Apple is set to capture nearly a quarter of the folding phone market in 2026, according to a fresh industry forecast published in the wake of the company’s iPhone Duo announcement. The projection places Cupertino firmly among the leading players in a category long dominated by rivals.
The report indicates that Apple will ship 5 million units of its folding handset by the end of the year. Should the prediction hold, the company would command a 24.8% market share, placing it second only to Samsung in the global rankings.
Market Growth Expected Through 2027
Global folding phone shipments are anticipated to reach 20.2 million units in 2026, representing a modest 0.5% increase compared with 2025. The upward trajectory is then projected to continue, with shipments forecast to hit 23.5 million in 2027.
Looking further ahead, Samsung is expected to account for 7.1 million shipments and a corresponding 35% market share. Huawei is projected to reach 5 million units for its folding phones, translating into a 24.8% market share of its own.
Drivers Behind Foldable Adoption
The steady rise in foldable device adoption is attributed to two principal factors. Hardware improvements have made these handsets more appealing to consumers, while the expansion of AI use cases is cited as a further catalyst encouraging buyers to adopt the format.
The combination of these elements underpins the projected growth across the coming years, with the category moving from a niche segment towards a more established part of the smartphone landscape. Apple’s entry, in particular, is positioned to reshape the competitive balance among established manufacturers.
Based on the forecast figures, Apple would ship 5 million folding units by the close of 2026, securing second place behind Samsung in the global market.
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Image: gsmarena.com
