A new Trend Force report predicts the iPhone Duo will capture 24.8% of the foldable smartphone market in 2026, shipping an estimated 5 million units. This comes as the global foldable segment faces a sharp slowdown, with Trend Force forecasting total shipments of approximately 20.2 million units in 2026, up just 0.5% year-over-year. Excluding Apple, combined shipments from Android brands are expected to reach only around 15.2 million units, down more than 20% YoY.

Trend Force notes that Samsung is still poised to lead the market with 7.1 million units shipped and a 35.1% market share, while Huawei is expected to match Apple's 5 million units and 24.8% share. The report also analyzes Apple's hardware choices for the iPhone Duo, including the omission of a dedicated periscope telephoto camera to minimize thickness and conserve internal space.

Instead, the 48 MP main camera provides 2x optical-quality zoom, and a side-mounted Touch ID sensor replaces Face ID. These decisions highlight ongoing trade-offs in foldable smartphones between device thickness, camera capabilities, biometric components, and battery space. Trend Force suggests deeper AI integration and multitasking interfaces could transform foldables into new AI application platforms.