Counterpoint Research forecasts significant growth in the foldable smartphone market for 2026, projecting a 21% year-over-year increase in global shipments. While Samsung is expected to maintain its leadership, its market share is predicted to decrease from 40% in 2025 to 32% in 2026.

Apple's anticipated entry into the foldable market is expected to place it in second position with a 25% share, narrowly ahead of Huawei at 24%. Motorola and HONOR are projected to hold 8% and 3% respectively.

The report suggests Apple's 'iPhone Ultra' could drive this market expansion, particularly in the premium book-type foldable segment. Counterpoint highlights that wider foldable designs could become more appealing as AI features integrate further into daily workflows, benefiting from increased screen real estate and flexible layouts for tasks like document summarization and content management. This comes as Samsung prepares to launch its new Galaxy Z Fold8, featuring a wider design that some speculate could mirror Apple's rumored foldable.