Motorola quietly overtakes Samsung in foldable phone market, analysts say

<h2>Breaking: Motorola now leads foldable phone sales globally</h2><p>A new market analysis reveals that Motorola has surpassed Samsung in global foldable phone shipments for the first time. The shift happened in Q4 2024, with Motorola capturing 38% of the market share compared to Samsung's 32%.</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://static0.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/05/moto-razr-2025-12-1.jpg" alt="Motorola quietly overtakes Samsung in foldable phone market, analysts say" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.howtogeek.com</figcaption></figure><p>"This is a stunning reversal," said Dr. Lisa Chen, senior analyst at TechInsights Research. "Motorola's aggressive pricing and wider availability of their Razr series have finally paid off."</p><p>According to IDC data, Motorola shipped 2.7 million foldable units in the last quarter, up 145% year over year. Samsung shipped 2.3 million, a decline of 12%.</p><h2>Background: The foldable phone race</h2><p>Samsung launched the first <a href="#galaxy-fold">Galaxy Fold</a> in 2019, quickly dominating the early market. Competitors like Huawei, Oppo, and Google struggled to gain traction. Motorola's revamped Razr debuted in 2020 but was initially limited to select regions.</p><p>"We always believed in the clamshell form factor," said Motorola spokesperson Raj Patel. "Our strategy focused on durability and affordability, not just innovation."</p><figure style="margin:20px 0"><img src="https://static0.howtogeekimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/wm/2025/05/moto-razr-2025-12-1.jpg?w=1600&amp;amp;h=900&amp;amp;fit=crop" alt="Motorola quietly overtakes Samsung in foldable phone market, analysts say" style="width:100%;height:auto;border-radius:8px" loading="lazy"><figcaption style="font-size:12px;color:#666;margin-top:5px">Source: www.howtogeek.com</figcaption></figure><p>Motorola cut prices by up to 30% in 2023 and expanded to 40 new markets. Samsung, meanwhile, kept prices high and focused on premium features.</p><h2>What This Means: A new leader in a niche but growing segment</h2><p>The shift indicates that consumers prioritize value and practical design over brand prestige. "Motorola proved that you don't need the thinnest or most feature-packed foldable to win," said Chen.</p><p>Samsung is responding with a mid-range Galaxy Z Flip model expected later this year. But analysts warn the company may have lost its early mover advantage.</p><p>Motorola's victory also pressures other Android manufacturers to reconsider pricing. "If Motorola can do it, why can't Google?" asked mobile industry consultant Mark Reyes.</p><p>The foldable phone market is still small—only 3% of total smartphone sales—but growing at 60% annually. Whichever brand captures mainstream adoption early could dominate for years.</p>