Growth of the Folding Smartphone Market

There are clearly still key hurdles to overcome for foldable technology to enter the mainstream. One major issue currently is device thickness. The thickness of folding smartphones is around twice that of non-folding devices on the market. CML anticipate that major brands will seek to reduce significantly the thickness of future folding products to be comparable to that of conventional handsets.

A key factor determining device thickness is the height of camera modules. Strong future demand is anticipated from folding phone vendors for thinner cameras to prevent unsightly casework protrusions on next generation devices. This is well aligned to CML’s AutoFocus (AF) and Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) camera actuators.

CML’s miniature camera actuators can drive a reduction of camera dimensions, particularly thickness, allowing future foldable smartphones to achieve slim designs demanded by consumers.