Apple Seen Taking 25% of Foldable Market in 2026 as Shipments Top 100 Million
Updated
Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 8
Apple Seen Taking 25% of Foldable Market in 2026 as Shipments Top 100 Million
3 articles · Updated · 9to5Mac · Sep 8
Summary
Counterpoint forecasts Apple will ship up to 6 million foldable iPhones in 2026, giving it a 25% global share and the No. 2 spot behind Samsung.
Samsung is projected to hold 38% this year and Huawei 22%, but a full year of Apple sales could lift its share to 40% in 2027—above Samsung’s current level.
Global foldable phone shipments are expected to surpass 100 million units by the end of 2026, with category growth pegged at 24% this year and 37% next year.
Foldables still make up only about 2% of the overall smartphone market, though Counterpoint expects launches from Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Honor, Google, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi to broaden adoption.
Xiaomi is launching its 18 Fold in China a day before Apple’s event, underscoring intensifying competition as Apple prepares to enter the category.
Will Apple's highly anticipated iPhone Ultra finally push foldables into the mainstream, or will its premium price tag alienate average consumers?
Could the industry shift toward AI-driven book-style foldables revolutionize portable productivity, or is it just an overpriced gimmick for tech enthusiasts?