Technological breakthroughs routinely arrive with awkward growing pains, and the smartphone industry is no exception. Decades ago, early mobile phones demanded heavy lifting for minimal battery life. Fast forward to the modern era, and the earliest iterations of foldable phones faced similar design hurdles, often feeling too bulky for standard pockets while sparking curiosity from onlookers. Yet, the moment a flexible screen unfurls to reveal a tablet-sized display remains just as captivating today as it was during the earliest prototypes.
The push toward flexible screens gained serious momentum in 2019, widely declared as the initial proving ground for foldable tech. An obscure display manufacturer called Royole captured headlines at CES 2019 by introducing the FlexPai, recognized as the world's first commercially available foldable smartphone. Although rough around the edges and considered somewhat janky by reviewers, it proved that flexible OLED panels could successfully ship in a real product. Shortly after, Samsung released its first Galaxy Fold, which stumbled out of the gate due to high prices and fragile screens that forced a hasty recall and redesign. Huawei also entered the fray with the outward-folding Mate X, though vulnerable exterior screens and geopolitical trade sanctions limited its market reach.
Between 2020 and 2025, Android manufacturers drove a relentless cycle of hardware improvements that made foldable devices functionally viable. Companies tackled major engineering pain points by introducing ultra-thin glass, achieving water and dust resistance certifications, and significantly minimizing the notorious center screen crease. Clamshell models also helped push pricing down to standard flagship levels. Now, Apple has entered the arena with the iPhone Duo, leveraging years of industry trial and error to potentially push foldable technology into true mainstream adoption.
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