Foldable Panel Shipments to Grow 46% in 2026; Samsung Display to be Big Winner
- Counterpoint expects foldable smartphone panel shipments to grow 46% YoY in 2026, driven by Apple’s procurement for its first foldable.
- Apple is expected to bring renewed interest in the foldables category.
- The foldable iPhone will help the book-type form factor solidify its dominant position in 2026.
- Multi-fold panels, like on the new Galaxy Z TriFold, will account for low single-digit shares.
- Samsung Display will be the big winner, with its market share rising past the 50% mark.
Seoul, Beijing, Boston, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo – December 11, 2025
Foldable smartphone panel shipments are expected to grow 46% YoY in 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s latest Foldable-Rollable Display Shipment Tracker.
“Apple is the key driver as it starts to procure panels for its first foldable iPhone,” said Associate Director Guillaume Chansin. “We also think a foldable iPhone is going to reinvigorate the broader market, helping to massively grow panel shipments in 2026.”
Global Foldable Smartphone Panel Shipment Share Forecast by Supplier
Source: Counterpoint Research Foldable Panel Shipment Tracker and Forecast
Note: Percentage totals may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
In terms of form factors, panel shipments will move in sync with smartphone trends, with book-type panels solidifying their dominant position in 2026.
“We are moving into a new era where book-type foldables will be the main form factor for the segment,” added Chansin. “This is significant for the foldable panel sector on several levels. It means we will see a material bump in ASPs (average selling prices) next year; it is also a huge boon for Samsung Display, which will see its market share rise past the 50% mark.” Multi-fold panels, like on the new Galaxy Z TriFold, will account for low single-digit shares.
Counterpoint expects foldable smartphone shipments to grow 14% YoY in 2025 and 38% in 2026, with the book-type form factor dominating. Associate Director Liz Lee said, “We are seeing book-type foldables really catching on. For the first time, Samsung’s Galaxy Z7 series saw the Fold model outselling the Flip model during the early sales window in H2 2025.”
Book-Type Smartphone Shipment Share
Source: Counterpoint Research Foldable Smartphone Tracker & Forecast
This shift is also happening in China, with book-type phones becoming the main foldable form factor despite higher price points. “Consumers want tablet-like productivity and all the other benefits big screens bring, and this is pushing buyers towards larger inner displays and the improved usability of book-type designs,” added Lee.
About Counterpoint Research
Counterpoint Research is a global market research firm specializing in products across the technology ecosystem. We advise a diverse range of clients – from smartphone OEMs to chipmakers and channel players to Big Tech – through our offices located in the world's major innovation hubs, manufacturing clusters and commercial centers. Our analyst team, led by seasoned experts, engages with stakeholders across the enterprise – from the C-suite to professionals in strategy, analyst relations (AR), market intelligence (MI), business intelligence (BI), product and marketing – to deliver services spanning market data, industry thought leadership and consulting. Our core areas of coverage include AI, Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Displays, eSIM, IoT, Location Platforms, Macroeconomics, Manufacturing, Networks and Infrastructure, Semiconductors, Smartphones and Wearables. Visit our Insights page to explore our publicly available market data, insights and thought leadership, and to understand our focus, meet our analysts and start a conversation.
Follow Counterpoint Research
Receive our insightful weekly newsletter and stay ahead of the competition.
Author
Guillaume Chansin
Dr. Guillaume Chansin is a display analyst covering advanced and emerging display technologies. He has authored the display reports on XR and MicroLED displays. He is also a regular contributor to the Display Weekly Review Report. Guillaume has a Master’s degree in Applied Physics from INSA Toulouse and a PhD from Imperial College London.
Liz Lee
Liz, an Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, has 14+ years of extensive experience in the tech industry. Previously, Liz worked for Samsung SDI focusing on IR (Investor Relations) along with insight-based analysis of emerging tech markets and corporate strategies. She holds an International MBA degree from Waseda Business School.