Search Results for: foldable

On September 2, Huawei announced that it will hold its new product launch event on September 10, coinciding with Apple’s fall product launch, signaling the intense competition between these two smartphone giants. Richard Yu, Chairman of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group (BG), hinted at the unveiling of a “disruptive product” on that day.

Richard Yu described the product as a groundbreaking one that others may have envisioned but failed to create – an achievement of five years of dedication, which turns science fiction into reality.

He Gang, Huawei’s Consumer Business Group CEO, also emphasized the uniqueness of this upcoming product.

Per a report from the Economic Daily News, it is expected that Huawei will unveil its new flagship smartphone, the Mate70, at the upcoming product launch event, along with other new products such as a triple-foldable device and is anticipated to be priced over CNY 20,000 (approximately USD 2,800). This launch, hours after Apple’s event, is seen as a direct challenge to Apple’s new iPhone 16 series.

Notably, despite being restricted by U.S. sanctions from conducting business with Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturers, Huawei continues to collaborate closely with Taiwanese companies in key component areas not affected by these restrictions.

Among these, Largan Precision not only supplies the main camera lenses for the iPhone 16 series but also provides high-end camera lenses for Huawei’s flagship devices. With Huawei’s new product launch clashing with Apple’s, Largan Precision stands to benefit significantly from its role with both companies.

On the other hand, according to a report from Chinese media Sina, Huawei’s new patent for the triple-foldable device reveals additional design details, including three housings, two hinges, and a flexible screen.

The hinges allow the housings to fold and unfold relative to each other, with a special design that reduces thickness and weight when folded.

Huawei’s foldable devices primarily depend on key bearing components supplied by Fositek. Recently, Huawei is said to have extended its exclusive supply contract with Fositek, signaling that Fositek will exclusively provide bearings for Huawei’s triple-foldable device.

Compared to the traditional smartphone market, which easily reaches sales volumes of over one billion units, TrendForce estimated that the shipments of foldable phones are expected to reach 17.8 million units in 2024, making up only 1.5% of the smartphone market. Despite high repair rates and costs, market penetration is projected to climb to 4.8% by 2028.

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• [News] Huawei’s Net Profit in 1H24 Hit Record High amid U.S. Sanctions, Surpassing CNY 50 Billion for the First Time
• [News] Huawei Unveils Tri-folding Phone Details, Reportedly Launching in September

(Photo credit: Huawei)

On May 30, MediaTek unveiled the Dimensity 7300 series mobile chips, including the Dimensity 7300 and Dimensity 7300X, both utilizing TSMC’s highly efficient 4nm process. The Dimensity 7300 offers exceptional energy efficiency and performance, meeting the high demands for multitasking, imaging, gaming, and AI computing in terminal devices. The Dimensity 7300X supports dual-screen displays, making it suitable for foldable devices.

The Dimensity 7300 series features an octa-core CPU with 4X Arm Cortex-A78 cores operating at 2.5GHz paired with four Cortex-A55 cores. Compared to the Dimensity 7050, the advanced 4nm Cortex-A78 cores in the Dimensity 7300 can achieve up to 25% power savings at the same performance level.

The Dimensity 7300 is equipped with a 12-bit HDR-ISP image processor, Imagiq 950, which supports up to a 200MP main camera, enabling smartphone users to capture images with outstanding color and detail. The Dimensity 7300 combines a new hardware engine that provides precise noise reduction (MCNR), hardware face detection (HWFD), and video HDR capabilities, allowing users to capture clear images in various lighting conditions.

“The MediaTek Dimensity 7300 chips will be important for integrating the latest AI enhancements and connectivity features so consumers can seamlessly stream and game,” said Dr. Yenchi Lee, Deputy General Manager of MediaTek’s Wireless Communications Business. “Furthermore, the Dimensity 7300X enables OEMs to develop innovative new form factors thanks to its dual display support.”

Compared to the Dimensity 7050, the Dimensity 7300 offers a 1.3 times improvement in live focus photo performance and a 1.5 times improvement in photo remastering. Additionally, the dynamic range for 4K HDR video recording has been enhanced by 50% compared to similar products, delivering richer image details. The Dimensity 7300 integrates the AI processor APU 655, which delivers performance that is twice that of the Dimensity 7050.

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(Photo credit: MediaTek)

Industry sources cited by a report from Economic Daily News have indicated that Apple is accelerating the development of its foldable device, moving up the expected launch from 2026 to 2025. Apple has reportedly placed orders for flexible panels from Samsung, with plans for the foldable device to debut with the iPad before expanding to the iPhone.

Moreover, the smartphone market leader is said to have already secured a supply of flexible panels from Samsung in the first half of this year, hinting at its determination to enter the foldable market.

Hinges are expected to be the most crucial and newly added component for Apple’s foldable device, experiencing a surge in demand. Shin Zu Shing, Taiwanese supplier for foldable smartphone hinges, having cooperated with Apple in the field for many years, stands to benefit greatly.

In addition,  other Taiwanese Apple supply chain partners, including Foxconn, Largan Precision, and Pegatron, are anticipated to benefit similarly as with existing iPad and iPhone production. The aforementioned Apple suppliers typically refrain from commenting on individual customer and order dynamics.

A report from SamMobile also indicated that, Apple may have signed a contract with Samsung Display (SDC) for the supply of foldable displays. It is estimated in the same report that limited supplies will begin in 2025, ramping up to mass production in 2026. By 2027, the supply is expected to reach 65 million units, increasing to 100 million units in 2028.

Additionally, the ordered display sizes are larger than those of existing iPhones, indicating that the display components procured by Apple from Samsung will be used in new foldable device products.

Industry sources cited in the report from Economic Daily News believe that Apple’s first foldable device will be unveiled by the end of 2025 or early 2026, targeting the ultra-high-end market segment. It is expected to come in two sizes: 7.9 inches and 8.3 inches, competing against foldable devices from Samsung and Huawei.

According to the analysis released by TrendForce in the second half of last year, Apple’s development in the folding field still requires time. Apple’s foray into foldables has been tepid, to say the least.

TrendForce reports that global shipments of foldable phones reached 15.9 million units in 2023, marking a 25% YoY increase and accounting for approximately 1.4% of the overall smartphone market. In 2024, shipments are expected to rise to about 17.7 million units, growing by 11% and slightly increasing the market share to 1.5%. However, this growth rate remains below market expectations, with the segment’s share predicted to exceed 2% only by 2025.

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• [News] Apple Reportedly Joins the Foldable Phone Market, Setting Stage for Three-Way Competition

(Photo credit: Apple)

Currently, the global foldable phone market is dominated by non-Apple players, with Samsung and Huawei acting as the key players, continuously expanding their related product lines. Although Apple has yet to debut any foldable hardware, rumors cited by a report from Economic Daily News suggest they are actively working to catch up by accelerating product development.

Sources cited by the same report suggest that Apple is highly likely to launch its first foldable hardware product either this year or next year, potentially signaling a shift to a three-way competition in the foldable phone market.

Currently, Samsung and Huawei collectively hold over 80% of the global foldable phone market share, making them highly influential in the market. Industry sources cited by the report believe that with Apple entering the foldable phone market, a reshuffle is inevitable, offering consumers not only more product choices but also potentially lower prices compared to the current landscape.

It is reported that in the past, most foldable phones were priced starting at USD 1,000, with some flagship models even priced at USD 1,500. With Samsung and Huawei potentially introducing more affordable foldable phones this year, it is expected that foldable phones priced below USD 1,000 will become increasingly common in the future.

Industry sources cited by the same report point out that the battleground for mobile phone brands will still be in flagship models, as the specifications and features of flagship phones determine the technological prowess of the brand. Therefore, whether it’s Samsung, Huawei, or even Apple, they will all compete vigorously in this market.

The market for budget-friendly phones is currently not well-defined and is primarily in the early stages of development, focused on testing the waters. It is estimated that it will take another two to three years for this market segment to become more stable.

Same sources cited by the report suggest that with Samsung and Huawei continuously investing in the foldable phone market, Apple is pressured to launch a foldable phone to keep up and not fall behind. However, the biggest challenge lies in how Apple can launch a foldable phone later but still seize the initiative, potentially attracting loyal Apple fans without affecting the sales of existing iPhone models.

According to the analysis released by TrendForce in the second half of last year, Apple’s development in the folding field still requires time. Apple’s foray into foldables has been tepid, to say the least.

Yet, Apple’s unwavering obsession with user experience could be the culprit. Furthermore, persistent challenges with foldable tech—think panel evenness and hinge design—might be holding them back.

But here’s the kicker: Achieving perfection with larger foldable panels is somewhat simpler than their smaller counterparts. Could this mean Apple might leapfrog right into medium-sized foldable products—like laptops or tablets? Only time will tell.

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• [News] Is a Foldable iPhone on the Horizon? Samsung Display’s ‘Apple Team’ Strengthening Spurs Speculation

(Photo credit: Apple)

In a strong push for foldable smartphones, reportedly, Huawei has issued rush orders to its supply chain lately. The shipment target for foldable smartphones this year is set at ten million units, marking a nearly threefold increase from the 2.6 million units shipped last year.

Previous rumors suggested that Huawei was considering lowering its foldable smartphone shipment targets for this year. However, the industry sources from related supply chain emphasizes that not only did Huawei refrain from reducing orders, but it significantly increased them.

According to Economic Daily News cited from supply chain sources, Huawei has set very ambitious goals for foldable smartphone shipments this year, aiming to increase from last year’s 2.6 million units to a range of 7 to 10 million units. This represents a nearly threefold increase, requiring additional support from various components.

Among them, the critical mobile phone component CIS, due to a rebound from the market downturn, has seen prices starting to surge. Main CIS supplier, Samsung, has raised prices by 25% to 30% this quarter.

To avoid the risk of escalating prices, CIS has become Huawei’s top priority for stocking up, primarily supplied by the Chinese CIS supplier, OmniVision. The substantial increase in overall shipment targets for foldable smartphone has driven a several-fold growth in CIS stockpiles.

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• [News] Huawei, Honor, and Transsion Reportedly Estimate Active Smartphone Shipment Goals in 2024, Projecting an Additional 70-80 Million Units
• [News] Huawei Applies Patent for Wafer Processing Technology That Enhances Wafer Alignment Efficiency and Precision

(Photo credit: Huawei)