Foldable Smartphone Sales to Rise 20% This Year Due to 'iPhone Ultra'

[MacRumors]

Global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow 20% in 2026 compared to last year, with Apple's first entry into the category cited as one of the factors driving the increase, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes.

The report notes that the broader smartphone market is contending with tighter supply of upstream logic chips and higher memory prices, but says the foldable segment is expected to keep expanding regardless. Samsung is expected to retain its lead in the category, while Apple, Huawei, and other brands are described as helping to drive growth, with the fourth quarter of 2026 flagged as the year's most important sales period.

Industry sources told the publication that wider foldable designs and Apple's move into foldables are giving the category a further lift. Nearly eight years of product development, along with a growing number of brand launches and a broader range of devices for buyers, have made foldables more mature and given manufacturers added momentum to expand shipments.

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 lines up with DigiTimes' framing of that quarter as the category's key growth window.

According to the report, Samsung's own experience shows that early preorder campaigns can generate strong launch-period sales, but the bigger growth phase is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter, once foldable launches from multiple brands are already on the market. That period is seen as a key opportunity to expand overall demand and drive shipment growth. DigiTimes added that that most consumers already expect device prices to rise, so demand should hold up as long as increases stay reasonable.

Article Link: Foldable Smartphone Sales to Rise 20% This Year Due to 'iPhone Ultra'

 

[thelion7]

Along with worldwide debt! 😂

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow 20% in 2026 compared to last year, with Apple's first entry into the category cited as one of the factors driving the increase, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes.

The report notes that the broader smartphone market is contending with tighter supply of upstream logic chips and higher memory prices, but says the foldable segment is expected to keep expanding regardless. Samsung is expected to retain its lead in the category, while Apple, Huawei, and other brands are described as helping to drive growth, with the fourth quarter of 2026 flagged as the year's most important sales period.

Industry sources told the publication that wider foldable designs and Apple's move into foldables are giving the category a further lift. Nearly eight years of product development, along with a growing number of brand launches and a broader range of devices for buyers, have made foldables more mature and given manufacturers added momentum to expand shipments.

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 lines up with DigiTimes' framing of that quarter as the category's key growth window.

According to the report, Samsung's own experience shows that early preorder campaigns can generate strong launch-period sales, but the bigger growth phase is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter, once foldable launches from multiple brands are already on the market. That period is seen as a key opportunity to expand overall demand and drive shipment growth. DigiTimes added that that most consumers already expect device prices to rise, so demand should hold up as long as increases stay reasonable.

Article Link: Foldable Smartphone Sales to Rise 20% This Year Due to 'iPhone Ultra'

Apple foldable definitely will shakeup foldable phone market positively, dynamically and expand the foldable phone uses. So looking forward to Apple foldable!

 

[PsykX]

I'm absolutely not interested.

1. Too expensive
2. Clearly less reliable than a typical iPhone, no matter what they'll say about reliability
3. I take my phone out of my pocket and "it just works". Don't have to unfold anything, don't have to carry anything bulky.
4. I want a flagship phone because of the camera. It'll be awkward to use this as a camera and the camera won't be as good as iPhone 18 Pro according to rumors.

My opinion will most likely change with the years as it gets more reliable, less expensive (hopefully), and as it starts to compete with iPad... but the camera thing really annoys me.

 

[iMac The Knife]

Apple is definitely going to change the foldable game when they launch their version. Never under estimate the cult like power Apple holds over people. And with prices increasing like they have been, pretty soon Apple will start offering a 30 year loan on their devices. Cue the "well, it's interest free so..." folks. 🤣😂

 

[contacos]

My Fold8 is arriving today. I cannot wait for the new form factor. iPhone Ultra is simply going to be too expensive and too similar + Apple doesn't have great launch or Trade-In deals like I paid 650€ for the 512 GB version after discounts and trade-in for the Fold8 instead of 2,100€

Edit: it arrived and it's perfection, no it's art.

 

[Slo Pesci]

They just came out with phone financing for a reason, just in time for the ultra 😆

 

[jclardy]

I'm absolutely not interested.

1. Too expensive
2. Clearly less reliable than a typical iPhone, no matter what they'll say about reliability
3. I take my phone out of my pocket and "it just works". Don't have to unfold anything, don't have to carry anything bulky.
4. I want a flagship phone because of the camera. It'll be awkward to use this as a camera and the canera won't be as good as iPhone 18 Pro according to rumors.

My opinion will most likely change with the years as it gets more reliable, less expensive (hopefully), and as it starts to compete with iPad... but the camera thing really annoys me.

1. Agreed, but it seems the Pro/base iPhones are also going to get a price hike.
2. By the very nature of it, more parts == more complication. So yes, 2 screens, one that folds, and a hinge, it will be less reliable by definition than a single screen rectangle that they've been building for 20 years now. Luckily, AppleCare still exists.
3. The fold will just work taking it out of your pocket, you don't have to open it. The Samsung Fold 8 is both smaller and lighter than the 17 Pro Max. So why are you carrying something bulky like a pro max brick phone in your pocket when you could get the svelte iPhone Fold?
4. This seems like a personal problem. It's awkward to use anything that isn't the "best"?

The fold is going to sell like hotcakes. It is literally selling competitor devices at numbers Samsung has never seen.

It is for people that want a small phone (folded) and an iPad Mini unfolded. I've always loved the iPad mini but hated that I had to take a bag with me to put it in since I can't just carry it in my pockets. I also loved the iPhone Mini...except for battery life, and the tiny keyboard width. This solves all those problems.

 

[Slo Pesci]

Imagine spending that much on a phone where the screen can get scratched by your fingernail 😂

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Apple is definitely going to change the foldable game when they launch their version. Never under estimate the cult like power Apple holds over people. And with prices increasing like they have been, pretty soon Apple will start offering a 30 year loan on their devices. Cue the "well, it's interest free so..." folks. 🤣😂

More like cue the armchair financial advisors that nobody asked for.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Great if Apple help to make Folds more popular and spin off features back to slab phones is a bonus

It helps inject more enthusiasm to future phones

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

As long as it starts at no more than $1999.

 

[joelypolly]

I am slightly hopeful that Apple supports iPad OS's external display modes so you can use the phone as a computer somewhat. It will help justify the price for me at least.

 

[boswald]

I’ll probably play around with one at Best Buy but I don’t think I’ll get one. I still have $600 left on my current contract, so by the time that’s done the XX will be out.

 

[tridley68]

Staying far away from this foldable gimmick 👍

 

[FreakinEurekan]

On the plus side, it eliminates the need for my iPad mini.

On the minus side, no telephoto from my iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Irrelevant (to me): Face ID vs. Touch ID. Already using one on the iPhone & the other on the iPad.

Overall: I think the plus will outweigh the minus, I'll likely get one.

 

[burgman]

More like cue the armchair financial advisors that nobody asked for.

Gatekeepers are cool, just ask them...

 

[icwhatudidthere]

I’m probably getting it and it’s gonna be the first iPhone I get AppleCare for.

 

[progx]

I’m hopeful Apple will make foldable just a touch more attractive to people like me who don’t want them. They’re cool to see, like in the Spider-Man movie which a giant ad for Samsung, but it gave you some thoughts on what they could do for someone. So, I agree, I think the iPhone Ultra will help out foldable phones. Whether it breaks the novelty of the old phones that were bordering on tablets remains to be seen.

Personally, I’ll stick with the iPhone Pro Max line. Their cool phone is a perfect fit for my hand, plus it gives me the camera.

For those who are looking to get this device, I hope it’s everything you want. As long as it checks boxes for you, who cares what any of us thinks.

 

[Macalway]

I think there's going to be incredible excitement over this. You get the haters, and they are welcome, but going by the popularity of the Samsung Zfold 8, you can get a pretty good idea what's to come.

It's an iPhone/iPad morph, and a new form factor.

 

[ghanwani]

I still have doubts the iPhone Fold will be released but let's see.

 

[Plutonius]

The article title is somewhat misleading. There is a difference between "to" and "expected to".

 

[Sami13496]

Good. The more people who notice it, the sooner they’ll realize that foldable phones are a gimmick, and hopefully we’ll get rid of this fad sooner.

 

[Nyx1]

Can't wait the most fugly design foldable smartphone all time with the most expensive price foldable.

 

[triumvirate]

Wouldn’t have been possible without Klarna, the predation contemplation. Thanks, Klarna!

/s