Samsung has monopolized the foldable smartphone market in India for years. There is little or no competition from companies such as Motorola, Vivo and Oppo, which have released foldable handsets in other parts of the world. However, all of this could change in 2023 with improvements in foldable display technology and increased demand for foldables. The increase in competition should benefit consumers from the reduction in prices of foldable smartphones. Rumor has it that Google may throw its hat in the ring in the near future with the launch of a foldable Pixel smartphone.
In this week’s episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, host Akhil Arora – in his final episode as host – discusses the possible future of the foldable smartphone segment in India with deputy editors. Roydon Cerejo and senior reviewer sheldon pinto,
Samsung has enjoyed a monopoly on the foldable smartphone market in India. However, things may change in 2023 and some companies may change the status quo. Pintu believes Opposition, VivoAnd motorola There can be those who do this. Foldable smartphones of all these brands are already available in China. However, none of their foldable models have made their way to India in the recent past.
It is worth noting that the foldable segment is a niche market with prices crossing the Rs. 1.5 lakh mark, and this could be a factor that holds companies back from competing in this space. Despite the ultra-premium pricing, the demand for foldables has increased in India. However, users should be extra careful while handling the foldable smartphone, especially while gaming due to the flexible nature of the foldable display. The Pinto reveals the mishap with the previous generation Galaxy Flip model. Early adopters of foldable smartphones were used as beta guinea pigs to test the performance of their devices in the real world. This seems to have always been the case for early adopters of any technology.
Do foldable smartphones offer better functionality? Pinto says that with his experience Galaxy Z Flip 3 And Galaxy Z Flip 4 One major flaw was discovered with the flip form factor. He had to use both his hands to open the device, which at times felt cumbersome and inconvenient. Also, the external display on a flip smartphone offers less functionality than a smartwatch. The Cerejo, on the other hand, had a better experience with the larger foldable handset. However, the existing foldable smartphones are still very heavy.
In terms of possible foldable smartphones that could debut in India, it looks like Oppo Find N2 And Oppo Find N2 Flip Which were recently launched in China, may enjoy global release in 2023 Vivo X Fold+ It might also come to India as Vivo has already launched premium smartphones in the country. Later in the year, Samsung may also come up with its next-gen foldable model. Pinto mentions rumors of a cheaper Galaxy foldable being in the works. However, a more affordable phone could also eat into the sales of the Galaxy S series.
Google is expected to launch the first-generation Pixel foldable phone in 2023, but it looks like the alleged model may not make its way to India in 2023. This could be the first foldable to offer premium camera performance in this segment. However, it’s worth noting that Google doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to fresh hardware. However, an increase in competition will definitely lead to better prices.
You can listen to our episode in detail – and there’s more – by pressing the play button on the Spotify player above. In the meantime, our upcoming episodes will be hosted by Pranav Hegde And Siddhartha Suvarna,
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