Archive · 7 Sep 2026
Foldable Smartphone Shipments Set to Surpass 100 Million by 2026
Foldable smartphones are phones with screens that bend or open up.
A report says more than 100 million of them may be shipped worldwide by the end of 2026.
Apple is expected to launch a foldable iPhone and could sell up to 6 million in its first year.
Samsung is expected to remain the market leader in 2026.
Apple’s early sales may be limited because there may not be enough phones to supply every region.
Foldable shipments are expected to grow strongly in 2027 as Apple enters the market.
However, foldables are still only a small part of all smartphone sales.
They also cost about three times more than regular smartphones, so widespread adoption may take several years.
Global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to exceed 100 million cumulative units by the end of 2026.
Counterpoint Research projects 37% year-on-year growth in foldable shipments in 2027.
Apple could ship up to 6 million foldable iPhones in 2026, reaching a projected 25% market share.
Samsung is forecast to lead the 2026 foldable market with a 38% share.
Foldables represent about 2% of the global smartphone market and remain roughly three times more expensive than conventional phones.
- Who
- Apple, Samsung, and other foldable smartphone manufacturers, as assessed by Counterpoint Research.
- What
- Global cumulative foldable smartphone shipments are expected to surpass 100 million by the end of 2026.
- When
- By the end of 2026, with shipments projected to grow 37% year-on-year in 2027.
- Where
- The global smartphone market.
- Why
- Growth is expected to be driven by Apple’s entry and stronger demand for wider book-type foldable devices.
- Cumulative milestone
- More than 100 million global foldable smartphone shipments are expected by the end of 2026.
- 2027 growth forecast
- Foldable smartphone shipments are projected to grow 37% year-on-year.
- Apple 2026 shipments
- Apple could ship up to 6 million foldable iPhones.
- Apple 2026 market share
- Apple is forecast to hold a 25% share of the global foldable market.
- Samsung 2026 market share
- Samsung is forecast to hold a 38% share.
- Current market penetration
- Foldables account for about 2% of the global smartphone market.
- Price comparison
- Foldable smartphones cost around three times more than conventional smartphones.