The foldable smartphone space is buzzing with increased support from brands, hardware innovations, and generative AI enhancements. Since the release of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the market has the potential to expand.

It was previously expected that China's consumer subsidies would offset the smartphone demand decline in the US caused by the reciprocal tariffs. However, the actual subsidy impact remains rather limited. Extended replacement cycles and cooling economic conditions have caused global smartphone demand to weaken.

A major power shift is underway in the global industrial landscape. Once dominated by financial and energy giants, especially in the early 2000s, the world's top companies by market capitalization are now being overtaken by tech leaders. In particular, Nvidia's market cap surged past US$4 trillion, underscoring a broader shift in global economic leadership, from traditional industries and mobile-era tech to the disruptive forces of AI.

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has issued a preliminary ruling in favor of Samsung Display, backing the South Korean company's allegations that Chinese rival BOE Technology misappropriated OLED trade secrets. If upheld, the decision could disrupt BOE's supply of OLED panels for Apple's iPhones, injecting fresh uncertainty into the global smartphone supply chain.

John Ternus, once a relatively low-profile executive at Apple, is now considered by the rumor mill as the leading candidate to succeed CEO Tim Cook. His rise comes in the wake of COO Jeff Williams's retirement announcement—an event that has reshuffled expectations within Apple's leadership ranks.

Samsung Display is reportedly gearing up to become the exclusive supplier of OLED panels for Apple's first foldable iPhone, signaling a deepening partnership between two of the biggest names in tech.

As the third quarter of 2025 kicks off, smartphone brands around the world are rolling out new models, hoping to rejuvenate the sluggish market as inflation, currency swings, and trade tensions continue to weigh on consumer demand. While the smartphone market continues to face challenges like product maturity, high market penetration, and extended replacement cycles, making it difficult to achieve strong overall sales momentum, it's fortunate that generative AI has boosted the industry in recent years. Brands have progressively incorporated AI functionalities into their mid- and high-end models, which has helped sustain smartphone sales.

Foxconn has reportedly begun importing key components from China to India for the iPhone 17, marking the start of trial production. The development comes as both India and the US intensify scrutiny of Apple's manufacturing strategy and its reliance on China.

Despite a generally negative outlook for the second half of the year, Largan, a key market indicator, stressed during its earnings call that the demand momentum for new flagship smartphones remains largely unchanged compared to previous years.

Apple Inc. is planning an ambitious pipeline of new products for release during the first half of 2026, including a new low-end iPhone, multiple iPads and upgraded Macs.

Global foldable smartphone shipments rose only 9% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2025, a steep decline from the triple-digit growth seen in earlier years, according to Counterpoint Research. Now entering its sixth year of commercialization, the segment is losing steam, largely due to Apple's continued absence from the market.

Samsung Electronics has introduced its latest flagship foldable smartphones, adding fresh momentum to what is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the foldable device market. While Samsung remains one of the pioneers in this category, it now faces intensifying competition from Chinese smartphone makers, which some industry executives believe could help grow the overall market, rather than diminish its prospects.

The free trade agreement (FTA) between the US and South Korea has now become irrelevant under Donald Trump's administration. Taiwan's tech products also face the possibility of losing the ITA and ITA 2 tariffs-free benefits granted under the WTO framework. Trump's tariff threat can be understood as a step to force Seoul to share the cost of stationing US troops in South Korea. But what does Trump want from Taiwan in the tariffs game? TSMC is already constructing wafer fabs and an R&D center in the US. Does Trump want AI server makers to set up assembly lines in the US, and for the Taiwan currency to sharply appreciate against the greenback?

Taiwanese component suppliers are ramping up efforts to enter the growing foldable smartphone market, but penetrating South Korea's highly integrated supply chain remains a major challenge. Samsung Electronics unveiled its latest Galaxy Z foldable series on July 10, 2025, emphasizing slimmer, lighter designs—a trend seen as critical in the next phase of smartphone innovation.

On July 9, Vivo officially launched its first foldable smartphone, the X Fold 5, in Taiwan, marking a strategic move to tap into the premium device market, strengthen brand value, and challenge Samsung's dominance in the foldable segment.

Samsung Electronics plans to launch a triple-fold smartphone by 2025, and for its goal in 2025, the Korean brand aims to equip its existing 400 million Galaxy devices with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, according to senior executives. These moves signal Samsung's continued push into both foldable devices and mobile AI technology.

Samsung Electronics has officially launched its new Galaxy Z series smartphones. On the surface, it appears to be just another routine product launch. However, this marks a new era of competition in the foldable phone market.

Samsung Electronics and Vivo's recent foldable smartphone launches have rekindled interest in a segment that had lost momentum. Yet supply chain executives view these 2025 releases as mere warm-ups before Apple's anticipated 2026 debut in the foldable sector, which they expect will trigger genuine market competition.

Samsung has reclaimed the No. 2 spot in India's smartphone market in early 2025, driven by a dual strategy targeting both budget and premium buyers. Its renewed push includes AI-powered features, rural retail expansion, and flexible financing, reinforcing India's role as a critical hub for sales and production.

Below are the most-read DIGITIMES Asia stories from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This week's highlights include Samsung's strategic licensing of Intel patents to avoid global IP battles, Intel's executive shakeup, and Apple edges closer to launching a foldable iPhone. Meanwhile, China's domestic AI chipmakers face steep uphill battles, while Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem formed a new alliance backing TSMC's international expansion.

Foxconn's June 2025 revenue rose 10.09% year-over-year to NT$540.24 billion (approx. US$18.62 billion), driven by strong AI cloud demand, but fell 12.26% from May due to currency headwinds. The company remains cautiously optimistic for the second half, expecting seasonal ICT growth while monitoring geopolitical risks and fluctuating exchange rates.

Apple and Xiaomi are doubling down on efforts to develop in-house 5G baseband chips, joining a race long dominated by tech heavyweights like Qualcomm and MediaTek. Both companies signaled their ambitions in 2025 to break away from reliance on third-party modem suppliers and take fuller control of their mobile silicon strategies.

As uncertainties persist around tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and exchange rate fluctuations, mobile phone manufacturers are preparing for the traditional demand peak in the second half of 2025. Industry players are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence integration and expanding new product launches to sustain and grow smartphone sales during this pivotal period.