Huawei Set to Launch World’s First Tri-Folding Smartphone Amidst Growing Market Competition

The foldable smartphone market is poised for a significant transformation as Huawei Technologies prepares to launch the world’s first tri-folding smartphone. This innovative device, featuring dual hinges and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, is set to enter mass production by late 2024, according to Chinese state-backed media outlet Securities Daily.

Huawei has consistently excelled in the foldable smartphone market, achieving a 35 percent market share and surpassing Samsung in the first quarter of this year. The introduction of a tri-folding handset is expected to further solidify Huawei’s dominance in the foldable segment. However, Huawei faces challenges in the international market due to restrictions on accessing U.S. technology, which limits its appeal outside China.

In parallel, Apple is reportedly gearing up to enter the foldable smartphone market. According to a report by The Information, Apple may launch its first foldable iPhone as early as 2026. The tech giant has been in discussions with Asian suppliers to develop components for this new device, indicating its intent to compete in the burgeoning foldable phone market. This development marks Apple’s entry into a segment currently dominated by Samsung Electronics, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Huawei. The global market for foldable smartphones has seen substantial growth, particularly in China, where shipments more than doubled from 3.2 million units in 2022 to 7.01 million in 2023.

The increased competition has driven major players to innovate and capture larger shares of the high-end market. Xiaomi recently introduced its Mix Flip clamshell model and Mix Fold 4 book-style foldable, while Samsung showcased its new Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 models, featuring AI-driven functions developed in collaboration with ByteDance’s Duobao language model.