Foldable iPhone could eat into Galaxy Z Fold sales next year

Apple is expected to launch the first foldable iPhone next year. That would be seven years after Samsung launched its first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019. However, given the hype around Apple products, the foldable iPhone is still expected to sell in millions. A new report gives us a clearer picture of its impact on the Galaxy Z Fold series phones.

A report from market research firm IDC claims that the foldable iPhone could capture up to 22% of the global foldable smartphone market share in 2026. More importantly, it could account for 34% of the foldable market value. So, Apple would become the world's biggest foldable smartphone brand in terms of revenue. But the company would also help improve consumer interest in foldable phones.

By 2028, Apple could capture 34% of the global foldable smartphone market, while Android brands combined are expected to hold 52% share of the market. Huawei is expected to capture 14% of the overall foldable smartphone market.

The first foldable iPhone is expected to be priced at $2,400, significantly more expensive than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 which launched in the US with a price tag at $2,000. It is expected to feature a 5.8-inch cover display, an 7.85-inch foldable display, a 4MP under-display camera, a 48MP+48MP dual-camera setup on the rear, a 2nm A20 Pro chip (with vapor chamber system), and a 5,400mAh+ battery.

The foldable iPhone could have a new hinge system that pushes the foldable screen outwards a bit to make the screen crease disappear. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is also expected to use a similar mechanism to eliminate the screen crease visibility issue.

Apple has reportedly tasked Samsung Display to make 11 million advanced foldable OLED panels for the foldable iPhone. That is 3 million units more than what was expected earlier. This means the company expects to sell over 10 million foldable iPhones after the device's launch in the second half of 2026.

The foldable iPhone, Galaxy Z Fold 8, Galaxy Z TriFold, and foldables from Huawei and other Chinese brands are expected to increase the overall volume of foldable phones globally.