According to TrendForce's latest research, driven by market expectations that Apple will launch a foldable phone in the second half of 2026, the penetration rate of foldable phones is expected to increase from 1.6% in 2025 to over 3% in 2027.
TrendForce reports that Samsung adopted a teardrop-shaped hinge in its Z Fold5 and Flip series in 2023, improving the flatness and durability of the foldable screen and reducing the appearance of creases. This design quickly became mainstream in the industry, not only increasing the hinge's share of the overall device value but also driving the steady expansion of the market. The global foldable phone hinge market is estimated to reach US$1.2 billion (approximately RMB 8.6 billion) in 2025. Currently, hinges account for approximately 5% to 8% of the bill of materials (BOM) cost for a single device.
Apple is considering incorporating liquid metal into its product structural design, hoping to leverage the material's properties to ensure both thinness and high toughness. Many Chinese manufacturers already possess liquid metal molding capabilities. If Apple further incorporates 3D printing, composite materials, and specialized processes, this could drive a comprehensive upgrade of the supply chain for high-end structural components.
TrendForce believes that Apple's entry into the foldable phone market signals the maturation of foldable phones, with core competition shifting to manufacturing efficiency, cost control, and supply chain integration. In this new era of coexisting design simplification and cost pressures, suppliers who master both technology and production capacity while offering price flexibility will be key beneficiaries of the next growth cycle.
