Although the global mobile phone market continues to be weak, the folding screen mobile phone still maintains a rapid growth trend. According to the latest data from international research institutions, the global shipments of folding screen mobile phones in the first quarter of this year increased by nearly 6 times year-on-year. At the same time, there are still some folding screen mobile phones in short supply.

｜Some folding screen phones are in short supply

According to the latest data from market research firm DSCC, the total global shipments of folding screen mobile phones in the first quarter of this year were 2.22 million units, an increase of 571% compared with the first quarter of last year, making it the third best quarter in the history of folding smartphones. At the same time, there are still some folding screen phones in short supply.

Overall, Samsung still leads the folding screen mobile phone market, occupying nearly 74% of the market share, and Huawei ranks second, and its market share is actually increasing gradually. In the first three months of this year, Huawei accounted for 20% of the folding screen mobile phone shipments. The analysis believes that this is mainly due to the P50 Pocket. The P50 Pocket is Huawei's first vertical folding screen mobile phone, commonly known as a clamshell folding screen mobile phone.

According to the DSCC report, based on an analysis of the overall market conditions, the total shipments of foldable digital devices are expected to double to 16 million by the end of this year . On the other hand, foldable phones, which are expensive and relatively low-volume, won't suffer from component shortages like rigid phones.

｜The folding screen part has already started to cut prices

Since the end of last year, global mobile phone manufacturers have entered the field of folding screen mobile phones one after another. OPPO, vivo, Honor, Huawei, Samsung, Xiaomi and other manufacturers have launched their own folding screen mobile phone products. As of now, among the world's mainstream mobile phone manufacturers, only Apple has not joined the folding screen mobile phone. On the track, the folding screen mobile phone market has begun to gradually expand, and with more and more products in the market, some products released earlier have begun to drop in price.

According to incomplete statistics, most of the out-of-stock folding screen products are the basic models of the series. The reason behind this is, on the one hand, the price reduction of manufacturers, and on the other hand, it is also related to the insufficient supply of some manufacturers.

"Since the launch of MagicV, our side has been in a pre-order state, (customers) have basically made reservations and come to the store to pick up the goods," the clerk of the Honor Experience Store feedback. VivoX FOLD was also sold out and stopped making reservations. Within 5 minutes of the phone being sold online , it was sold out on the entire network.

While the supply of new folding screen phones is in short supply, there are also old folding screen phones that have begun to cut prices. The OPPO Find N released at the end of last year lowered the price to less than 7,000 yuan on the day of the 618 event.

｜Market size will continue to expand

With the advancement of hardware supply, interaction capabilities, application ecology, etc., in 2022, the folding screen mobile phone market will still be prosperous. It is estimated that in 2022, the global shipments of smart folding screen mobile phones may exceed 18 million units, achieving exponential growth.

By 2023, the market size of folding screen mobile phones may reach 30 million units. Although compared with the size of the entire mobile phone market, the folding screen mobile phone market is still very small, but under the leadership of Samsung, Huawei and other brands, the folding screen mobile phone market has completed the cultivation of consumers, and more and more people have begun to accept and even pursue it. this product.

At present, manufacturers such as vivo and OPPO have lowered the price of folding screen mobile phones to about 8,000 yuan. How much room for price reduction in the future? Judging from the current pricing gear of folding screen mobile phones and the market rules of electronic products, price reduction is inevitable, but Not very soon. This year, folding screen phones are still dominated by the high-end market, and there will not be too many products to choose from in the mid-to-low-end market.

At present, the mass production scale of folding screen mobile phones is not enough, the technology is still being explored, and the price is naturally relatively high. After another 1 to 2 years, with the gradual release of flexible screen production capacity, the continuous reduction of costs and the continuous maturity of technology, the price of folding screen mobile phones will usher in a relatively large drop.

In June, research data pointed out that the current industry demand is at the bottom. Under the influence of the recent resumption of work and production and the promotion of consumption, domestic consumer demand is gradually returning to normal, and it is expected to be clear in the second half of the year.