Following the unveiling of Apple's first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, sales of foldable phones from Chinese manufacturers have surged. Analysts attribute this increase to heightened consumer interest in foldable devices spurred by Apple's market entry, alongside aggressive competition from Chinese firms focusing on pricing and specifications.
According to the Wall Street Journal, sales of Huawei's foldable phone, the Pura X Max, rose approximately 77% in the four days following the iPhone Duo's announcement on September 10, compared to the same period the previous week. The Pura X Max, which features a passport-sized design similar to the iPhone Duo, was launched in April and has surpassed cumulative sales of 1.4 million units.
Xiaomi's passport-style foldable phone, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, also recorded its highest sales in its first week after its launch just two days before the iPhone Duo announcement.
Chinese foldable phones are considered competitively priced compared to the iPhone Duo. The Pura X Max and Xiaomi 18 Fold start at 10,999 yuan in China, while the iPhone Duo is priced from 15,999 yuan (approximately $330), making it about 5,000 yuan more expensive than its Chinese counterparts.
China is the largest market for foldable phones globally. According to market research firm Counterpoint, China accounted for 45% of the global foldable phone market last year, the highest share recorded. Since Huawei launched its first foldable phone in 2019, other Chinese companies, including Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and Honor, have also been selling foldable devices for several years. Huawei currently leads the Chinese foldable phone market with a market share nearing 70%.
Apple has announced that it will begin accepting pre-orders for the iPhone Duo in primary markets, including the U.S. and China, starting October 16, with official sales commencing a week later.
Despite entering the market later than its competitors, forecasts suggest that Apple will quickly expand its market share. Counterpoint predicts that Apple could sell up to 6 million foldable phones this year, capturing about 25% of the global market and ranking second after Samsung Electronics (38%). Huawei's global market share is expected to be around 22%. Another market research firm, IDC, anticipates that Apple's global market share could rise to approximately 40% by the end of next year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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