Counterpoint Research: Global folding screen smartphone shipments are expected to increase 21% year over year in 2026

Zhitong Finance App learned that according to the latest global folding screen smartphone market forecast released by Counterpoint Research, global folding screen smartphone shipments are expected to increase 21% year-on-year in 2026. Thanks to continued consumer demand for high-end wide-folding devices, increasingly fierce product competition among leading smartphone manufacturers, and Apple's expected formal entry into the folding screen market, the folding screen market is expected to continue to expand from 2025.

Samsung is expected to maintain its leading position in the global folding screen smartphone market in 2026, with an estimated market share of 32%. However, with Apple officially entering the market and Huawei (especially in the Chinese market) maintaining strong momentum, the 2026 market pattern will be very different from 2025. Apple is expected to have 25% of the market share in 2026, with Huawei expected to account for 24%, followed by Motorola and Honor, with 8% and 3% respectively.

Global folding screen smartphone shipment share by OEM

2025 and 2026 (forecast)

Source: Counterpoint Research folding screen smartphone market forecast

Before Apple's first folding screen product is officially launched, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Unpacked press conference will become an important point in the folding screen market. Samsung is expected to release the Galaxy Z8 series, covering the Galaxy Z8 Flip, Galaxy Z8 Fold, and a product with a wider folding screen. Among them, the wider folding design will become the focus of market attention, which is expected to bring a more practical external screen experience and a larger internal screen display space to meet the needs of applications such as multitasking, content browsing, and AI-assisted productivity.

As AI capabilities gradually expand from chat interactions to everyday workflows, wider folding designs will become more valuable. Whether it's document summarization, content editing, schedule management, or the flow of information across apps, you'll benefit from more screen space and a more flexible interface layout. For Samsung, the wider folding model will provide a more powerful display carrier, highlighting that the folding screen empowers AI-assisted productivity in a more practical way.

Liz Lee, Deputy Director of Counterpoint Research, said: “2026 marks a new phase in the foldable smartphone market. Apple's entry into the market is expected to further raise consumers' awareness of folding screen products and raise the product benchmark for high-end folding screens. However, Samsung still has clear advantages in product maturity, channel layout, and folding screen user experience. A new generation of folding products with a wider design will make the folding screen experience more natural, and can especially better meet the needs of users to view multiple tasks at the same time, track work progress, and use AI functions across applications.”