Foldables finally mature, but ai threatens smartphone future
The seven-year saga of foldable smartphones, once a punchline of fragile engineering and exorbitant prices, may finally be nearing a satisfying conclusion. Honor’s upcoming Magic V6 promises a crease-free display and a massive battery, seemingly fulfilling the dream sparked by Samsung’s original Galaxy Fold. But a looming shadow – the ai revolution – could derail this potential mainstream breakthrough.
The crease is gone, the price remains high
Remember the early days of foldables? Questionable durability, awkward hinges, and those unsightly creases marring the internal display? Those issues, for the most part, appear to be relics of the past. Honor’s Magic V6, launching this weekend, is poised to deliver a truly seamless viewing experience, coupled with a hefty 6,100 mAh battery to keep it powered through the day. Paired with the already slim design of the Magic V5, it’s a testament to how far foldable technology has come. It’s a remarkable evolution, transforming a niche gadget into something genuinely desirable.
However, the persistent problem of price remains a significant barrier. Even with these advancements, foldables like the Honor Magic V5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 command a premium—roughly 50% more than their slab-style counterparts, like the Magic V7 Pro or Galaxy S25 Ultra. Rumors surrounding Apple’s own entry into the foldable market suggest they’ll be cutting corners to keep the price tag around $2,400 – still double the cost of a standard iPhone.
Ai-fueled market downturn
But the biggest threat isn’t just the price; it’s the shifting landscape of the smartphone market itself. The rise of artificial intelligence is triggering a dramatic contraction in demand. Analysts are now forecasting a 13% drop in smartphone shipments, a consequence of severe DRAM and NAND chip shortages plaguing the entire consumer electronics industry. The cost of these memory chips is skyrocketing, directly impacting smartphone component prices.
While the impact will be most keenly felt in the budget smartphone segment, premium devices like the upcoming foldables won’t be spared. This precarious situation is forcing brands like Honor to squeeze more profit from their high-end offerings, further exacerbating the affordability issue. It’s a cruel irony: just as foldables are reaching their technical potential, a broader economic headwind threatens to stifle their adoption.
A fleeting moment of potential?
The Honor Magic V6 and Oppo Find N6, with their anticipated improvements, represent a brief window of opportunity. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 and, eventually, Apple’s foldable iPhone promise further refinements. Yet, the fundamental challenge remains: can foldables overcome the price barrier and become genuinely accessible to the average consumer? The answer, unfortunately, seems to be a resounding “not anytime soon.” The dream of 2026 being the year foldables went mainstream appears increasingly distant, overshadowed by the disruptive force of ai and the resulting economic pressures.
The Magic V6 will be a marvel of engineering, a testament to years of innovation. But in a market grappling with ai-driven uncertainty and crippling chip shortages, even the most advanced foldable may struggle to find its place.