Research firm Omdia projects that global foldable smartphone display shipments will increase 44% to 29 million units in 2026, recovering from a 12% drop the previous year. Growth is expected to be led by Apple's iPhone Duo and wider-aspect designs from Samsung, Xiaomi, and Chinese manufacturers.
Market research firm Omdia projects that global foldable display shipments for smartphones will rebound in 2026, climbing 44% to reach 29 million units after dropping 12% the prior year. The anticipated recovery stems from Apple entering the category with its iPhone Duo alongside an industry-wide move toward wider form factors. As pre-orders for the iPhone Duo begin and earlier hardware gains traction, consumer demand has centered on these broader dimensions.
Brian Huh, Principal Analyst of Omdia’s Display research practice, indicated that wider panels will soon represent most of the segment. Huh noted, “Display shipments for wide-screen foldable smartphones are expected to account for 44% of total foldable panel shipments in 2026. This share is expected to surpass the 60% threshold in 2027 driven by the entry of additional Chinese makers into the market.” Omdia also expects significant expansion in the LTPO-based flexible AMOLED display market over the same period.
Recent device releases reflect how quickly manufacturers are shifting production toward these wider screens. Samsung has already seen commercial success with its Galaxy Z Fold 8, while Xiaomi is expected to experience similar demand with the 18 Fold. In the coming months, OPPO and HONOR plan to continue that pattern as their own wide-screen foldables receive official announcements, alongside entries from additional brands.
In its research, Omdia forecasts that “AMOLED display shipments for foldable smartphones in 2026 will increase to 29 million units, up 44% year over year.” Samsung Display is expected to capture a large chunk of that market expansion. If Omdia is correct, rival suppliers BOE, China Star, Tianma, and Visionox will each hold a smaller share of the market, illustrating the volume Samsung Display is securing across the foldable supply chain this year.
Apple is entering the foldable segment approximately seven years after competing devices first reached consumers. Although the company is arriving years later than early Android innovators, market observers anticipate that Apple possesses the influence required to move foldables out of niche status. That brand presence could help turn foldable hardware into everyday devices that mainstream buyers carry regularly, driving the sharp increase in panel procurement anticipated throughout 2026.
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Luiza Mosneagu is Reviews Editor at Droid Tools. A psychologist by training and tech writer by passion, she has tested over 60 Android devices since 2020 - always for a minimum of two weeks before writing a word. Her focus is camera quality, everyday usability, and cutting through marketing claims to tell you what a device is actually like to live with.
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