On August 27th, IDC predicted that Apple will release its first foldable iPhone in September. Despite a potential price tag as high as $2,500, first-year shipments are expected to exceed 10 million units, driving renewed growth in the foldable smartphone market. IDC forecasts that global foldable smartphone shipments will grow by 12.6% this year and 18% next year, with Apple capturing 40% of the global foldable smartphone market by 2027. Meanwhile, affected by rising prices and supply constraints for components such as memory chips, IDC predicts a 16.7% contraction in the global smartphone market this year and notes that 'the era of cheap smartphones has ended.'