Chinese sources report that Apple will be phasing out its iPad mini line of small tablets as iPhones increase in size.
According to local media reports, the Cupertino-based company is preparing a large foldable iPhone that will receive support for the Apple Pencil. It is expected that this device will be equipped with an OLED panel, which will be from 7.3 to 7.6 inches. As a reminder, the iPad mini 5 has a 7.9-inch screen diagonal, but the large iPhone can fold in half and fit easily into a pocket or small purse.
In fact, news of a foldable iPhone surfaced back in 2016, with Apple also filed a number of related patent applications. It was also reported that the corresponding Samsung screens have been successfully tested by Apple.
According to the latest data, Apple’s first foldable smartphone will be released in September 2022. At the same time, Apple will finally abandon the famous notch that houses the front camera and the earpiece.
The price of the device is expected to be around $ 1,500.
Apple finally defeated Samsung in the global smartphone market
Apple overtook Samsung to become the world’s leading smartphone brand amid record sales of iPhone smartphones. The company showed a huge jump in the last quarter of last year, while Huawei‘s position weakened greatly.
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According to Counterpoint Research, shipments of iPhone smartphones increased 22% in the previous quarter. The surge is driven by the release of the iPhone 12 lineup, which supports fifth-generation networks. Also, sales of previous models did not fall, the demand for which is stable after the price decline.
The company has shipped 90 million smartphones and has more than 23% market share. Analysts note that Apple has strengthened its position in the premium segment of smartphones in China. According to Apple CEO Tim Cook, two of the top three selling premium smartphones in China are from Apple.
The second place in the quarter belongs to Samsung, which received about 19% of the market. The third place went to Xiaomi, followed by Oppo and Vivo, which took the fourth and fifth places, respectively. Huawei dropped to 6th place.
If we consider the results for the year, then Samsung is in the lead, Apple is second, Huawei is third, followed by Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo and Realme. The latter was the fastest growing brand in the past year.
Counterpoint Research’s data is broadly consistent with estimates by another analyst firm, IDC, which we have already published.
