After Google introduced the Pixel Fold , Apple became the only global smartphone manufacturer without a foldable model in its portfolio. The Cupertino giant has stayed away from the trend that promises billions of dollars in revenues in the coming years .
Although the company started working on the foldable iPhone years ago, it has not been very keen to launch such a device until now . This is actually not unusual for Apple. Because the first iPhone, which debuted in 2007, followed a similar path.
Apple often chooses to stand out by offering a better device in an established category . He showcased this approach with the iPhone , which was not the first smartphone but revolutionized this category. Also, since the company already dominates the premium smartphone market, it has no motivation to redesign the current iPhone lineup .
Samsung market leader
Omdia analyst Jusy Hong says the foldable smartphone segment is not yet big enough to take a significant share of the iPhone, which held 77% of the smartphone market at over $751 last year . According to Strategy Analytics research director Neil Mawston, launching a foldable phone that isn't market ready too soon could ruin the entire iPhone lineup .
Currently, foldable devices are only available on the Android platform, and Samsung Electronics is the market leader. In this category, the South Korean giant competes with Google as well as Chinese brands such as Xiaomi , Huawei, Tecno, Vivo , Oppo and Honor.
