Foldables: Market should shrink – does Apple 2026 bring the comeback?

The market for foldables is quite special: the smartphones with foldable OLED screen, which at first glance appear very futuristic, have only been available with Android operating system and they are often quite expensive- 1600 euros and more (from € 1599) Interested parties for current models. However, the business has not really got going: Last December, the business that the division may have had its best times at first. One New study by Counterpoint Research Now comes to a similar conclusion: Before it gets better with the foldables, it gets worse – and Apple could soon play an important role.

Apple is supposed to rejuvenate market

The market researchers write that after a small increase of 2.9 percent last year in the global foldable market for the year 2025 even-for the first time at all-a minus could be. “We predict a single -digit negative growth for 2025,” said Counterpoint. However, there could be another change of direction in 2026. The reason for this is Apple: the rumor kitchen is expected that the iPhone manufacturer will finally bring his first foldable smartphone onto the market in autumn next year-after there have been corresponding speculation for years. The industry is apparently already preparing that the order books signaled this, according to the report.

The worse figures this year are “definitely not a sign that the market has reached its peak,” said Analyst that park optimistic. It is more of a sign of a restructuring before 2026. With the market entry of Apple and a number of new Clamshell models, the segment would then be “tapidatively rejuvenated”.

Chinese companies dominate

This is interesting, also because market observers believe that Apple will crack the price brand of 2000 euros for the standard model with the first iPhone Foldable.

In 2024, Chinese manufacturers in the foldable segment were primarily ahead. While Samsung had a weak fourth quarter, it went better at Motorola, Honor, Xiaomi and Huawei. However, top models are sometimes only delayed or not brought to Europe at all. This includes, for example, Huawei’s double folding device Mate XT – and Honors, particularly thin Magic V3, came onto the market a little later.