# Intensifying competition in the global foldable market > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/global-smartphone-market-shift-toward-foldable-devices > Updated: 2026-09-09T01:55:05.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 4. The global smartphone market is witnessing a fierce competition for dominance in the foldable device segment as major manufacturers introduce high-end models to counter plateauing growth in traditional smartphones. Following the anticipated September 2026 launch window, Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, with prices starting at 15,999 yuan. The device features a 5.4-inch outer screen that expands to a 7.6-inch inner display. The launch event also marked a leadership transition, as John Ternus headlined the presentation following Tim Cook’s move from CEO to executive chairman of Apple’s board. The iPhone Duo has already triggered significant secondary market activity in China, where scalpers are reportedly offering pre-order services with markups reaching as high as 5,000 yuan. Samsung has responded to Apple’s entry via social media, mocking the design of the new iPhone and suggesting that the company is merely “reheating” existing technology. Additionally, Samsung New Zealand released an advertisement featuring a man named Tim Cook from Palmerston North, who provides a review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 in a style mimicking Apple’s cinematic promotions. In China, Huawei and Xiaomi have also launched their premium foldable options, the Mate XT 2 and Xiaomi 18 Fold, respectively. These devices are designed to bridge the gap between smartphones and tablets, targeting high-end users 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 including OPPO, vivo, and Lenovo. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi compete in foldable smartphone market Tech giants Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple are competing for the foldable smartphone market, while rising AI-driven component costs are driving price increases across mobile and computing devices. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-huawei-and-xiaomi-compete-in-foldable-smartphone-market ### 2026-08-28: Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi to compete in foldable smartphone market Apple, Huawei, and Xiaomi are set to compete in the premium foldable smartphone market this September, featuring advanced 3nm processors and improved structural designs for flexible devices. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-huawei-and-xiaomi-to-compete-in-foldable-smartphone-market ### 2026-08-09: Apple dominates premium smartphone market amid rise of foldables The smartphone market is shifting toward premium and foldable devices in 2026, with Apple dominating the high-end segment while foldable phones see projected growth of nearly 30%. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/apple-dominates-premium-smartphone-market-amid-rise-of-foldables ### 2026-08-07: Samsung faces pressure as Apple nears foldable phone market entry Samsung faces rising pressure in the foldable phone market from Motorola and potential entry by Apple, amid supply chain challenges and shifting market shares. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/samsung-faces-pressure-as-apple-nears-foldable-phone-market-entry --- Cite as: Intensifying competition in the global foldable market. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/global-smartphone-market-shift-toward-foldable-devices