The Flip boom is cooling off as book-like foldables take over in 2026

Market research shows clamshell foldables led the segment in the first few years after the original Galaxy Fold and Flip debuted. That changed in 2024, when book-style foldables pulled slightly ahead. This year, the gap may widen further.

According to Counterpoint Research, book-like foldables held 52% of the market in 2025 versus 48% for clamshell models. In 2026, book-style devices are expected to slightly overshadow the Flip design and capture 65% of the segment.

Apple may enter the foldable market later this year with a book-style iPhone. The device could be wider than Samsung’s Fold, though Samsung is reportedly developing a wider Fold of its own.

Apple’s arrival will undoubtedly influence the market. Still, user preferences have been shifting toward the book form factor for years, boosting the Galaxy Z Fold series.

Analysts attribute the shift to improved hardware and usability. Meanwhile, clamshell models such as the Galaxy Z Flip 7 are increasingly positioned as complementary devices focused on style and unique features. The Galaxy Z Flip 7's cover screen is a window to generative AI more than anything else.

Consumers appear to favor foldables that push boundaries, and most of the action happens in the book-like segment. As a result, the clamshell market share is expected to decline gradually.

Foldable flip phones remain an important part of the segment and were critical to its early growth. However, OEMs now see book-style devices as the long-term growth engine.

Industry watchers believe 2026 could mark a shift away from experimentation toward clearer value propositions. The novelty has faded. Foldables must now deliver tangible benefits and defined use cases, with success hinging on software polish and ecosystem integration.

Samsung’s current foldable lineup includes the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, Galaxy Z Flip 7, Galaxy Z Fold 7, and the ultra-rare Galaxy Z TriFold. A wider Fold variant could follow later this year to compete with Apple’s own take on the book-like foldable. Reportedly, Apple is also considering a Flip-like design.