Apple’s foldable iPhone will trigger a 46 percent year-over-year increase in foldable smartphone panel shipments in 2026, according to Counterpoint Research’s Foldable-Rollable Display Shipment Tracker. The surge reflects Apple’s direct entry into a category Samsung has dominated for years, reshaping display supply chains and competitive positioning across the smartphone industry.
The device, rumored to launch under the name “iPhone Ultra,” is expected to begin mass production in August with a September debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. When folded, it will measure approximately 5.5 inches; when opened, it will expand to around 7.8 inches, mirroring an iPad’s wider, shorter aspect ratio rather than the taller designs Samsung and competitors have favored. Apple has engineered a reinforced hinge using liquid metal that aims to eliminate the visible crease present on rival devices, and it will pair the display with the A20 Pro chip, which will deliver performance improvements up to 15 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than the A19.
IDC projects that Apple’s foldable iPhone will capture over 22 percent unit share of the foldables market in its first year, but that modest fraction will account for a staggering 34 percent of total market value. The expected $2,400 starting price point explains the valuation skew, positioning the device as a luxury product that generates outsized revenue relative to unit volume. Samsung’s existing Galaxy Z Fold and Galaxy Z Flip models command lower price points, and the foldables market overall remains a niche category even as Apple enters.
JPMorgan forecasts approximately 45 million iPhone Fold units in annual sales by 2028, beginning in the low-teens millions in 2027.
Samsung Display will be the primary beneficiary of the foldable panel boom, with its market share expected to climb past 50 percent. The firm is already manufacturing foldable panels for Apple’s device, cementing its role as the technology leader in a segment where display engineering remains critical. According to Counterpoint analyst Guillaume Chansin, “Apple is the key driver as it starts to procure panels for its first foldable iPhone,” and the analyst expects Apple’s entry to “reinvigorate the broader market.”
The overall foldable smartphone market will grow 30 percent in 2026 thanks to both Apple’s arrival and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold launch earlier in the year. Apple’s decision to adopt the book-style form factor, rather than Samsung’s clamshell Flip design, signals a market validation of larger, productivity-focused displays. Samsung’s own Galaxy Z Fold outsold the Galaxy Z Flip for the first time during the second half of 2025, suggesting that consumers prefer tablet-like screens over pocket-sized flip phones, a preference that will only strengthen when Apple enters the market.
Samsung is developing a new foldable called the “Wide Fold” to directly compete with Apple’s iPhone Ultra. The device will feature a 7.6-inch display when open and a 5.4-inch display when closed, with a 4:3 aspect ratio that mirrors Apple’s book-style design much more closely than Samsung’s traditional tall-and-narrow Fold format. The shift underscores how thoroughly Apple’s design choice has already reshaped industry expectations.
Mass production was originally scheduled to begin in June but has been deferred to August, via The Elec citing Apple supplier sources. Despite earlier concerns about hinge reliability issues, Apple has reportedly shipped prototype units to carriers worldwide for testing, and development is now progressing rapidly. The company has received recent component deliveries in small batches, with guidance pointing to the September unveiling date remaining on track.
Apple’s foldable iPhone will launch with a restrained color palette: a silver and white option and an indigo finish similar to the iPhone 17 Pro’s Deep Blue. The limited choice reflects Apple’s typical launch-window availability strategy and may signal supply constraints on specific color variants during the critical early weeks.
