TL;DR
- Projected Launch: Fall 2026 (alongside iPhone 18)
- Market Share Forecast: 22% of units, 34% of revenue in year one
- Expected Price: ~$2,400 (approx. ₹2,15,000)
- Key Competitor: Samsung Galaxy Z Trifold (expected early 2026)
Apple is notoriously late to new product categories, but a new report from IDC suggests its entry into the foldable smartphone market will be an immediate “turning point” for the industry.
According to the latest data from the International Data Corporation (IDC), Apple’s long-rumored “iPhone Fold” is expected to launch in late 2026. Despite entering the market nearly seven years after Samsung, analysts predict Apple will capture 22 percent of the global foldable market share within its first year of availability.
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The “Apple Effect” on Market Share
The report highlights a drastic shift in the current ecosystem. In 2025, Android devices currently account for roughly 89 percent of all foldable shipments. However, IDC projects that figure will drop to 61 percent in 2026 as Apple enters the fray.
This shift isn’t necessarily due to shrinking Android shipments, but rather a massive expansion of the total addressable market. Francisco Jeronimo, VP of Client Devices at IDC, notes that Apple historically acts as a “catalyst” for mainstream adoption, similar to its impact on smartwatches and tablets.
Key IDC Projections:
- Revenue Dominance: While capturing 22% of unit sales, Apple is expected to seize 34% of total revenue, driven by a premium average selling price (ASP).
- Category Growth: The foldable market is forecast to grow just 10% in 2025, but surge by 29.7% in 2026, fueled almost entirely by the iPhone Fold and Samsung’s upcoming “Galaxy Z Trifold.”
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What we know about the device
While Apple has not officially confirmed the device, supply chain indicators paint a clear picture of what to expect.
- The Price: Early indicators suggest an ultra-premium price tag of around $2,400 (approx. ₹2,15,000), positioning it significantly higher than the current iPhone Pro Max lineup.
- The Design: Reports indicate a “book-style” folding mechanism similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 6.
- The Display: Unlike current competitors, Apple is reportedly targeting a “crease-free” panel. Mass production of these display components has reportedly begun, signaling that the supply chain is mobilizing for the 2026 release window.
Apple is All About Value over Volume
The data suggests Apple is not trying to flood the market with cheap foldables. Instead, it is targeting the high-margin “ultra-premium” segment.
“Although foldables will remain a niche from a volume perspective,” Jeronimo said in the statement, “they will be a relevant value driver… as ASPs stay 3x higher than standard smartphones.”
For consumers, this means the first foldable iPhone will likely be a status symbol rather than a mass-market replacement for the standard iPhone at least for the first generation.
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