It is no longer a secret that Samsung dominates the market for foldable devices. With a staggering market share, the Korean technology titan is by far the largest player in the segment globally.
One of the primary reasons why the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Fold 4 reign supreme is that most Western consumers with a need for a foldable have few meaningful alternatives. There are only a few competitors to Samsung’s Z series outside of China.
However, this appears likely to change shortly. According to the prominent tech tipster @IceUniverse, Oppo will attempt to consolidate its position in the international foldable market.
The leaker claims in a tweet that the Oppo Find N2 Flip will be available “globally,” which “inevitably puts pressure on Samsung.” This could pose a threat to Samsung’s dominance, given that clamshell-style foldable typically sell better than their notepad counterparts.
Even if the Galaxy Z Flip is the most commercially successful foldable, it still has a multitude of problems. When folded, there is a gap, the crease is still quite prominent, and the aspect ratios could be further optimized.
These are all issues that Oppo has addressed to some degree. Whether or not this results in a better foldable is an entirely different question. Unquestionably, however, Samsung is in desperate need of competition.
The foldable form factor has been hailed as the next frontier in mobile technology, but recent stagnation has stifled advancements in this area. If Samsung were to face competition outside of China, the Korean tech giant would be forced to innovate once more.
Oppo’s increased international prominence in the foldable market is a positive development, particularly for consumers.
