It is predicted that 'foldable iPhones' will account for 29% of the total procurement of panels for foldable smartphones in 2026.
Market research firm Counterpoint predicts that Apple's
Apple's Entry Set to Drive a Strong 2026 Rebound in Foldable Smartphone Panels
https://counterpointresearch.com/en/insights/apple-foldable-entry-to-drive-panel-shipments-rebound-2026
iPhone Fold to spearhead 2026 rebound for foldable phone screen shipments
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/07/01/iphone-fold-expected-to-take-29-of-2026-foldable-phone-screen-orders
Counterpoint's quarterly report on foldable display shipments and technology predicts that shipments of display panels for foldable smartphones will reach 27.5 million units in 2026, a 24% increase year-over-year, and sales will reach $4.4 billion (approximately 720 billion yen), a 48% increase year-over-year. Counterpoint points out that Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone market will be one of the factors driving this growth.
The growth in the display panel market for foldable smartphones in 2026 is not expected to occur throughout the year, but rather will be concentrated in the third quarter (July-September) and the fourth quarter (October-December). Furthermore, it is predicted that shipments of display panels for foldable smartphones in July-December 2026 will account for approximately 64% of the total annual shipments.
In the 2026 foldable smartphone display panel market, Samsung is expected to procure the largest number of panels, accounting for 31% of the total. Apple is projected to be the second largest supplier, accounting for approximately 29% of the total. As a result, the foldable smartphone market is expected to expand, and competition will shift towards wider, book-type models with higher selling prices, greater reliability, and fewer folds.
Furthermore, global shipments of display panels for foldable smartphones in the first quarter of 2026 (January-March) totaled approximately 3.9 million units, a 7% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year. The graph below summarizes the market share of foldable smartphone display panels by company for the first quarter of 2026 and the same period of the previous year. BOE still supplies the most display panels, but its market share has fallen by 7% in one year. Its shipment volume also recorded a 19% decrease compared to the previous year. In contrast, Tianma recorded a 578% increase in shipments compared to the same period of the previous year, and its market share also slightly increased from 1% to 4%.
'Foldable devices are moving from a secondary form factor to the mainstream, and while they will be roughly on par with clamshell devices in 2025, they will clearly have an advantage in 2026 as clamshell devices decline. The growth of foldable devices is not solely dependent on Apple. Use cases for increased productivity, larger screen experiences, and improved profitability are also driving growth,' said Enze Chi, a senior analyst at Counterpoint.
It has also been reported that Samsung will be the supplier of display panels for Apple's foldable smartphones.
Apple's foldable iPhone display will be supplied by Samsung under a three-year exclusive contract; initial shipments are expected to reach approximately 3 million units - GIGAZINE
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in Hardware, Smartphone, Posted by logu_ii