A new survey of iPhone owners in the United States claims that nearly a third of them would consider switching to Samsung or Google to get a foldable phone this year, rather than waiting for the expected release of the iPhone Fold next year.
See also: Tri-fold phones are the latest step in the evolution of foldables
SellCell's survey includes 2,000 iPhone owners . Given the way sample sizes work, that's a surprisingly large number of respondents if they represent all iPhone owners in the US.
However, the numbers cited in this particular survey don't seem to add up. For example, it says that 68.3% of current iPhone owners plan to upgrade to the iPhone 17. That's already a very high percentage, considering that most people now keep their smartphones for four to five years.
But it goes on to say that 30.3% of respondents would consider buying a foldable phone this year rather than waiting for the iPhone Fold next year – which would suggest either the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 or the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
If Apple waits until 2026, 20.1% would consider switching to a Samsung foldable, and 10.2% would turn to Google. Since the two statistics add up to the total number of respondents, we have to assume that SellCell is limiting the results to those who plan to upgrade this year. But that 30% want to switch platforms just a year before Apple’s first foldable, when they haven’t done so in any of the previous seven years, seems highly unlikely.
Either way, there's a mix of good and bad news for Apple. The good news is that two-thirds of respondents say they will upgrade to an iPhone 17, which is up from 61.9% for the iPhone 16 last year.
See also: The foldable iPhone may not have Face ID
Perhaps the most worrying news is that half of iPhone owners say Android is becoming more attractive to them. Nearly half of iPhone users (49 percent) say nothing about Android appeals to them — yet a worrying majority admit that Android is becoming more attractive, citing AI (13 percent), pricing (11 percent), cameras (11 percent) and foldables (9 percent).
Around 44% say Apple's AI features are very important to them, which again seems high, although this may be explained by the fact that the question included photography and editing tools.
But could we really see nearly a third of iPhone owners switching platforms just to get a foldable phone a year early?
Foldable Android devices are one of the most impressive technological innovations of recent years. They are smartphones with flexible screens that allow the user to fold them, transforming the device from a compact phone into a tablet, offering flexibility in use and multifunctionality.
Samsung led the way with the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip, followed by other companies like Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi, and most recently Google with the Pixel Fold. The main advantage of foldables is multitasking: multitasking with dual apps, easier reading, productivity, and entertainment on a larger screen without sacrificing portability.
See also: The best Motorola phones for 2024
Google has now built optimizations into Android for foldables, with dynamic interface adjustments and support for apps in split-screen or drag-and-drop modes. Despite the high cost and some concerns about durability, foldable devices are evolving rapidly. The latest generations are thinner, lighter, and more durable, with improved hinge mechanisms and better displays.
