Global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow 20% in 2026 compared with last year, with Apple’s first entry into the category cited as one of the factors behind the increase, industry sources say.
Foldable smartphone market outlook
Industry sources told the report that the broader smartphone market faces tighter supply of upstream logic chips and higher memory prices, but the foldable segment is expected to keep expanding regardless. Samsung is projected to retain its lead in the category, while Apple, Huawei and other brands are helping to drive growth.
Wider foldable designs and Apple’s move into foldables are giving the category an additional lift, the sources added. Nearly eight years of product development, a growing number of brand launches and a broader device range for buyers have made foldables more mature and given manufacturers momentum to expand shipments.
The fourth quarter of 2026 is flagged as the most important sales period for the year. Supply-chain observers said that while early preorder campaigns can generate strong launch-period sales—as Samsung’s experience has shown—the larger growth phase is expected in the fourth quarter once foldable launches from multiple brands are on the market. That quarter is seen as the key opportunity to expand overall demand and drive shipment growth.
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models this September, and has reportedly told suppliers to prepare to build around 10 million units this year. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested the device may not be available to pre-order until the fourth quarter of 2026, a timeline that aligns with the view that Q4 will be the category’s key growth window.
The report also noted that most consumers already expect device prices to rise, so demand should hold up provided price increases remain reasonable.
