Foldable Market Shifts from Flip Craze to Fold Dominance in 2026

The foldable smartphone market is stepping into a new phase, with book-style devices expected to contribute greatly to growth. Thanks to real-world productivity, multitasking abilities, improvements in design and build quality, book-style models are gaining attention from consumers despite their steep price. As such, the market may see an increase in shipments of this form factor in 2026.

Apple’s upcoming iPhone Fold may shake up the foldable market

According to Counterpoint Research, book-style foldables could account for roughly 65% of global foldable smartphone shipments in 2026. This is an increase from 52% in 2025. It shows customers are leaning toward larger foldable models in recent years. For example, Samsung saw solid demand around the world for its latest Galaxy Z Fold 7 compared to the clamshell model, Galaxy Z Flip 7.

The research firm says Apple’s entry into the foldable space will play a key role in shipment growth. The company will likely debut its iPhone Fold in the second half of 2026 with a book-type form factor (1:1.414 aspect ratio). The design may focus on productivity for better multitasking, document viewing, and content consumption.

Samsung is also reportedly developing a similar wide foldable device, the Galaxy Wide Fold, in response to Apple’s offering. The phone may go official alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8, likely around July 2026. In fact, the Korean firm reportedly plans to make around 1 million units of the model this year. Moreover, it plans to make more Galaxy Z Fold 8 units than Galaxy Z Flip 8 this year, showing confidence in the next-gen book-style foldable.

Motorola has also recently joined the foldable book-style trend with the Razr Fold. The phone features a 6.6-inch cover OLED display and a large 8.1-inch internal 2K LTPO panel. Meanwhile, Google continues to solidify its Pixel Fold lineup.

Furthermore, OEMs are shifting toward higher-value smartphones to secure greater profitability, rather than focusing on volume. This is mainly because memory supply has become tighter for low- to mid-range smartphones. “Book-type foldables are well-positioned in this shift, as their premium specifications and higher memory configurations support ASP (average selling price) expansion while aligning with value-led growth strategies,” said Research Director Tarun Pathak.