Huawei and Samsung have entered the triple foldable race, while Apple is still working on its first “iPhone Fold” dream, which is expected to launch in 2026. Before that, IDC revealed how it sees the three competitors in the folding phone market.
International Data Corporation (IDC) has released a new report showing how Huawei, Samsung, and Apple will accelerate the growth of the foldable device segment.
Starting with Apple, the report said that the first iPhone Fold can be a prime factor behind the explosive progress of the foldable market in 2026. The Vice President of Client Devices at IDC, Francisco Jeronimo, mentioned:
“Apple’s entry will be a turning point for the foldable screen category, significantly increasing consumer attention and driving mainstream adoption.”
On the other hand, Samsung will gain traction for its ultimate Galaxy Z TriFold. The firm recently launched its Mate XTs rival with some dynamic tech features.
(Image Credits: IDC)
The South Korean company will likely witness an annual growth rate of 30% next year, following the fruitful demand of its first triple foldable among consumers.
Huawei will enter a new “growth” phase in 2026 – thanks to its self-made HarmonyOS software version. This one strong move is expected to double the Mate/Pura/Nova foldable shipments next year, expanding its user base to a greater extent.
IDC further showed the graph of foldable market share forecast based on OS for 2025-2029. It shows that HarmonyOS will reach 17% (up from 11%) in 2026. Although Apple’s welcome in the market could push it down in the coming years.
Overall, the report depicts that the global foldable phone sales will hit 20.6 million units this year with a 10% YoY jump. But 2026 can be an exceptional year with a 30% YoY growth rate.
(Image Credits: IDC)
[source]
The post Huawei, Samsung, Apple will wrestle in three-way foldable battle: IDC appeared first on Huawei Central.
