
Apple's foldable iPhone screen sizes are unlikely to blow your mind, new report suggests
Apple's first foldable iPhone is unlikely to come close to the Z Fold 7's huge cover screen. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena Even last year's Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold would hold a major advantage over the iPhone Fold (whose name is obviously not etched in stone yet) in both departments, with something like the OnePlus Open essentially tying that aforementioned main display size while also handily winning the secondary screen battle. In short, Apple's long-awaited first foldable iPhone is likely to be at a big disadvantage compared to many of its key rivals in a very important area when it eventually comes out, although you have to keep in mind that an even more pessimistic rumor called for an even smaller 7.58-inch primary display just last month. So, yes, things could end up looking even less impressive next year, at least from this particular standpoint. That's because the " iPhone Fold " (once again, unconfirmed name) is likely to offset its apparent screen size weakness with strengths in other areas, like battery capacity, durability, and perhaps most importantly, a totally crease-free display for an absolutely gorgeous design. That's something that market research firms have identified as a strong possibility for a number of years now, but of course, no one can guarantee that the first foldable iPhone will instantly connect with mainstream audiences around the world. Especially at a price expected by many to exceed $2,000.
What's crystal clear is that the global foldable market is in desperate need of a new hero, looking at barely racking up 19.8 million unit sales in 2025 and thus more or less matching the 1.6 percent penetration rate of 2024.
That's not a very positive outlook for Samsung... or Huawei.
That essentially means foldables will account for 1 in 60 smartphone purchases made this year, which has to be a disappointing number for brands like Samsung, Huawei, Honor, and Motorola.
Those are (in order) the world's top foldable smartphone vendors, all of which probably expected to see their sales figures grow at a steadier pace by now. Instead, Samsung's dominant market share is projected to go down from 45.2 percent in 2024 to 35.4 percent this year, with silver medalist Huawei maintaining a relatively stable 34.3 percent of the pie and thus coming really close to the gold medal position.
In third and fourth place respectively, Honor and Motorola are expected to jump from 6 and 5.5 percent to 9.1 and 7.6 percent market shares, thus strengthening their positions as "fast-growing players"... that are nonetheless unlikely to vie for gold or silver medals anytime soon. Switch to a 2-month Total 5G or 5G+ plan with Total Wireless and score this foldable deal.
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Phone Arena
7 minutes ago
- Phone Arena
One UI 8.5 quietly confirmed for Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung's upcoming flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra, is rumored to come with One UI 8.5. A few days ago, the first firmware for the phone was spotted on Samsung's server, suggesting that the phone's software is now being developed. It was then suspected that the firmware was based on One UI 8 .5, but there was no confirmation. Now, the folks at SamMobile have managed to get their hands on the first firmware for the expected beast to confirm it's based on One UI 8.5. The firmware version is carrying number S948USQU0AYG8. Its build info mentions it's based on Android 16 and One UI 8 .5. This is the first time One UI 8 .5 was mentioned officially, confirming its existence. Earlier, reputable leaker IceUniverse also mentioned the Galaxy S26 Ultra may come with One UI 8 .5. Last week, we heard that Samsung will start introducing major One UI versions with the foldables from the Galaxy Z series, which is sometime in the middle of each year. Now, Galaxy S series phones are going to come with One UI x.5, which includes major new features and improvements. Proof that Galaxy S26 Ultra may come with One UI 8.5. | Image Credit - SamMobile Google has switched to a new development model for Android for faster release of software. It's now releasing major new Android versions in the middle of the year. So Samsung is aiming with this change to match Google's software update release timeline with One UI releases. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is said to come with some great upgrades as well, not just some new features in One UI 8 .5. The phone is said to bring improvements to its display, possibly faster charging (although rumors are contradictory on this one), and maybe a new look. The S26 series is expected to come out in early 2026. They'll face the iPhone 17 series (coming this fall) in the battle of the best flagship phone. I think that this is an exciting change for Galaxy users. One UI 8 .5 sounds like it could bring some nice improvements, and it's great to see Samsung syncing up with Google's Android updates. That could mean faster, more polished software for everyone. The fact that Samsung is already testing the firmware shows it's working hard to get things ready early. If the Galaxy S26 Ultra delivers on the upgrades we've heard about, plus the new software, it could be a really strong competitor in 2026.


GSM Arena
37 minutes ago
- GSM Arena
Samsung may have developed a way to keep the Exynos 2600 cooler
This week we've seen the Exynos 2600 post impressive results on Geekbench and 3DMark. Reports from Korea claim that Samsung has developed a cool new trick for this chip – a Heat Pass Block (HPB) that promises to cool the application processor (AP) better than previous approaches. A 'chipset' is just that – several chips, usually arranged in a package-on-package structure, which places the RAM on top of the application processor (this is the silicon die that holds the CPU, GPU, NPU and other components). The Heat Pass Block adds another layer to that stack – a copper heat sink. This is similar to the heat spreaders that are typical in modern designs. Heat spreaders, however, are added after the package-on-package structure has been assembled. The advantage of the HPB is that it is much closer to the source of the heat, which should allow it to pull heat away more efficiently. An example of package-on-package stacking, without an HPB The Exynos 2600 will be fabbed on Samsung's 2nm Gate-All-Around (GAA) process and is expected to ship with the Galaxy S26 series. We wouldn't be surprised to see a Snapdragon chip in some or all Galaxy S26 Ultras. However, whether the other S26 models get the Z Flip7 treatment (Exynos in all markets) or whether chip selection varies by market remains to be seen. Samsung is expected to complete quality testing of the Exynos 2600 and should officially unveil the chip around the same time. The Galaxy S26 series should be out in late January or early February. Source (in Korean)


Phone Arena
37 minutes ago
- Phone Arena
Apple closes a store for the first time in the biggest smartphone market on Earth
Another day, another thing that has never happened before: 2025 rocks (so far). Apple has many stores across China, and that's only natural, since that's where the largest smartphone market has been in recent years. Now, Apple has decided to close one of its emblematic stores in China. Apple is set to close one of its retail stores in Dalian (northeastern China) on August 9, as reports read, highlighting that Cupertino has been in China from 2008 onwards. The soon-to-be closed store is located in Parkland Mall, and it's being shut down due to a broader decline in the mall's foot traffic. Other brands (like Michael Kors and Armani) have also left. The report claims that this move reflects broader challenges in China's economy, where consumer spending remains weak despite government efforts to boost consumption through trade-in programs and subsidies for items like smartphones and electric is also facing mounting pressure in China, its second-largest market, as local competitors such as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Vivo continue to eat into its market share. The company's sales in China have been falling for six straight quarters, with revenue dropping nearly 10 percent last year compared to its 2022 the closure, Apple will maintain a presence in Dalian through another store and plans to open a new store in Shenzhen this month. With the addition, Apple expects to end 2025 with the same number of retail locations in China – 58 – as it started the year. Image by PhoneArena While Apple faces a slowdown in sales, domestic brands continue to gain momentum. Huawei, in particular, reclaimed the top spot in China's smartphone rankings during the second quarter of 2025, shipping 12.2 million units and capturing 18% of the market, according to research firm Canalys. Huawei's return to the top comes despite an overall dip in smartphone sales across the Chinese brands also posted strong numbers: Vivo took second place with 11.8 million units, followed by Oppo and Xiaomi. Apple, though still in the top five, came in last among the group with a 15% market share – roughly 10.1 million units – placing it behind its local competitors. So, one store opens, another is going to be shut down: but locals grab iPhones less and less. That doesn't worry me a bit. The big question is: how can people outside of China grab a hold of Chinese phones? Brands often release top-shelf models only for the Chinese market, and that's a shame.