The global foldable smartphone market is set for a major lift in 2026, with industry analysts pointing to Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone as the biggest driver of consumer demand and market value, according to new projections from research firm IDC.
IDC said it expects worldwide foldable shipments to jump 30% year-on-year in 2026, a steep climb from the 10% growth forecast for 2025.
Analysts say the anticipated debut of the first foldable iPhone — reportedly arriving toward the end of 2026 — will reshape the competitive landscape and accelerate mainstream interest in the once-niche category.
“The real game-changer for the category comes at year-end when Apple enters the foldable space,” said IDC senior research director Nabila Popal.
IDC projects Apple to secure more than 22% of foldable unit share and 34% of market value in its first year — largely due to an expected premium price of around $2,400.
Popal noted that Apple’s entry follows expanding activity from other players, including Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 momentum and its upcoming Galaxy Z Trifold slated for early 2026, as well as Huawei’s HarmonyOS-powered foldables.
IDC vice president Francisco Jeronimo said the arrival of a foldable iPhone is likely to have an outsized impact on public perception and adoption.
“Apple tends to be a catalyst for mainstream adoption of new categories,” he said. “The launch of its first foldable iPhone will mark a turning point for the foldable segment, boosting awareness and driving consumer interest.”
While foldables will remain a relatively small portion of overall smartphone shipments, the category will increasingly account for premium-segment value as average selling prices reach triple those of standard handsets.
The push toward foldables comes at a time when consumers are holding onto devices longer, making replacement cycles harder to sustain.
IDC says foldables — and even emerging tri-fold designs — offer the kind of meaningful innovation needed to reignite upgrades in a saturated market.
By 2029, IDC expects foldable smartphones to make up over 10% of the total smartphone market value, growing at a 17% CAGR, far outpacing the sub-1% growth expected for traditional smartphones.
