The foldable iPhone could save a stagnant foldable phone market, according to a new report
- A new report shows that shipments of foldable displays for smartphones have declined for the first time
- This is despite 2024 being a strong year for foldable releases from Samsung, Google and others
- The rumored foldable iPhone could be released in 2026 could be the light at the end of the tunnel
Global foldable display shipments fell for the first time year-over-year in Q3 2024, despite a number of well-received foldable flagship releases during the year, including the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.
This is evident from a report by Digital supply chain consultants (DSCC), which collects data from the entire technical production chain.
According to the report, demand for foldable displays fell 38% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, while only a modest 5% increase is expected for all of 2024.
This contrasts with a previously strong upward trend: between 2019 and 2023, demand for foldable displays increased by 40% every year.
DSCC now estimates that demand for the displays will decline by 4% overall by 2025, with total shipments remaining stable at around 22 million.
The report doesn’t provide much information on actual sales of foldable phones, but it does focus on foldable handsets as the primary use case for these displays.
More releases, fewer shipments
This drop may come as a surprise, as our list of the best foldables has seen a number of new entries this year – including the 2024 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6, Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold and cheaper options from Motorola are all on store shelves.
And as our reviews for these devices show, the foldable phones released this year are generally the best we’ve ever seen.
If TelephoneArena notes that the decline in shipments may be related to a number of smaller phone makers leaving the foldable phone sector entirely – generally globally focused brands such as Tecno and Oppo.
The report expresses some optimism, stating that Apple will likely enter the market in the second half of 2026 – a foldable iPhone is expected to sell well enough to provide a significant boost to the entire foldable phone market.
Foldable future
While we don’t expect foldable phones to disappear anytime soon, the report suggests that these powerful devices will remain niche rather than challenge the traditional flat form factor.
While foldable devices offer a lot of power and convenience, they are always much more expensive than their flat phone counterparts.
It could be this fact that has led DSCC to predict that even the most popular foldable phone, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, will sell for 10% less than its predecessor, the Z Flip 5.
And while there have been rumors of a cheaper Galaxy Z Flip FE for a while, there’s still no truly cheap foldable phone available at the moment.
If the report’s prediction about a foldable iPhone turns out to be true, we could see a rise in foldable iPhone sales, but it appears the industry will have to weather a quiet year first.
For the latest updates on foldable phones, check out our phone coverage, and for more information on the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series, check out our Samsung phone coverage.