- Global foldable smartphone shipments are projected to grow 20% YoY in 2026. In its first year, Apple is forecast to take 28% share globally and 46% in North America, supported by premium replacement demand and a large base of iOS users waiting for Apple’s own foldable device.
- Compared with slab phones and conventional foldables, wide book-type designs make AI-assisted multitasking easier to manage, enabled by their larger displays and longer battery life. Their wider horizontal layout lets users keep source content, AI output and the next action visible at the same time.
- Apple’s entry is expected to make foldable competition less dependent on hardware alone. Ecosystem integration and AI-assisted user experiences are becoming more important to differentiation, while Apple should also help bring new users into the category and take share from premium Android foldable players.
The global foldable smartphone market is expected to follow a two-phase pattern in 2026. The first half will likely face pressure from weaker flip-phone momentum and cautious consumer sentiment. Momentum is expected to improve from Q3, driven by product refreshes from multiple OEMs and Apple’s entry into the segment, according to Counterpoint Research’s Foldable Smartphone Market Forecast.
