GoKawiilAnalyst argues Apple's rumored folding iPhone could revive Android foldable sales
Foldable phones from Samsung, Google, Motorola and Chinese brands still make up only 1.6% of global smartphone shipments despite years of hinge and display improvements, with 19.6 million units shipped last year according to Counterpoint Research. A commentator argues that Apple's expected entry into the foldable market will finally push the category into the mainstream, much as it did with smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Android makers have proven foldables can work technically but have failed to convince mainstream buyers to adopt them, leaving the category stuck at a low single-digit market share for nearly a decade. Apple's scale, brand trust, and marketing reach have historically been the tipping point that turns niche gadgets into everyday purchases, which could expand the whole foldable ecosystem rather than just capture share from rivals.
- Foldables represent just 1.6% of global smartphone shipments despite a decade of development.
- 19.6 million foldable units shipped last year, an 18% year-over-year rise but still a small slice of the market.
- Apple's anticipated foldable iPhone could act as the catalyst that pushes mainstream buyers to adopt the category.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — If the article has you curious about where foldables stand before Apple joins the party, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the flagship that defines the category today. It pairs a pocketable cover screen with a tablet-sized inner display, so you can multitask, read, and game on one device. It's the benchmark any folding iPhone will be measured against.
See Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “Apple’s first folding iPhone won’t kill Android foldables — it will save them”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.