The foldable phone category, which is expected to bring great innovations to the smartphone world, seems to be facing some unexpected obstacles. According to reports from China, three major smartphone manufacturers have suspended or canceled their work on foldable devices.
Oppo and Vivo to stop producing foldable phones?
The names of the brands in question were not disclosed. However, Chinese sources report that one company, which is among the world’s five largest smartphone makers, has completely suspended its foldable phones. Two other major brands have stopped their work on vertically foldable phones.
The reasons for these suspensions are currently unknown. However, delays and halted projects may point to emerging challenges in foldable devices.
So far, Samsung and Huawei have led the market, while players like Oppo and Vivo have also launched multiple foldable models. A recent rumor suggested that Oppo and Vivo may pull out of foldable devices altogether due to falling market share last year. The silence of both companies in the face of these allegations has fueled the rumors.
The delays also have wider implications. For example, OnePlus’ foldable launch relied heavily on Oppo’s sources. This could affect OnePlus’ future plans. It was also recently reported that Apple is struggling with display issues in its foldable iPhone project.
While foldable devices bring a new way of use to our lives, they remain expensive compared to flat screens. Recent developments suggest that the future of devices that aim to transform the industry may be more difficult than previously thought.