Foldable phone sales forecast to jump 20% as Apple eyes September debut

Global foldable smartphone shipments are forecast to grow 20% in 2026 compared to 2025, buoyed by Apple's ↘ 0.80% anticipated entry into the category and Samsung's already record-breaking Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, according to a DigiTimes report citing industry sources.

Apple's iPhone Ultra Poised to Reshape Market

The report, published this week, attributes the projected growth to several factors, including the increasing popularity of wider book-style foldable designs and Apple's long-awaited move into the segment after nearly eight years of product development. Apple is expected to debut its first foldable iPhone — widely referred to as the iPhone Ultra — alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models this September, with suppliers reportedly told to prepare for production of around 10 million units this year.mactrast+2

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested the device may cost more than $2,000, while supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated it may not be available for pre-order until the fourth quarter of 2026. DigiTimes noted that while the broader smartphone market faces headwinds from tighter logic chip supply and rising memory prices, the foldable segment is expected to keep expanding.macrumors+2

Samsung Sets Pre-Order Records Ahead of Launch

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 series is already demonstrating the category's momentum. The Galaxy Z Flip 8, Z Fold 8, and Z Fold 8 Ultra collectively received more than 1.44 million pre-orders in South Korea during a week-long window ending August 3, surpassing the Galaxy Note 10's previous record of 1.38 million — which was set over an 11-day period in 2019. More than 70% of pre-orders were for the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Samsung's first passport-style foldable. The devices go on sale August 7.sammobile+2

Q4 Expected to Be Decisive

The fourth quarter of 2026 is flagged as the year's most important sales period for foldables, coinciding with multiple flagship launches across brands. A previous market projection suggested the iPhone Ultra could account for as much as 25% of global foldable smartphone shipments within months of its debut. Whether that materializes will depend in part on whether consumers view the device's price — expected to exceed $2,000 — as reasonable relative to what it offers.gadgets360+2