Samsung basically invented the foldable phone category and has been running it solo for years like the popular kid at lunch who won't share the table.
But the vibes are shifting fast, and 2025 might be the year the crown starts wobbling.
Competition is heating up from every direction, and yeah, Apple is lurking in the shadows like a final boss.
Samsung still owns the lion's share of global foldable shipments, but that slice is getting thinner.
Rivals are dropping bendy phones that don't cost a whole rent payment, and buyers are noticing.
The Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip have been the default picks forever, but "default" isn't the same as "best" anymore.
Google's Pixel Fold came through with that clean software flex, and the Pixel 9 Pro Fold doubled down with a thinner build and better cameras.
OnePlus dropped the Open and basically said "we're here too" with flagship specs at a price that made people do a double take.
Honor and Xiaomi are pushing book-style foldables overseas that make Samsung's crease look kinda mid.
The company has been weirdly quiet on foldables forever, but the rumor mill is churning like a blender on max.
Reports keep pointing to a foldable iPhone possibly landing around 2026, and if that happens, it's game over for complacency.
Apple doesn't need to be first, it just needs to show up and make it feel effortless.
So what does this mean for you, the person actually spending money?
When Samsung had zero real pressure, upgrades felt incremental and prices stayed spicy.
Now every brand is fighting for your pocket, so we're seeing thinner hinges, brighter screens, bigger batteries, and discounts that actually sting the competition.
If you're team Samsung, don't panic — the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 rumors suggest a slimmer design and a crease that's finally getting addressed.
But if you're shopping right now, it's worth peeking at the Pixel Fold, OnePlus Open, or whatever Honor is cooking.
Loyalty is cool, but saving cash and getting better hardware is cooler.
Competition forces everyone to step it up, and foldables are finally graduating from "cool gimmick" to "actually worth the money." Apple entering the chat would crank that pressure to eleven.
My take: Samsung needs to stop coasting on nostalgia and start swinging like the underdog again, because the moment a foldable iPhone hits shelves, the flex wars get real.
Final Thoughts
Until then, enjoy the price drops and spec bumps — this is the best time ever to buy a bendy phone.