Global shipments of foldable smartphones will grow 21% year-on-year in 2026, according to a new analysis report Counterpoint Research. The catalysts for the new round of expansion will be three key factors: stable demand for premium Book-type devices, increased competition among Android manufacturers, and Apple's long-awaited official entry into the flexible display category.
The release of the first foldable iPhone will radically change the market landscape, but Korean giant Samsung will maintain its leadership due to technological maturity and large-scale distribution.
Market shares and the Galaxy Z8 series
According to Counterpoint Research calculations, the balance of power between key players in 2026 will look like this:
-
👑 Samsung (32%): Will maintain the first position in the world, although its share will decrease from 40% (in 2025) to 32% due to the aggressive entry of Apple and pressure from Chinese brands.
-
🍏 Apple (25%): In its first year on the market, the Cupertino company will capture a quarter of the global supply of foldable smartphones.
-
🇨🇳 Huawei (24%): Will maintain third position due to its monopoly dominance in the domestic Chinese market.
-
📱 Motorola (8%) and HONOR (3%): Will maintain their positions in the segment of compact clamshells and ultra-thin book form factors.
┌─ ├─
AI transformation and the new Samsung Galaxy Z8 Fold Wide format
Ahead of the Galaxy Unpacked event (July 22, 2026), Samsung is preparing to introduce an updated Galaxy Z8 lineup, which will include the Galaxy Z8 Flip, Galaxy Z8 Fold, and a fundamentally new wider device — the Z8 Fold Wide.
Wider external and internal displays are becoming the main technology trend of 2026. As autonomous AI agents and neural network assistants move from simple chats to complex everyday scenarios (document summarization, content editing, cross-app navigation), users need a larger workspace. The wide Book-type format allows you to keep multiple working windows open at the same time and comfortably interact with artificial intelligence without constantly switching applications.
HiTech Expert Take
In 2026, the foldable smartphone market will finally leave the status of an experimental niche and turn into the main mobile standard for the premium segment. Apple's debut will increase consumer awareness around the world and raise the bar for quality, but Samsung will maintain the advantage due to a decade of experience, maturity of hinges and the One UI optimized for multitasking. The emergence of a wide form factor Galaxy Z8 Fold Wide is a direct response to the demands of the era of artificial intelligence, where a larger screen area is becoming a decisive advantage for working with document workflows and AI agents.
From an engineering point of view, expanding the line of high-performance mobile devices and developing foldable screens is extremely important for the development of GovTech infrastructure and digitalization in Ukraine. Against the background of how The Ministry of Digital Transformation is deploying 60 national registries based on the Diya.Engine constructor and preparing a full AI transition to the Agentic State model, the use of such solutions will increase the sustainability and efficiency of government platforms, including national system "Obriy".
