Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip 4 may have more competition in the coming months

This summer, Samsung updated its foldable lineup with the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4. Motorola followed in October with a new edition of the Razr.

According to IDC figures, shipments of foldable smartphones in 2021 would increase by 264.3% compared to 2020. The percentage should be considered with respect to 7.1 million foldable smartphones sold in 2021, compared to 362.4 million phones sold in the fourth quarter alone. last year.

Foldable devices are a nascent but growing segment of the mobile phone industry. According to the International Data Corporation, shipments of folding devices increased by 264.3% in 2021 compared to 2020. But IDC estimates that only 7.1 million foldable phones were shipped in 2021, compared to 362.4 million phones shipped in the fourth quarter of last year alone.

A new foldable smartphone from Samsung?

Samsung Display showed off several folding concepts at CES 2022, including the Flex S tablet shown here. Samsung

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Flip 4 were released a short while ago, but Samsung has already thought about what’s next. The Korean tech giant showed off several new concepts at CES 2022 in January. However, Samsung has not yet given any indication of the launch of a new folding device.

TM Roh, president and CEO of MX Business, said in a previous CNET interview that these and other concepts are potential design candidates for future foldable phones.

Samsung is also rumored to be potentially preparing to release another foldable phone. In a tweet that appears to have been deleted, Ice Universe previously said that Samsung could introduce a third type of foldable phone this year. Ross Young also entered Saying that a sliding phone from Samsung was planned for 2022, but has been pushed back.

Oppo Find N Flip

The Oppo Find N (pictured above) may soon be accompanied by a flip phone. Eli Blumenthal/CNET

Chinese tech giant Oppo is set to acquire Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip, which is currently the most popular foldable phone according to research firm Omdia.

Quoting Blogger Yogesh Brar, Pricebaba reports that Oppo plans to launch two new foldable phones this fall. One of these devices will be a flip phone similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Huawei P50 Pocket, and the other will be a follow-up to the Oppo Find N. Both the new phones are likely to run on the Snapdragon 8 Plus processor. 1 or the latest 8 Gen 2 from Qualcomm, but rumors are rare.

Currently, Find N is only available in China. However, as Pricebaba points out, Oppo has already trademarked the term Find N Flip with the European Union Intellectual Property Office. This could indicate that Oppo’s flip phone could also make its way to European markets.

The Oppo Find N has several design improvements that favor it over Samsung’s Z Fold line, such as a larger bezel display that looks like a regular phone and a less noticeable notch. Samsung addressed some of these elements with its recent Galaxy Z Fold 4, but we’re still excited to see what improvements Oppo can make to the flip-style fold.

Ross Young, co-founder and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, thinks the arrival of Find N Flip could make Oppo Samsung’s biggest competitor in the foldable phone space. “Of course, Huawei and Samsung can create huge volume and take share”Young told CNET in a previous interview.

Google Pixel Fold (or Pixel Notepad)

Image taken from a Google patent application for a foldable phone. Google

Google could be the next big tech company to enter the foldable phone market. According to 9 to 5 GoogleThe Californian giant is working on a foldable Pixel with a shape similar to Oppo’s Find N and a lower price tag than the Galaxy Z Fold 3. The site also claims that the phone could be called Pixel NotePad and warns about its camera. Less efficient than the Pixel 6.

Google hasn’t said a word about any foldable smartphone project, especially during its recent Google I/O keynote, which previewed the upcoming Pixel 7 and 7 Pro, Pixel Buds Pro, and Pixel Watch. Check it out before more details are released in a few months. after. If Google actually has such a product in the boxes, we don’t know when it will be available. Korean news site Electricity It revealed that Google planned to announce the device in the fourth quarter of 2022, but ultimately decided to postpone the launch. Blogger Ross Young recently explained on Twitter that its launch will take place in the first quarter of 2023, but it could happen sooner if the delivery of the flexible OLED panels was not delayed until January.

A foldable smartphone from TCL

TCL’s foldable phone concept. Lisa Eadicicco/CNET

Although TCL has abandoned its plan to introduce a foldable smartphone in 2021, it has not completely given up. This year, the Chinese manufacturer introduced two new phones with rolling and folding screens. TCL has not set a timetable for a commercial launch, but has informed our colleagues about it CNET.com he planned to keep the price below $700.

Folding iPhone

A fictional concept depicting what a foldable iPhone could look like. Concept Phone

Apple is one of the few major smartphone manufacturers that hasn’t released a foldable phone, and it’s unclear if one ever will. But rumors about a foldable iPhone screen have been circulating for years. If Apple is working on a foldable iPhone, it probably won’t be released for several years. You think so Bloomberg The foldable iPhone won’t hit the market for two or three years. a prediction supported by 9-5Mac who realizes that the launch will be delayed to 2025.

It might not be a bad idea to wait a few years to launch your first directory. According to IDC, foldable phones are expected to account for 1.8% of the total smartphone market by 2025, up from 0.5% in 2021. The market research firm also says that foldable phones will take up a third of the high-end Android phone market. .

CNET.com article adapted from CNETFrance

Photo: Sarah Tew/CNET