Another report from Omdia reveals that the foldable smartphone segment experienced a growth of 309% in 2021 compared to the previous year. The foldable smartphone segment in 2021 reached about nine million units shipped.
The most popular smartphones in 2021
List shared by omdia It revealed the Samsung Galaxy A12 in the first place. The only other Android smartphones on the list are the Xiaomi Redmi 9A at number five and another Samsung phone – Galaxy A02 – at number ten. The second place on the list is Apple’s iPhone 12, followed by the iPhone 13. The iPhone 12 and 13 Pro models took eighth and ninth places on the list, and the Pro Max models at six and seven points, respectively. The iPhone 11 also makes it to the list, taking fourth place.
Why Samsung Galaxy A12 ranks first on the list
For starters, the Samsung Galaxy A12 comes at an affordable price of Rs 13,999 for a 4GB / 64GB base storage unit. The real link here is the massive 5,000mAh battery, 48MP quad-camera setup, dedicated microSDXC slot, and 3.5mm jack. All these things in one phone are not common for most of the smartphones available in the affordable segment, especially in western markets.
Samsung Galaxy A12 specifications
- 6.5 inch HD + screen
- Exynos 850 SoC
- Up to 6 GB RAM, 128 GB Storage
- Android 11 with OneUI Core on top
- 48MP + 5MP + 2MP + 2MP
- 8 MP front camera
- 5000mAh battery, 15W fast charging
309% annual growth in fold shipments
According to Omdia, foldable smartphone sales increased rapidly in the second half of 2021, with annual foldable smartphone shipments reaching 9 million units in 2021, up 309 percent. In the second half of 2021, 8 million units of foldable smartphones were sold, accounting for 89 percent of this year’s total shipment.
According to a report from IDCFoldable devices will see healthy growth for at least another three years. In 2021, about 9 million units of foldable (foldable and flip) smartphones were shipped, which is a 264.3 percent increase over the 1.9 million units shipped in 2020, all thanks to the Galaxy Z Flip 3 and Fold 3. from Samsung. Furthermore, the report also forecasts a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 69.9 percent in the next three years, to reach 27.6 million units in sales by 2025.
Although the IDC report shows a promising figure of 27.6 million units of sales by 2025, it still represents 1.8 percent of the total shipments in the smartphone market. There is no denying that the traditional candy bar smartphone can be a bit outdated for many over a newer, foldable design. However, it will be interesting to see the preferences of brands and consumers between the foldable space and the flip.
The upside-down form factor was a fan favorite in 2021, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 getting a case CES 2022 Innovation Award for Best Innovation and one of TIME’s best inventions of 2021. The Galaxy Z Flip 3 saw massive demand at a hefty price of Rs 84,990 compared to the Rs 1,49,999 price tag of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3.