Earlier this week, Samsung held its Summer Galaxy Unpacked event and revealed the Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7. While they offer slight improvements—being a bit thinner, lighter, and more durable—they don’t feel as groundbreaking as they should. In fact, some tech experts believe Samsung is falling behind, especially when compared to Chinese foldable phones by brands like Oppo, Huawei, and Honor.
The truth is, China is now dominating foldable phone innovation. Let’s explore how Chinese phone makers are setting the pace—and why this matters for global consumers.
Samsung Foldables Are Good, But Predictable
Samsung has led the global foldable market for years, thanks to its early work on devices like the original Z Fold and Z Flip. But in 2025, the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 feels less exciting.
Samsung dropped S-Pen support entirely, even though earlier generations embraced it. The battery capacity remains at 4400 mAh, and the charging speed is just 25W—which feels outdated when you compare it to competitors.
Chinese Foldables Are Evolving Much Faster
Now let’s look at the Chinese brands—and how they’re going beyond what Samsung is doing.
Oppo Find N5
Released earlier in 2025, the Oppo Find N5 is the same thickness as the Galaxy Z Fold7 at 8.9 mm. But it adds true innovation:
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Stylus support on both the inner and outer screens
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A silicon-carbon battery with 5600 mAh capacity
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80W fast charging
That means it charges more than 3x faster and lasts longer than Samsung’s latest foldable. Even though it's six months older, it's still ahead.
Honor Magic V5
Honor beat Samsung to the sub-9-mm foldable phone by launching the Magic V5 just a week earlier than Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event. It's just 0.1 mm thinner, but more importantly, it shows China’s determination to stay one step ahead.
Huawei Mate XT – The Trifold Revolution
Huawei isn’t playing it safe. In late 2024, the company launched the Huawei Mate XT, a trifold foldable that can transform from a 6.4-inch phone into a 10.2-inch tablet. Despite having two hinges, it’s still thinner than the older Galaxy Z Fold6.
These brands aren’t just making gimmicks. They’re making real advances that improve usability, battery life, and design. They’re winning the race in foldable tech.
Why Chinese Consumers Push Innovation
According to Counterpoint Research’s Neil Shah, Chinese smartphone users are more experienced and more demanding:
“Chinese consumers have matured significantly, with many now on their fifth or sixth smartphone. This experience has led them to actively seek unique and advanced devices.”
China is the largest foldable phone market in the world, with two-thirds of all global foldable sales happening there. Western markets like the US and Europe? Only around 1% of smartphone sales are foldables.
This demand drives faster innovation. Chinese brands can release bold new designs without worrying too much about global risk. They focus first on their massive home market, and then slowly expand.
Government Support Makes a Big Difference
Innovation isn’t just driven by companies—it’s also pushed by government support.
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Huawei reportedly received $75 billion in subsidies.
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BYD, the electric vehicle giant, got over $3.7 billion.
This backing allows companies to take bigger risks, develop better tech, and work closely with local component makers like BOE, Chinastar, and Visionox.
BOE, in particular, is now one of the world’s top display makers. It's producing screens not just for Huawei and Oppo, but even for Apple's upcoming MacBooks.
The combination of government support and local supply chain dominance gives Chinese tech companies a serious edge.
Western Brands Are Playing Catch-Up
While China pushes forward, companies like Samsung and Apple are moving slowly. Samsung sticks to minor updates each year. Apple hasn’t even launched a foldable yet.
Nothing, the brand created by Carl Pei (ex-OnePlus), criticized the industry’s lack of innovation. Pei said at the launch of the Nothing Phone (3) that:
“Today’s smartphones have become boring.”
Even though Nothing’s changes are more cosmetic, Pei’s point reflects growing frustration among tech fans in the West.
What Happens Next?
Samsung has said it's working on a trifold phone, but it won’t be ready until late 2025. By then, Huawei, Honor, Oppo, and Xiaomi will already be on their next generation.
Meanwhile, China is doubling down on future tech:
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Semiconductors
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AI
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Quantum computing
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Fusion energy
Research firm Yole Group predicts China could surpass Taiwan in chip production by 2030. That's a huge shift in global tech power.
The U.S. CHIPS Act is trying to reduce dependence on China, but progress is slow. Tariffs may slow things down, but they won’t stop innovation already in motion.
Final Thoughts: Will the West Catch Up?
While Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 is a solid phone, it's no longer the clear leader. Chinese brands like Huawei, Oppo, and Honor are innovating faster and delivering more value—often months ahead of Samsung.
Western brands must act quickly if they want to keep up. Because by the time Apple finally releases its first foldable phone, China will already have won the foldable war.