Samsung to Stay #1 in Global Foldable Market, But Competition Is Heating Up

The race to build the best foldable phone is heating up, and more brands are jumping on the bandwagon. Samsung still leads the global foldable market, but it’s facing stiff competition from several Chinese companies. Even with rivals closing in, early market forecasts suggest Samsung will remain the top choice in 2025. That said, it won’t all be smooth sailing. TrendForce says the global foldable smartphone market is projected to grow at a steady pace in 2025, with estimated shipments reaching 19.8 million units. Despite increasing interest, foldables will still represent only 1.6% of the total smartphone market, similar to last year.

Market forecast says Samsung will retain its global foldable market position

The report mentions that Samsung is expected to retain the #1 spot in the global foldable market. However, its dominance may start to slip. Its global market share in the foldable segment is projected to drop from 45.2% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025. Although the company has introduced the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with improvements to “hinge design, crease visibility, and form factor,” TrendForce notes that “intensifying competition with other brands is weakening its dominance.”

Huawei is predicted to hold a close second place, with its share dipping slightly from 35.2% to 34.3%, thanks to continued strength in the Chinese market. The gap between the two leaders is narrowing to just over one percentage point. Meanwhile, other manufacturers are slowly but surely gaining ground. Honor is expected to grow from 6.0% to 9.1%, and Motorola (Lenovo) from 5.5% to 7.6%. Xiaomi will likely climb from 3.0% to 5.1%, while Oppo and Vivo together are projected to take an 8.5% share.

TrendForce also hints at a major shift for the industry in 2026, with Apple rumored to step into the foldable game. The company has reportedly placed orders for display panels and is aiming to tackle common user concerns. The report reveals that Apple’s first foldable is expected to feature “a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.8-inch internal display.”

For now, Samsung’s latest foldables are off to a strong start, breaking pre-order records in many parts of the world. A report from Korea confirmed that Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 pre-orders have surpassed the previous record set by the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5. In South Korea alone, pre-orders have crossed 1.04 million units.