Apple poised to dominate north america's foldable market in 2026, forecast suggests

Despite the gloomy outlook for the overall smartphone market this year, one crucial segment is expected to buck the trend and experience significant growth. Counterpoint Research forecasts that the foldable smartphone market, currently dominated by Samsung, could see a major shake-up in 2026, with Apple poised to become the leading vendor in North America.

Apple's potential rise to foldable supremacy

According to Counterpoint's latest analysis, Apple is on track to claim 46% of the North American foldable market share in 2026, leaving Samsung and other rivals like Motorola and Google in its wake. This astonishing forecast assumes that Apple will successfully launch its highly anticipated 'iPhone Ultra' or 'iPhone Fold' device sometime in 2026.

However, the real challenge lies in Apple's ability to manufacture the millions of units needed to meet this remarkable demand. If the initial release is delayed beyond September or October, the chances of Apple hitting this predicted market share fall significantly.

Massive declines forecast for samsung, motorola, and google

Should Apple indeed dominate the North American foldable market in 2026, it would come at a huge cost for Samsung, Motorola, and Google. Samsung, currently the top foldable vendor, is expected to see its market share plummet from 51% to just 29% in the region. Motorola and Google are also projected to suffer significant declines, with their market shares shrinking by nearly half and nearly disappearing entirely, respectively.

These massive declines are forecast despite efforts from Samsung and Motorola to diversify their product portfolios with new foldable designs, including a