According to new research from Counterpoint, 2026 is expected to be the year book-style foldables dominate the market, not the smaller clamshell designs many thought would go mainstream first.
And Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone could be the catalyst that pushes this shift even further.
The numbers: Book-style is winning
Right now, larger book-style foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold and Pixel Fold already hold 52% of the foldable market in 2025.
By 2026, that share is projected to climb to around 65% of global foldable shipments. That is a significant jump.
Clamshell foldables like the Galaxy Z Flip will still exist, but they are increasingly being deprioritized as manufacturers focus on premium, productivity-first devices.
In simple terms: the market is moving away from “fun folding phones” and toward “serious folding computers.”
Why bigger foldables are pulling ahead
There are a few key reasons behind this shift:
- Users are prioritizing productivity over novelty
- Book-style foldables come with flagship specs by default
- Higher memory configurations support premium pricing
- OEMs are chasing profitability, not just volume
With ongoing memory supply constraints, manufacturers are leaning toward high-margin devices. Book-type foldables, often priced near or above $2,000, fit that strategy perfectly.
Instead of trying to sell more affordable flip phones at scale, brands are focusing on expensive, feature-packed foldables that boost average selling prices.
This is less about experimentation and more about sustainable revenue.
Enter Apple
Apple has not released a foldable yet, but reports suggest its first model dubbed “iPhone Fold” will be a book-type foldable iPhone, not a clamshell.
Rumors point to:
- 5.5-inch outer display
- 7.8-inch inner display
- An aspect ratio similar to Apple’s larger iPads
Counterpoint believes Apple’s entry could materially accelerate adoption of book-style foldables and further tilt the market in that direction.
Not because Apple will suddenly invent the category. Samsung has led it for years, with Huawei briefly taking the lead in 2024.
Related: Samsung’s Next Foldable Might Be Closer to the iPhone Fold Than the Galaxy Z TriFold
But because Apple tends to validate categories.
When Apple enters a segment, it usually signals long-term commitment and ecosystem integration, not just a hardware experiment.
A different angle: This is about profit, not preference
Here is the part that feels more interesting. Yes, users may like bigger foldables for productivity, but the bigger story is margin strategy.
Manufacturers are facing rising component costs and tighter memory supply. Instead of chasing mass-market adoption with cheaper clamshell foldables, they are betting on premium devices that protect profitability.
Book-type foldables are not dominating because they are more popular in absolute terms. They are dominating because they make more money.
Apple’s potential entry only reinforces that dynamic. A premium book-style foldable iPhone would almost certainly sit at the high end of the pricing spectrum, further normalizing the idea that foldables are luxury productivity devices rather than experimental lifestyle gadgets.
Interestingly, Apple is reportedly also exploring a clamshell design internally. But there is no clear timeline for that. If it happens, it would likely come after Apple tests the waters with a high-end book-style device first.
2026 could be a turning point
If projections hold, 2026 will mark the beginning of a more mature phase for foldables.
No explosive growth, no cheap mainstream adoption, but a shift toward premium, ecosystem-driven, productivity-focused devices.
The real question is not whether book-style foldables will dominate. It is whether consumers are ready to treat them as their primary computing device, rather than an expensive secondary gadget.
And if Apple steps in with a polished, software-first experience, that conversation could change fast.
