The global smartphone market is transforming toward premium-quality smartphone manufacturing to maintain market stability and effectively counter economic downturns. While global smartphone sales declined in 2022, foldable smartphones have come to dominate the premium market segment.
Foldable smartphones have evolved steadily since they were first introduced in 2019. Since their initial launch, manufacturers have gone through successive rounds of experimentation and refinement, with a strong focus on making foldable phones practical and reliable for everyday use. Today’s foldable phone models are reaching a level of quality that increasingly rivals that of high-performance flat-screen phones.
Thanks to the performance of its flagship smartphones, the OPPO Find N2 series and Find X6 series, OPPO ranked first in the Chinese smartphone market in the first half of 2023, while simultaneously ranking fourth globally. According to survey data from Canalys, OPPO shipped 51.9 million smartphones in the first half of 2023, giving it a 10% share of the global smartphone market and an 18% share of the Chinese smartphone market, making it the best-selling brand in China.
According to a survey by Counterpoint, the OPPO Find N2 Flip accounted for up to 15% of foldable smartphone sales in China between January and May 2023, outperforming all other foldable products. As the first vertical foldable smartphone with a large cover screen, the Find N2 Flip was designed to be practical for everyday use, featuring a near-invisible crease, long-lasting battery, and advanced UI, along with other leading innovations. Starting in March 2023, OPPO began selling the Find N2 Flip in Western Europe, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and South Asia, establishing itself as a leading brand in international markets.
According to a new Canalys survey, OPPO held a 31% share of the foldable smartphone market in China in the first quarter of 2023, leading the industry’s growth. Canalys’ survey noted that the innovation and commercial success of the Find N2 Flip helped grow OPPO’s market share from 5% to 13% within the first quarter compared to the same period in 2022, allowing OPPO to set a record in the global foldable market this year.
OPPO has shown remarkable potential from the success of its foldable smartphones, with rapid growth in performance this year. According to forecasts from Counterpoint Research, global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 114% between 2019 and 2025, and are forecast to quadruple to 55 million units shipped between 2022 and 2025. Chinese original equipment manufacturers, including OPPO, have moved quickly to capture the foldable smartphone market, helping China take the lead with a 26% market share in 2022.
OPPO’s “Flip Mobile Phone Innovation Formula” is clearly visible from the original Find N phone through to its latest release, the Find N3 Flip. OPPO will continue to lead the growth of the foldable smartphone market, focusing on technological innovation while enhancing the user experience.