Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi compete in foldable smartphone market

The global smartphone market is witnessing a fierce competition for dominance in the foldable device segment. Major manufacturers including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple have recently introduced high-end foldable models, signaling a strategic shift toward new form factors as traditional smartphone growth plateaus.

Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, with prices starting at 15,999 yuan. The device has already triggered significant secondary market activity, with scalpers in China reportedly offering pre-order services and markups reaching as high as 5,000 yuan. Meanwhile, Samsung has responded to Apple's entry into the foldable market with social media commentary suggesting Apple is following established industry trends.

In China, Huawei and Xiaomi have also launched premium foldable options, such as the Mate XT 2 and Xiaomi 18 Fold, respectively. These devices aim to bridge the gap between smartphones and tablets, catering to high-end users seeking increased productivity through larger screens and AI integration.

Parallel to the foldable trend, the broader consumer electronics market is experiencing price increases. Rising costs for memory and storage, driven by high demand for AI data centers, have led to price hikes for various smartphone and computer models from brands like OPPO, vivo, and Lenovo.