Apple’s jump into foldable phones with the iPhone Duo is already making waves, and new data suggests it could command almost 30% of the global foldable smartphone market by 2027. that’s a significant rise from its estimated stake of around 25% this year, according to TrendForce’s latest forecast. The forecast also predicts that Samsung will maintain its lead, though its market share is expected to drop. Huawei, meanwhile, could fall to third place.
Shipments, Market Shifts, and Early Feedback
TrendForce estimates roughly five million iPhone Duo units will ship in 2026. Despite this, the foldable phone segment overall is only expected to grow modestly—just about 0.5% year-over-year.
Samsung is projected to see its market share slide from 35.1% in 2026 to approximately 31.9% in 2027. Meanwhile, Apple’s share rises from 24.8% to 29.8%, putting it ahead of Huawei, which is slated to drop from 24.8% down to 21.3%.
User reactions to the iPhone Duo reveal a mixed bag. Highlights include praise for its split-screen features and how content looks when the device is unfolded. Less favorable feedback centers on apps that don’t fully utilize the release’s foldable screen format—some displaying black borders—and concerns about display issues and high repair costs connected to damage.
Still, analysts say Apple’s strength lies in its tightly integrated hardware, software, and developer ecosystem. As app support improves and hardware reliability increases, the company’s foldable may help reshape the market toward devices that prioritize multitasking and durability over gimmicks.
What This Means for the Foldable Landscape
Apple is entering a market where flexibility—both literally and metaphorically—is increasingly demanded. Foldables have long been viewed as niche; now, they’re becoming mainstream, but only if usability, app compatibility, and durability hit certain thresholds. The iPhone Duo’s early reception shows promise, but also highlights just how difficult it is to execute well in this category. If Apple can iron out issues around display damage and app support, it could significantly raise the bar for what consumers expect from foldables.
For Samsung and Huawei, the pressure is on. Samsung must defend its top position amid shrinking share, and Huawei needs to find ways to maintain relevance as the competition shifts towards premium foldables with refined software experiences. Even with just half a percent growth projected for the overall foldable market in 2026, the stakes are high. Developers and manufacturers alike will be watching closely over the next 12 months.
Analytical Take: The iPhone Duo’s climb toward 30% market share signals that Apple may be successfully steering foldables from a niche experiment toward a major product line. But getting there depends on solving its current weaknesses—notably app compatibility and durability concerns. If Apple delivers, this could mark a turning point in foldable design, pushing competitors to match not just with powerful hardware, but fully cohesive, reliable ecosystems. The moves Apple takes now will likely define not just its position in this segment, but the standards consumers expect of every foldable device going forward.
