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This is an exclusive column featuring expert analysts from International Data Corporation (IDC), who provide insights into the latest products, news, and more.
Foldable phones were supposed to be the next big thing in the smartphone industry. Early 5-year forecasts were aggressive, with double-digit growth and fast bites into market share. However, the predictions tempered as shipments softened from the initial peaks, and the foldable market’s unit share never exceeded 1.6% of total smartphones.
As the year ends, foldables are expected to grow by just 10% YoY in 2025, as per IDC’s latest forecast, a growth lower than the record figures observed in the initial years of the technology. Still, the form factor refuses to stay down, and the tide is turning in favor of foldables.
Although the first foldable phones launched with book-style designs, flip models quickly became the dominant form factor — driven by their lower price points and, perhaps, the nostalgia of flip feature phones. It wasn’t until 2025 that fold models captured the lead with 53% of market share in the category.
Android brands, led by Samsung, Honor, Oppo, and Google, leveraged their latest foldable models, determined to challenge the $1,000+ premium segment long dominated by Apple, which lacked a foldable offering.
How new engineering just eliminated the foldables’ biggest flaw
At the same time, incremental breakthroughs in design and durability began redefining the innovation game, giving foldables a stronger edge. For example, the Honor Magic V5 is the thinnest foldable on the market, with a folded thickness of 8.8mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.1mm.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 measures 8.9mm when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded. Compare this to the 17.1mm/7.6mm original Galaxy Fold launched in 2019 and to the 12.1mm/5.6mm Galaxy Z Fold 6 launched in 2024. Even if compared to a non-foldable in Galaxy line-up, it beats Samsung’s thinnest S25 Edge in its unfolded form.
In terms of durability, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 promises to withstand up to 500,000 folds thanks to enhanced materials and a hinge design, while the Galaxy Z Fold 6 could only handle 200,000 folds. This means a 10-year durability for an average user for the latest version.
These comparisons show that the consumers’ biggest concern — bulkiness — is no longer a limiting factor. Foldables are slimmer, far more durable, and built to last, making them worth the premium price.
The bold new form factor igniting global demand
The comeback narrative doesn’t stop there. Huawei pushes the foldable concept with the world’s first trifold smartphone, running Harmony OS and available globally in 2025. The display is double-folded to 10.2 inches and achieves a thickness of 3.6mm when unfolded.
With Huawei’s trifold design setting a bold precedent, Samsung responds to the competition by unveiling the Galaxy Z TriFold in December 2025. The 10-inch, 3.9mm-thin TriFold’s in-store and online stock sold out in record time during its initial launch in Korea, hinting at a spark to re-ignite strong consumer demand for foldables.
Indeed, Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold signals a new phase for foldables. It is the first trifold phone powered by Android and backed by Samsung, the leading name in the foldable category. With its global reach and strong brand power, Samsung is positioned to bring trifold technology to mainstream users faster than Huawei.
Lacking Android and Google services, Huawei faces entry barriers in markets outside China and, hence, targets China primarily with its Mate XT and Mate XTs trifolds. Despite this setback, together, both models captured a 3.6% unit share of the foldable market in the first three quarters of 2025, while selling over 740,000 units and generating a massive $2B in revenue since their launch. These shares and figures are incredible, given that both models are priced and sold at a hefty $2,500.
The 2026 turning point: What happens when Apple finally enters the arena?
As trifold foldables captivate consumers, the real turning point looms in 2026: Apple finally steps into the foldable arena, forecasted to gain a 22% unit share and 34% value share of the foldables market in its first year, according to IDC.
Apple’s ability to sell on a scale to a loyal customer base will certainly translate into healthier growth for the entire foldable space. Indeed, the latest forecast from IDC predicts a staggering 30% growth for the total foldable market in 2026.
The impact will influence the Android foldable segment. Possibly not immediately, but surely over the medium term, greater consumer awareness, renewed channel interest, and incentives for investment across the supply chain will also benefit Android foldables, the cornerstone of the category.
Apple’s entry, therefore, will not shrink the Android foldable market; instead, it will drive demand higher and accelerate the momentum already building with trifolds.
The AI multiplier: Why two screens are better than one
Finally, artificial intelligence is emerging as a strong technological tailwind for foldables. The form factor naturally complements AI-driven use cases, powered by the latest processors on the market and with displays that expand when the task demands it.
Larger screens enable more efficient ways for multitasking, content creation, and contextual assistance. As AI becomes more central to everyday use, foldables are positioned to gain a meaningful advantage.
The foldable journey has had its ups and downs, marked by early hype, tempered expectations, and now a resurgence fueled by innovation and competition. Slimmer designs, improved durability, and the arrival of trifolds are restoring momentum to the category.
Apple’s 2026 entry is expected to accelerate this shift and help unfold a new opportunity for the foldables category.
