The TrendForce analyst house has released a new forecast for the smartphone market, stating that Apple could deliver around five million units of foldable mobile phones in 2026. This projection, which relates to the device under the working name iPhone Duo, indicates significant changes in the competitive dynamics of the foldable screen market.
According to current estimates, Apple could take a 14.5 per cent share of the global foldable mobile phone market in 2026. This perspective marks a significant shift, given that Apple currently holds second place in this market, just behind the South Korean technology giant Samsung. This change in the distribution of power is expected to have a significant impact on future competition in the premium device segment.
In addition to changes on the manufacturer side, the overall foldable mobile phone market is seeing a slight growth of 0.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Although the growth is cautious, global deliveries are estimated at 20.2 million devices. These figures indicate that, despite the saturation of standard models, demand for more innovative solutions remains, albeit at a slower pace.
Experts link this growth in foldable devices to technological advancement, particularly improvements in hardware. A key factor driving consumer interest is the increasing integration of artificial intelligence-based features. These technological innovations enable a better user experience and open up new possibilities for users, complementing the physical performance of the device. Although the current market growth is moderate, experts believe that trends will change as technology becomes increasingly accessible to a wider range of users.
