GoKawiilAccording to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market will be one of the factors driving an 18% increase in average sale prices in the category in 2026. Here are the details.
Book-types climb, clamshells slide
In a recently released report, Counterpoint Research predicts that the average selling price of foldable smartphones will reach $1,485 in 2026, up 18% from 2025 and 29% from 2024.
Counterpoint expects the average selling price of book-type foldables, the expected form-factor of the iPhone Fold (also rumored to be called iPhone Ultra), to continue rising, while clamshell models are projected to fall below their 2024 average.
From the report:
The two main foldable form factors are moving in different directions. Clamshell foldables have become cheaper as more brands have entered the market and production has scaled up, bringing them closer to premium bar-type smartphone alternatives. Meanwhile, book-type foldables remain positioned at the higher end as brands integrate larger displays, better hinges, bigger batteries, improved cameras, and more productivity-focused features. As book-type models now account for a larger share of total foldable shipments, they are driving the overall ASP higher.
The report also notes that the shipment share of foldables priced between $1,600 and $2,000 is expected to nearly double, from 30% in 2025 to 58% in 2026. Meanwhile, models priced at $2,000 or more are projected to slip from 3% to 2%.
The iPhone Fold is currently expected to land in that top price bracket, with IDC recently predicting an average selling price of $2,500 and some configurations reaching $3,000.
Finally, Counterpoint says that “Apple’s entry in the foldable market is also expected to further boost the upward ASP trend by keeping market attention on high-priced segments,” adding that this “will increase interest in software continuity, app support, and productivity across foldable categories and help establish foldables as a higher-value segment within the smartphone market.”
To read Counterpoint’s full report, follow this link.
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