2026 could finally be the year when foldables become mainstream

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Credit: Prakhar Khanna / Android Authority


TL;DR

• Sales of foldable smartphones could grow by up to 30% in 2026, research firm IDC predicts.
• Innovative products such as the Galaxy Z TriFold and a folding iPhone could drive sales for the category.
• Meanwhile, sales of regular phones could decline or stagnate over the next few years.

Worldwide smartphone sales have seen a meager growth in 2025. Different research agencies have cited growth rates ranging from 1.5% to 3% for the first, second, and third quarters of the year. Meanwhile, the foldable category expanded at a much faster rate, with Counterpoint reporting 14% year-on-year growth in Q3 2025, led by the success of the reinvented Galaxy Z Fold 7 and its rivals in the book-style format. In 2026, this growth could nearly double as new and innovative products, such as the Galaxy Z TriFold, help shape the future of the foldable segment.

A more recent IDC report predicts that the foldable segment will grow steadily through 2029. The next year, i.e., 2026, specifically will see an enormous 29.7% year-on-year growth in foldable sales. In comparison, sales of regular smartphones are expected to decline by 1.4% as people keep their phones longer, leading to a plateau in sales.




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