China’s foldable smartphone shipments are seeing development sluggish this yr, in response to Counterpoint Analysis, even because the nation is poised to account for greater than 50 per cent of the handset section’s 2024 international shipments.
Foldable handset shipments in China, the world’s largest smartphone market, are anticipated to succeed in 9.1 million items this yr, up 2 per cent from 2023, in response to Counterpoint’s newest market report printed on Friday.
That’s in stark distinction with the triple-digit annual share development charges recorded in earlier years, together with 103 per cent in 2023, 191 per cent in 2022 and 442 per cent in 2020.
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China’s slower foldable handset cargo forecast displays the latest worldwide dip in demand.
World foldable handset shipments noticed a 1 per cent year-on-year decline within the three months ended September after six consecutive quarters of development, in response to a Counterpoint report from November.
Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphone is displayed at an occasion in Seoul, South Korea, on July 8, 2024. Picture EPA-EFE alt=Samsung Electronics’ Galaxy Z Flip 6 smartphone is displayed at an occasion in Seoul, South Korea, on July 8, 2024. Picture EPA-EFE>
That marked the first-ever third-quarter decline within the section’s historical past, attributed primarily to Samsung Electronics‘ “comparatively underwhelming efficiency” with its Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Fold 6 fashions, the report mentioned.
The worldwide foldable smartphone section has entered “a transitionary part, the place it’s going through challenges because it progresses from a distinct segment section to the mainstream”, Counterpoint senior analyst Jene Park wrote in a separate report.
“If producers give severe consideration to enhancing worth accessibility, together with reaching additional technological reliability and enhancing client perceptions, this part will be overcome.”
To draw extra customers and foster broader adoption, “revolutionary and extra compelling use circumstances might be important”, Friday’s Counterpoint report mentioned. Regardless of the slowdown, Counterpoint indicated that China’s foldable handset section “stays a shiny spot within the nation’s saturated smartphone market”.
Promoting for Huawei Applied sciences’ Mate XT trifold smartphone is seen at a subway station in Shanghai. Picture: Shutterstock alt=Promoting for Huawei Applied sciences’ Mate XT trifold smartphone is seen at a subway station in Shanghai. Picture: Shutterstock>