Foldable phones have matured into mainstream devices, paving the way for Apple

The foldable smartphone market has evolved significantly since its rocky beginnings, when early devices were plagued by durability issues and design flaws. The category was pioneered not by Samsung but by Royole, whose FlexPai was the first commercial folding phone, though the company has since gone bankrupt. Samsung's debut Galaxy Fold also struggled, with review units failing within days of launch. Over time, however, foldables have grown more reliable and less novelty-driven, making the form factor increasingly mainstream. This maturation is seen as favorable timing for Apple, which has yet to enter the foldable market.