2021 will be the year of foldable smartphones

And many competitors will offer foldable smartphones in 2021

Today, the leader in the sector is obviously Samsung. Indeed, the brand has already released several foldable smartphones such as the Galaxy Fold, Galaxy Z Flip, or the Galaxy Z Fold 2. However, Samsung is obviously not the only one who has set out to conquer the ‘foldable’ market. Moreover, we can also mention Huawei, which has great ambitions for its Mate Xs.

And if a new trade war is about to begin ?

First, in 2021, one thing is certain: many brands will offer alternatives to the already existing smartphones from Samsung and Huawei. Nevertheless, we can even talk about fierce competition in this field. Moreover, in the coming years, many people will be equipped with a foldable smartphone. But is it simply a trend or is it the future of smartphones? Consequently, it’s a question, but in any case, sales will inevitably explode.

So, towards a democratization of foldable smartphones ?

Therefore, competition inevitably means lower prices. Because many Chinese companies will surely slash prices and make it a selling point. Thus, it is possible that in the coming years, prices will be much lower than what we know for now. Indeed, the South Korean giant’s smartphones were extremely expensive, most exceeding €2000. Prices should decrease in the future, however, we should expect high-end pricing. So, we can think that the foldable smartphone will not be under €1000 for a while.

Firstly, foldable smartphones will essentially remain the privilege of a few wealthy users for some time. Secondly, the multiplication of models would allow a general price decrease thanks to larger production capacities and strong competition.

So, what’s the point of a foldable smartphone ?

The foldable smartphone allows you to have a phone that fits in your pocket, but can also transform into a sort of small tablet. Because it allows you to have a larger screen for watching movies or series, playing games, doing office work, using two applications side by side… Thus, the foldable smartphone allows you to fit a large screen in your pocket.

In fact, the foldable smartphone didn’t respond to any immediate need of consumers. However, it will create a new need: having a smartphone that also acts as a tablet.

The small screen when the large one is folded. The former will be used for applications that we use quickly such as the phone, checking an email, or sending an SMS. On the other hand, when we unfold the large screen, we rather use video applications, games, we read articles… the large screen brings more comfort than a classic phone.

But what are the drawbacks of foldable smartphones ?

First, the thickness : when your phone is folded in your pocket, it’s rather thick and certainly much more so than a classic smartphone. Next, the weight, as it weighs as much as two classic smartphones. So, you need to get used to it. Then, there’s also the external screen which is very narrow and therefore not very practical for typing or watching videos, for example. Moreover, the foldable smartphones already on the market are not water-resistant and don’t have the same standards as other current phones. Finally, the price: these foldable smartphones are extremely expensive, so it’s a significant budget to acquire one. To conclude, foldable screen technology is still in its early stages and many flaws are still present (display bugs, air bubbles at the fold, some applications don’t adapt well to this new format…).