The foldable smartphone market is hitting a major milestone this year. Overall shipments are projected to grow by 20% in 2026 compared to 2025. Industry reports show that this surge in foldable smartphones is heavily driven by Apple as it enters the market. According to supply chain sources, the upcoming iPhone Ultra is set to shake up the entire category when it arrives later this year.
Supply shortages fail to slow down the rising category growth
The broader smartphone industry is dealing with some tough challenges right now. Phone makers are facing a tighter supply of upstream logic chips and higher memory prices. Despite these supply chain limits, the foldable segment just keeps expanding. Samsung is expected to hold onto its lead for now, but other brands like Huawei are helping to push the momentum forward.
Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer
Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.
Close to eight years of steady product development have made these folding devices much more mature. That maturity is giving manufacturers the confidence to increase their shipments. Consumers are also getting more comfortable with wider phone designs. People are willing to accept higher prices for new models, provided they feel the price hike is reasonable for what they get.
The tech giant prepares a massive launch for the holidays
The fourth quarter of 2026 is shaping up to be the most important sales period of the year. The Cupertino company plans to debut its first foldable alongside the standard iPhone 18 Pro models this September. Reports indicate the tech giant told its suppliers to build around 10 million units this year alone.
Early pre-order campaigns can definitely generate strong initial sales, but the biggest growth phase will happen during the holiday quarter. This is when overall demand is expected to peak and drive total shipment numbers up. The arrival of a foldable iPhone is giving the entire industry an additional boost.
It looks like 2026 will be the year folding phones finally become mainstream. With more durable screens, better hinges, and major new players joining the space, the category is living up to its early hype. The next few months will show if consumers are ready to upgrade their daily devices to a new shape.
Discussion