Apple(US:AAPL) Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2026-01-22 09:12Core Insights - The Chinese foldable smartphone market is projected to see a shipment of approximately 10.01 million units in 2025, marking a year-on-year growth of 9.2%, contrasting with a slight decline of 0.6% in the overall smartphone market [1] - Huawei leads the market with a significant share of 71.8%, while other brands like Honor, Vivo, and OPPO have much smaller shares, with Xiaomi dropping out of the top five [1][3] - The foldable smartphone segment is experiencing a bottleneck phase, with hardware improvements no longer sufficient to drive significant sales growth, leading to a decline in market performance [3][4] Market Dynamics - Huawei's dominance is attributed to its comprehensive product lineup, including various foldable designs and a focus on balanced capabilities rather than just lightweight models [4] - Other manufacturers have introduced innovative products, such as OPPO's Find N5 and Vivo's lightweight foldable, but these have not significantly challenged Huawei's market position [3][4] - The foldable smartphone market only accounts for 3.5% of total smartphone shipments in China, leading some companies like Xiaomi to reconsider their strategies in this niche [4][6] Technological Innovations - Manufacturers are focusing on soft-hard collaboration to enhance user experience, with Huawei's MateX7 introducing AI capabilities to improve functionality [6] - Competitors like OPPO and Vivo are also exploring compatibility with Apple ecosystems to attract users [6] - The anticipated entry of Apple's foldable phone, expected in 2026, is generating significant market interest, with expectations for superior hardware and software integration [7][9] Future Outlook - The smartphone market is expected to face cost pressures due to rising storage prices, potentially leading to a noticeable decline in shipments in 2026 [9] - The success of Apple's foldable device and its impact on the market remains a key point of interest for industry stakeholders [9]