Counterpoint predicts Apple could claim 25% of foldable phone market by year-end
Research firm Counterpoint forecasts global foldable smartphone shipments to exceed 100 million units this year, with Apple expected to capture a quarter of the market.
Counterpoint Research projects that worldwide shipments of foldable smartphones will top 100 million units by the end of the year, up from roughly 2% of total smartphone sales today. The firm expects the market to grow 24% this year and a further 37% next year, driven by new models from Samsung, Huawei, Motorola, Honor, Google, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi, as well as Apple’s upcoming entry.
Apple’s first foldable, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, is predicted to generate up to 6 million units in 2026, giving the company a 25% share of the global market and positioning it as the second-largest supplier after Samsung, which holds about 38%. Counterpoint notes that Apple’s share could rise to 40% within a full year of sales, potentially surpassing Samsung’s current share.
The launch of Xiaomi’s 18 Fold in China, scheduled a day before Apple’s product event, underscores the competitive timing among manufacturers as they roll out new foldable devices.