Global foldable smartphone shipments grew a modest 2.9% YoY in 2024, mainly held back by Samsung’s weaker Q4 and Oppo’s production cuts of more affordable clamshells. Despite certain brands like Huawei, Motorola, Honor, and Xiaomi performing well, the market as a whole faced many challenges, according to Counterpoint.
According to Counterpoint, 2025 is forecasted to see single-digit negative growth, a first for the category. driven by ongoing market challenges. However, the segment is not peaking; rather it is consolidating before an anticipated strong rebound in 2026. That turnaround is expected to be spurred by Apple’s entry into the foldable market and renewed momentum for clamshell designs, with supply chain data signaling mid-double-digit YoY panel procurement growth for 2026.
