Folding phones are gradually establishing themselves as an important part of the smartphone world since the first model was introduced in 2019. But as we enter the fifth year of the folding model in 2024, we couldn't be more excited to see how this cutting-edge part of the smartphone world will continue to develop.

2024 will see the release of a number of noteworthy smartphones, with the Galaxy S24 coming out soon after the new year and the iPhone 16 and Pixel 9 undoubtedly at the end of it. However, these smartphone staples will not be able to compete with the foldable when it comes to novelty and innovation, for all the advances already rumored.

My optimism is greatly encouraged by this year's major shift in the balance of power. In the U.S. in particular, Samsung was virtually the only one. But now there are even more challengers.

In the larger "book-like" foldable category, the Google Pixel Fold, with Google's usual software and camera tricks, appeared mid-year, putting pressure on Samsung. More recently, the OnePlus Open appeared and was personally voted the phone of the year thanks to its stunning specs, large and well-rounded display, and Open Canvas multitasking system. [Meanwhile, Motorola's Razr 2023 and Razr Plus have been competing in the compact foldable arena, and this year Moto finally escaped the spell that has plagued the past few generations of Razr foldable handsets, offering both budget and luxury in this form factor simultaneously

In addition to the US, the Razr is also available in the US.

Needless to say, there are other options outside the United States. In the UK, the Honor Magic Vs and Oppo Find N2 Flip are now available, offering more choices than ever.

Samsung, of course, is not sitting still. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 and especially the Galaxy Z Flip 5 have undergone some welcome changes. However, the status of these series as folding phones is now lost, and Samsung will have to figure out how to win back customers in the future.

While the rumors are relatively quiet right now, I expect all of these first and second generation phones to see significant improvements in the coming year. Iterations may be a bit uninteresting for cell phone buyers, but they are often beneficial for usability and reliability.

That said, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 will be the biggest Galaxy Z upgrade since the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Leaked information so far suggests that Samsung has yet to decide on a direction, but it seems certain that the next Z Fold will be a big one.

The biggest change I would like to see is the introduction of more foldables from China into the global market. For the U.S., where Chinese companies are struggling to gain a foothold (or are effectively barred from doing so), this may bring only limited benefits, but foldables such as Xiaomi and Vivo have already attracted envious glances for several years now.

I also have the somewhat unrealistic hope that 2024 will be the year we see the cost of foldable phones begin to drop. The more foldable phones take hold, the more likely they are to drop in price from their current highs. We recently spoke with representatives from companies such as Samsung, Google, and Motorola, who told us that the $500 Samsung foldable phones that were once thought to be coming to fruition and meaningful price drops will happen sooner rather than later, if not next year.

But the cherry on top of the folding cake would be the iPhone Flip. This has been rumored for years, and if it finally launches next year, it will surely be the biggest year for folding. But even if Apple decides to hold out for another year, there is still plenty to look forward to.