All articles tagged with #foldable smartphones
Honor is expected to launch its first wide-format foldable in January 2027, replacing its previous Vs series. The device will feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip, a 7.6-inch inner screen, and a 7,000 mAh battery. Priced at approximately $1,470, it aims to compete directly with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Apple's iPhone Duo.
Foldable smartphones now represent roughly 2% of the global market, with growing consumer interest driven by larger displays and multitasking capabilities. While prices exceed $2,000 for many models, manufacturers like Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi are addressing durability and crease visibility. However, concerns remain regarding weight, camera quality, and repair costs, making traditional phones a viable alternative for budget-conscious or rugged users.
TrendForce forecasts Apple's iPhone Duo will capture about 24.8% of the foldable market in 2026, shipping around 5 million units and helping offset a segment slowdown as global foldable shipments total roughly 20.2 million. Samsung leads with about 7.1 million units (35.1%), while Huawei is expected to match Apple at ~5 million and 24.8% share. Apple’s design tradeoffs include no dedicated periscope zoom in favor of a 48 MP main camera with 2x optical zoom and a side Touch ID, with AI/multitasking enhancements poised to redefine foldables.
Xiaomi and Huawei unveiled new foldable phones ahead of Apple’s expected foldable iPhone reveal, with Counterpoint predicting Apple could ship about 6 million foldables this year and capture roughly 25% of the global market (potentially rising to 40% by 2027). Samsung remains the global leader, while Huawei dominates China’s foldable market; both Chinese firms tout in-house chips (Xiaomi’s XRing O3 and Huawei’s LogicFolding) to boost their devices.
Google has announced an August 12 event to unveil the Pixel 11 lineup — including the Pixel 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro XL, and a Pixel 11 Pro Fold — with leaks showing slimmer bezels, a thinner body than the Pixel 10, and an updated all-black camera bar. The foldable is expected to be about 10.1mm thick when folded and 4.8mm unfolded, and Europe hints at a €100 price increase across Pixel models amid broader 2026 price rises as Apple and Samsung prep pricier new devices, including the iPhone 18 lineup and Galaxy Z Fold 8/Flip 8 ahead of that.
Samsung is officially previewing the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup, introducing two models—Fold 8 and Fold 8 Ultra—with refined designs, sharper and more durable displays, and premium specs. Both run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage, a 4,800 mAh battery (45W charging), and 5G/Wi‑Fi 7/Bluetooth 6.0 with IP48 water resistance. The standard Fold 8 features a 7.6-inch inner display and dual 50 MP rear cameras, while the Ultra adopts an 8.0-inch inner screen and adds a 200 MP main camera plus a 10 MP telephoto, though most updates are incremental. Samsung claims a July 26, 2026 unveiling with availability starting August 7 in Korea and other markets, plus potential pre-order perks and leaked wallpapers; the Ultra’s higher price is being weighed against its added features.
ZDNet Korea reports the wider Galaxy Z Fold8 Wide uses 60-micrometer UTG, thicker than the 45µm on the Fold8 Ultra, which should reduce creasing but may raise breakage risk; the wider model is viewed as a test case for future foldables and a potential competitor to Apple's iPhone Ultra.
Samsung reportedly plans a marketing push aimed at iPhone Fold users by offering a complimentary upgrade to Galaxy Z Fold 8 features, signaling intensified competition in the foldable smartphone space.
Rumors suggest Apple will launch a foldable iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro featuring a tri-display setup (7.5-inch main, 5.5-inch secondary, external screen), under‑display Face ID, USB‑C on the display side, a 5,000–6,000 mAh battery with vapor‑chamber cooling and wireless reverse charging, and an A20 Pro 2nm chip. The Ultra is billed as a premium, limited‑quantity device with a titanium hinge and expected price around $2,000–$3,000, while the 18 Pro emphasizes design continuity and accessory compatibility.
Samsung revealed the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide for July 22, packing crease-free OLED displays, a sleeker unfolded profile (4.5mm) and folded thickness of 9mm, two camera setups (Fold 8: 10MP telephoto, 50MP ultrawide, main; Fold 8 Wide: 200MP main, 50MP ultrawide), Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with enhanced cooling, 5,000mAh batteries with 45W charging, and S Pen support to boost productivity, signaling a refined evolution in premium foldables focused on usability and performance.
Leaks suggest the Galaxy Z Fold 8 will retain Samsung’s foldable design while shrinking the front camera cutout from 3.7 mm to 2.5 mm for a cleaner display, with subtle design refinements and a revived S Pen. Samsung’s London Unpacked event on July 22 is expected to reveal the Fold 8 and potentially a wider foldable device, plus ecosystem expansions like the Z Flip 8 and Galaxy Watch, as competition from Apple and other Android makers intensifies.
Apple is reportedly entering the foldable market with the iPhone Fold, expected to be unveiled at the September 2026 event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Production challenges and regional supply constraints could yield a staggered rollout, with shipping anticipated around December 2026. Rumored specs include a 7.8-inch inner foldable display, 5.5-inch outer display, Apple A20 Pro (2nm) with 12GB RAM, 5,800mAh battery, and a price range of $1,999–$2,499, all tied to optimized iOS for a seamless phone-to-tablet experience.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 emphasizes durability, refined usability and strong performance over new innovations, with a reworked hinge, dual-layer ultra-thin glass and a reinforced metal plate to reduce creases. It sports a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8-inch inner screen at 120 Hz, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, up to 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage, and a 5,000 mAh battery with 45W charging plus wireless options. The report also teases potential S Pen support and a larger Galaxy Z Wide Fold for productivity-focused users, signaling a dual-category foldable strategy for Samsung.
Apple is reportedly preparing its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Fold, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display and a larger outer screen to rival Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Expected upgrades include reduced crease via advanced materials (potentially sourced from Samsung), a 4:3 aspect ratio, and a 5,500 mAh battery for longer life, all supported by an iOS optimized for foldables and enhanced multitasking. Durability improvements include a tough polyimide layer and a liquid metal hinge. Camera may lack a telephoto lens, while AI features are anticipated. Priced around $2,000, the iPhone Fold aims to refine the first-gen foldable concept and push competition in the ultra-premium segment.
Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Wide are rumored to pack larger batteries (5,000mAh and 4,900mAh), faster charging (45W–60W), and a lighter, thinner design while facing rising competition from Apple’s anticipated foldable iPhone; pricing is expected around $2,000, with Samsung still a leading foldable-display supplier.