The folding amount is smartphone Years of release cycle, products from the company Samsung,,,,, Motorola and Google. Despite its refreshing and unique form in a sea of mobile unified, the vast majority of consumers are still not sold.
According to a CNET survey, 64% of respondents said they were unwilling or interested in buying Foldable smartphone Next year, only 13% say yes. Another 20% are unsure if they want to be foldable, and only 3% say they already have one. This continues to spin as the rumors continue Foldable iPhone It may make its debut next year.
Watch the following: Galaxy Z Fold 7 Review: Samsung finally nails foldable
About six years ago, the folding style began to resurrect in the form of a smartphone The first galaxy z fold and Motorola Bring back the iconic razr. Other companies like Google,,,,, honor,,,,, Oppo and Huawei Has released its own foldable device, from book-style iteration to flip versions.
There is still a key player who has not yet entered the game: applerumored to be developing Foldable iPhone Over the past few years. Report yes Use Samsung to display Develop screens for upcoming phone calls, Cost is approximately $2,000. Once Apple enters the foldable space, interest will grow across the board.
“The potential entry of Apple into the market later in 2026 can really help [with] Legalizing and democratizing the category,” Forrest’s chief analyst Thomas Husseson, Tell me in July.
Niche Market
Despite the many options, folding rates are still a niche. They made up for it Less than 5% of smartphone shipmentsAccording to Trendforce’s report. But sales are expected to rise. IDC reports that foldable goods will 45.7 million units By 2028, adoption will be relatively slower globally than the 18.1 million shipped in 2023.
“It’s a very huge commitment for the average user,” Ryan Reith, vice president of IDC’s global device tracker group, told me. Samsung unpacks In early July. “No one wants to weigh it, especially when you’re going to have a big transition.”
Phones like Motorola Razr incorporate nostalgia and offer variations at multiple prices.
That’s why companies are fighting teeth and nails to make phones smoother, cheaper, and more powerful – to varying degrees. Samsung’s latest news Galaxy Z Fold 7 The focus is on smaller builds and better cameras, while slapping the $2,000 price tag, which may make it appeal only to hard-working tech enthusiasts or people without strict budget restrictions.
At the same time, Motorola is committed to developing more The budget-friendly version of its RAZR Smartphones, so you don’t have to break the bank in 2025 and beyond to step into this foldable nostalgia. (Samsung has it too “More affordable” version Its Galaxy Z Flip 7 Start at $900).
Still, it is challenging to attract a wider consumer base, especially when so many people retain it.
Buy foldable obstacles
Some of the biggest problems that prevent people from buying foldable smartphones are the high price (36%), durability issues (31%), lack of understanding of the advantages of regular phones (31%) and the lack of practicality (26%). Also, 15% said the folding volume was too large, 10% said their preferred brand was not foldable yet, and 8% were worried about Subpar camera quality.
Many of these perceptions may soon change thanks to phones like the Z Fold 7, which focuses on thin, durability and premium cameras. However, other factors such as high prices may still be obstacles. And, if you swear allegiance to a brand like Apple, you may not convince you to switch to foldable before a company made by a particular company.
Between age groups, the resistance to buying a foldable phone is quite consistent. Millennials are the most keen to venture into foldable territory, with 19% of respondents saying they are interested in buying one next year (nostalgia undoubtedly plays a role here). Following closely behind are 14% of Zers who are willing to make purchases, 10% of Xers and 8% of baby boomers.
So far, this doesn’t seem to stop phone manufacturers from wearing hats to see if they can convince shoppers to fold.
Methodology
CNET entrusts YouGov plc. Conduct investigation. Unless otherwise stated, all numbers are from YouGov PLC. The total sample size was 2,121 adults, of which 2,064 did not have a foldable smartphone. A field survey was conducted between July 1 and 3, 2025. The survey was conducted online. These numbers have been weighted and represent all American adults (ages 18+).
