Apple's shadow looms: samsung & huawei chase a foldable fantasy
The smartphone industry's relentless pursuit of innovation has taken a curious turn: a race to replicate Apple's unreleased foldable design. While Apple remains notoriously tight-lipped about future products, a flood of leaks regarding competing devices has, in essence, confirmed the contours of what many believe will be the iPhone Fold—and spurred a disconcerting wave of imitation.
The wide-fold trend: a questionable evolution
First came Samsung, unveiling the Galaxy Z Wide Fold, slated to join its Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8 lineup this summer. Like the anticipated iPhone Fold, it embraces a wide-screen format, diverging from the more common tall, internal display seen in existing foldables. But the real eyebrow-raiser is Huawei’s reported development of its own wide-folding iteration, seemingly mirroring Apple's design. The question isn't simply about the lack of originality; it’s about the industry’s disconcerting willingness to blindly follow Apple's lead.
Let's be clear: Apple's influence on the smartphone landscape is undeniable. From the original iPhone's disruptive impact to its continued dominance in sales, the company has shaped the industry for nearly two decades. But this doesn't necessitate a wholesale adoption of every design choice, a Pavlovian response to every new Apple product launch. The removal of the 3.5mm jack, the introduction of the notch, the protruding camera lenses – all were initially met with skepticism, yet swiftly replicated by competitors.
The issue isn't imitation itself; it’s the lack of critical assessment. Manufacturers aren’t striving to improve upon Apple's designs; they’re simply replicating them, effectively amplifying Apple’s position instead of forging their own paths. Why invest in original thinking when you can ride Apple's coattails?
The illusion of success: branding over design
The forthcoming iPhone Fold won't conquer the market because of its groundbreaking design—if it even has one. It will succeed, as so many Apple products do, due to the power of its brand. A simple logo on the back will generate more excitement than any engineering marvel. The shift to a wide-screen format represents a significant departure for the iPhone, and Apple fans, predictably, will flock to it.
And let’s be honest, the Pixel Fold, with its square form factor, was a valiant but ultimately uninspired attempt. This new wave of wide foldables, while different, isn’t vastly more compelling. The core concept is already established, and Samsung and Huawei are simply adding more options—often at a premium price point—without injecting genuine innovation.
Huawei, ironically, was once a beacon of originality. The Pura X, with its vertically-oriented wide screen, showcased a genuinely creative approach to foldable design. Its failure to achieve widespread adoption wasn’t due to a lack of merit, but rather to its limited availability within the Chinese market. Now, instead of building on that momentum, Huawei appears content to chase Apple’s shadow.
The consequences could be severe. Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge serves as a cautionary tale—a high-profile flop that highlights the risks of chasing trends blindly. A wide-fold design, lacking genuine differentiation, could prove equally disastrous for both Samsung and Huawei, not only financially but also damaging their reputations as innovators.
Ultimately, Samsung and Huawei are not pioneers; they are echo chambers, amplifying Apple’s influence and diminishing their own. It’s a strategy that Apple will undoubtedly welcome, but one that leaves consumers with a sense of déjà vu—and a growing suspicion that the smartphone industry has run out of truly original ideas.