This week it's the most exciting in the history of foldable screen devices. Four new flagship models were launched within 24 hours. Galaxy Z Fip4 and Galaxy Z Fold4 from Samsung, Razr 2022 from Motorola and MIX Fold2 from Samsung. All meet the needs of users who want a powerful foldable-screen device in two different sizes.
Post-launch we were a little disappointed with the two devices launched by Samsung due to the almost identical design, the still existing crease effect issue on the screen and no new added features that make it different from the previous model.
Compared to their first-generation foldable screen devices, the only difference in design is the Fold's outer screen which is now larger, the use of smaller bezels, a larger secondary screen on the Flip and waterproof capabilities. Each year only small iterations are given.
For four years, Samsung's dominance is also unchallenged with 74% of the market held by them in the last quarter. Huawei initially showed the potential to compete but the economic sanctions imposed now cause their ability to be severely curtailed. Huawei Mate Xs 2 and P50 Pocket are two devices that in terms of hardware are solid but the software used is unfortunately not compatible with the needs of global users. Tragically both also only support 4G networks in a 5G world.
Oppo launched Find N which is probably the most logical design for a modern screen-foldable device. But it is not offered to the global market. The Honor Magic V, Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold, Huawei Mate X 2 and Vivo X Fold borrow the design of the Galaxy Z Fold3 but again are not officially offered outside of China.
This is probably the main reason why Samsung is comfortable enough to offer the same product for four years in a row. We understand this is done because the market for foldable screen devices is too small in the early stages. Only last year the sales of devices in this design reached 10 million units in the history of Samsung. So the small changes that were made after receiving input from early users that directly became the T20 dutch rat on behalf of Samsung.
But with other manufacturers starting to produce more innovative devices, Samsung can no longer recycle the same designs next year. The Motorola Razr 2022 uses a 144Hz screen, a bigger camera and a more useful external screen than on the Z Flip4.
Meanwhile MIX Fold 2 uses a completely different design from MI MIX Fold. In just one generation, Xiaomi has changed to a new partner that is more innovative, thinner, and most importantly practical because the MIX Fold 2's external screen has a 21:9 screen ratio like a regular candybar smartphone.
Oppo will also launch a foldable screen successor to the Find N and competitor to the Z Flip4 this year. Google has already started testing for a device that might use the Pixel Fold with a design similar to the Find N. Don't forget that Apple has also started testing their foldable iPhone/iPad prototype since 2019.
The dominance that Samsung enjoys now will be challenged in the near future. They can no longer afford to stand still and make safe decisions doing small iterations every year. If they stubbornly remain standing in the same place while competitors have started to run, their huge hold in the current large foldable screen device market will shrink sharply.
This is not an impossible scenario. There was a time when Nokia and HTC were the two manufacturers with the world's largest mobile phone market. They remain standing while Samsung has already started running with their Galaxy S series. Samsung is now the world's largest smartphone manufacturer while Nokia and HTC are only remembered by old people (like us).