For the first three years, Samsung had no real competition in the foldable smartphone space. It ruled the markets unopposed, but a few phone brands launched their first foldable smartphones in 2022. Now, even OnePlus and Tecno have announced their plans to launch their first foldable phones this year.
OnePlus has announced that it will launch its first foldable phone later this year. The company offered a cryptic message, which probably means that its foldable phone will launch sometime in Q3, 2023, the same time frame as the Galaxy Z Fold 5. OnePlus didn't offer any other detail regarding its upcoming foldable phone, but knowing OnePlus, the device will likely be launched in Europe and India at the very least.
OnePlus' first foldable phone might undercut Galaxy Z Fold 5
Looking at the time frame, it is easy to expect the phone to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, which is already used in the OnePlus 11. A camera setup similar to the OnePlus 11 can also be expected, especially after looking at OPPO's strategy with its foldable phones. Since OPPO works very closely with OnePlus, we won't be surprised to see something very similar.
Starting this year, Samsung will see a lot more competition in the foldable smartphone space. More Chinese OEMs are trying to launch their foldable phones in global markets and undercut Samsung with their pricing. OnePlus could do the same, especially after looking at OnePlus 11's pricing.
Most of Samsung's competition in the foldable smartphone category lacks an IPX8 rating for water resistance and other premium features like wireless charging, stylus support, deeper integration with ecosystem products, and longer/quicker software update promise. Of course, Samsung usually also offers better after-sales support and has more trust among consumers.
