3 Minutes
Market outlook: gradual recovery and long-term growth
Smartphone shipments are no longer expanding at the breakneck pace seen a decade ago, but the overall trajectory is optimistic. Market research firm IDC forecasts a 1% rise in smartphone unit sales this year versus 2024, followed by steady annual gains of 1–2 percentage points through 2029. For manufacturers like Samsung, this measured recovery helps erase the sharp downturns experienced in 2020 and 2022 and signals a return to sustainable growth in a challenging economic environment.
Foldables: from fragile prototypes to mainstream contenders
The IDC report highlights one key demand driver: foldable smartphones. What were once perceived as fragile, thick, and battery-constrained prototypes have evolved into polished, high-performance devices. Modern foldables such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 are thinner, lighter, and more powerful, offering larger displays, improved processors, and subtler screen creases that make them viable mainstream products.
Product features
- Design: thinner, lighter multi-screen form factors
- Displays: bigger OLED panels with reduced creases
- Performance: upgraded processors and better thermal tuning
- Cameras: flagship-level multi-camera systems comparable to non-foldable flagships
Comparisons and advantages
Compared with early foldables, current models deliver better battery life, slimmer profiles, and higher reliability. Against traditional slab phones, foldables add transformative multitasking and tablet-like use cases without sacrificing flagship performance.
Use cases
Foldables excel in productivity (split-screen apps, document editing), media consumption (large, immersive displays), and creative work (multitasking with stylus support on some models), making them attractive to power users and professionals.
Samsung’s roadmap and market relevance
Samsung reports strong demand for the Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7. Apple is widely expected to enter the foldable space later this year—reportedly using Samsung-supplied OLED panels— which could further validate the category. Meanwhile, rumors suggest Samsung may debut a tri-fold model before year-end, potentially powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite For Galaxy, with a roughly 10-inch internal display, triple-camera array, and a premium price north of $2,500, likely launching first in South Korea and China.
Overall, IDC’s forecast and the maturing foldable segment indicate that device innovation—especially in flexible OLED, multi-screen UX, and flagship SoC performance—will drive the next phase of smartphone market growth.
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