Global foldable smartphone shipments surged by 14% year-over-year in Q3 2025, setting a new quarterly record for the category. As foldable smartphones become increasingly popular in the premium market, their share of global smartphone shipments has now reached 2.5%.
Counterpoint Research’s latest Foldable Smartphone Market Tracker report reveals this impressive growth, driven by innovations across various models. The book-style foldable phones, led by Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7 and Huawei's Mate series, have been key to this expansion. At the same time, flip-style foldable models like the Motorola Razr 60 series have also performed well, thanks to Samsung’s refreshed lineup and Motorola’s competitive pricing.
During the quarter, the Samsung Galaxy Z series made a significant impact. The Z Fold7, in particular, stood out with its sleek, lighter design, improved hinge durability, and less noticeable creases, all of which fueled higher-than-expected sales. Huawei’s Mate series continued to show steady growth, while Honor and vivo contributed to the overall market by refreshing their foldable product offerings. Motorola also managed to expand its user base globally, using strong channel partnerships and excellent product reviews to attract new customers.
Looking ahead, the foldable smartphone market is projected to close 2025 with a 16% year-over-year growth. High-end users are increasingly opting for foldable devices with larger screens to improve productivity and gain durability benefits. In 2026, the market is expected to enter a period of significant expansion, driven by further advancements in durability, lighter and slimmer designs, optimized hinge mechanisms, and AI-driven software enhancements.
Apple, poised to enter the foldable market in late 2026, is expected to tap into its massive iPhone user base to fuel a new upgrade cycle in key markets. This will dramatically reshape the competitive landscape, pushing existing brands to accelerate their innovation and product differentiation strategies. The trend of foldable designs evolving beyond traditional book-style models is gaining momentum. Huawei’s early adoption of multi-fold solutions has proven their engineering feasibility, while Samsung’s newly launched tri-fold model marks a crucial step forward in transitioning from concept to practical application.
"The shipment volume of Samsung’s first tri-fold model will be limited, but its purpose is not immediate scalability," said Liz Lee, Deputy Director at Counterpoint Research. "With Apple entering the foldable market in 2026, the competition will intensify. Samsung is positioning the tri-fold as a pilot for multi-fold form factors, aiming to refine its durability, hinge design, and software integration before broader commercialization. This product’s release is a step towards validating the multi-fold concept and gathering user feedback."