that Chinese companies, latecomers in the foldable phone market, have effectively put a brake on Samsung Electronics' dominance by emphasizing relatively affordable prices compared to Samsung Electronics.

Inside and outside the industry, Samsung Electronics, which declared 2021 as the first year of foldable phone popularization, is also expected to respond to the price offensive by lowering the launch price of the Galaxy Z Fold3, to be unveiled in August, by about $400 compared to the previous model.

The foldable phone market size revealed by Digitimes Research on this day far exceeds the scale presented by other market research firms. Considering the recent moves of manufacturers, it reflects an earlier expectation of the rapid growth period of the foldable phone market. Previously, Counterpoint Research predicted that the foldable phone market size would grow from 5.6 million units this year to 17.2 million units next year. DSCC also estimated the foldable phone market size this year at 5.1 million units, double that of the previous year.

Digitimes Research estimated that the total global smartphone shipment volume this year will be 1.32 billion units, a 6.4% increase compared to the previous year. The shipment volume in the first half reached 650 million units. Double-digit growth continued in the second quarter following the first quarter. By manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, Apple, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo ranked in the top five.

Additionally, the global 5G smartphone shipment volume this year is expected to grow 70-80% compared to the previous year, reaching 500 to 530 million units. Apple is leading the 5G smartphone market.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.