According to International Data Corporation, IDC projects that the supply of flexible smartphones will reach 41.5 million copies in 2026, with a combined annual growth rate of 38.7 per cent from 2022 to 2026.
Samsung is still the leader of the flexible device market with its Galaxy Flip and Galaxy Fold lines, and the idea of using such gadgets as smartphones and tablets is becoming increasingly popular. Next year, growth is expected to be 55.1% and will continue at a two-digit rate later. Experts believe that while the initial price of $999 is a significant obstacle to the mass distribution of such smartphones, buyers may accept such costs, given the overall increase in inflation in 2022.
Although almost 70% of the sales of flexible smartphones are expected to increase in 2022, experts believe that they will not become mainstream in the foreseeable future. This niche is now dominated by lower-cost models of $400, and lower storage prices will not do any good, as it will inevitably have a negative impact on profits and product quality, as well as on user impressions. The expert community is of the view that flexible smartphones should remain a niche product for a long time, and developers should work to improve their quality in order to build the confidence of the audience.
According to IDC projections, 13.5 million flexible smartphones will be delivered in 2022, 1.1% of the 1.352 billion that are expected to be delivered in the current year, and companies believe that by the end of the reporting period, the market share of such models will still be less than 3%, so the technology will not soon be leading the industry.