Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is expected to spur strong growth in worldwide foldable smartphone shipments in 2026, according to new estimates shared by IDC.
IDC believes the iPhone Fold will capture over 22 percent unit share and 34 percent of the foldables market value in its first year due to an expected $2,400 starting price point. Right now, the foldable market is dominated by Samsung and Google.
"The launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone will mark a turning point for the foldable segment," said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at IDC. "This move is likely to boost category awareness and drive consumer interest. Apple tends to be a catalyst for mainstream adoption of new categories. Although foldables will continue to be a niche segment from a volume perspective, it will become a relevant value driver for most vendors offering foldables, as average selling prices will be 3 times higher than a standard smartphone."
The overall foldable smartphone market is expected to grow 30 percent in 2026 thanks to Apple joining the market, with some growth also expected from Samsung's Galaxy Z Trifold launching in January 2026.
Rumors suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone will debut in fall 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. The iPhone Fold is expected to feature book-like design that folds horizontally, opening out into a larger iPad mini-sized display.
The device will be around 5.5 inches in size when folded, but it will open up to around 7.8 inches. Apple has worked to eliminate the crease with a reinforced hinge, and it could be one of the first foldable devices with no visible crease.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has high expectations for Apple's first foldable iPhone.
In his Power On newsletter today, he said the foldable iPhone will be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."
"iPhone 4, iPhone 6 and iPhone X were clearly a big deal, but this is a whole new design," he said.
Like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, the foldable iPhone will reportedly open up like ...
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New images of an alleged iPhone 18 Pro prototype and screen protectors have emerged from multiple sources, adding weight to earlier reports that Apple plans to significantly shrink the Dynamic Island later this year.
An X user called @earlyappleleaks recently shared an image purportedly showing a prototype iPhone 18 Pro with a noticeably smaller Dynamic Island. In the picture, the flashlight ...
Thursday March 12, 2026 10:07 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple's foldable iPhone could cost close to $3,000 when maxed out on storage, according to alleged leaked pricing shared over Chinese social media.
Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital claims the iPhone Fold will come in 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations, with approximate prices starting around $2,320 and topping out at roughly $2,900 for the 1TB model. It's important to keep in mind that...
Apple is planning to launch at least three new "Ultra"-class devices this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in this weekend's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that while the low-end of Apple's product lineups are now well-served by the Apple Watch SE, iPad 11, and MacBook Neo, there is "a more significant shift underway" toward higher-end, "Ultra" devices. Apple is...
Apple considered but abandoned plans for a flip-style foldable iPhone because it didn't create compelling new use cases, according to Weibo leaker Instant Digital. Apple reportedly felt that it was an "unnecessary" design because the biggest selling point would have been its smaller size when folded.
The split at the middle also caused issues with internal space, limiting battery capacity...
Functionality will matter more, imo, if we can point to the Air as a recent example. Cheaper than the Pro, but nobody wants it because it has a nerfed battery and the worst camera Apple has shipped in years.
If the Fold is also The Longest Lasting iPhone Ever™ (and we think you're going to love it), then it has a real chance. If it's merely up to par on battery life and has just one crappy camera, that might hurt sales more than a $2499 starting price. There are a lot of Porsche and Range Rover types out there who would love to have the big flex if it's not a situation where 'everybody knows' it's actually a weak phone with bad battery life.
Still hoping for $1999 if only to avoid the gasps-from-the-crowd memes à la Studio Display Stand and Mac Pro wheels
Sorry to inform you, but the iPhone Air battery life is actually quite good.
