Apple aims for 25 percent foldable market share in 2026
TrendForce projects Apple will hold a 24.8% share of the 2026 foldable market with 5 million units, trailing Samsung, as GSMArena reports that while most sales are expected to be upgrades from current Apple users, high pricing in key regions may limit broader market expansion.
GSMArena highlights that early speculation suggests the bulk of Apple's 5 million unit target will come from existing iPhone users upgrading rather than new entrants, though some analysts warn that aggressive global pricing could drive potential buyers toward competitors.
Source: GSMArenaGSMArena notes that the report attributes the sector's growth to enhanced hardware and AI capabilities, while questioning the projection that Apple’s entry merely cannibalizes existing demand rather than expanding the overall market.
Source: GSMArenaGSMArena has highlighted that TrendForce now forecasts the total global foldable market to expand to 23.5 million units in 2027, with Samsung and Huawei projected to capture 35% and 24.8% shares respectively, driven by hardware upgrades and AI integration.
Source: GSMArena9to5Mac notes that Huawei is also projected to match Apple's 5 million unit shipment target, while TrendForce highlights that the iPhone Duo swaps Face ID for a side-mounted Touch ID sensor to maintain a slim profile. The report further predicts that deeper AI integration will eventually shift foldables from hardware novelties to essential interfaces for artificial intelligence applications.
Source: 9to5MacTrendForce projects Apple will ship five million folding devices this year, placing it second only to Samsung in a market that is growing slowly.
Source: GSMArena
