Foldable phones have been "the next big thing" since 2019, and for most of that time they stayed a niche. Going into 2026, the evidence points the other way from dying. The category is still small, but the hardware got noticeably better in 2025 and the biggest phone maker that has not built one is widely expected to.
The hardware first. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold7, launched in July 2025 at $1,999.99, is 8.9mm thick when closed, down from 12.1mm on the Fold6. That removes the most common complaint, which was that a folding phone felt like two phones stacked. Google's Pixel 10 Pro Fold, at $1,799, became the first foldable rated IP68, so dust is no longer a reason to stay away.
Then there is experimentation. Samsung announced the Galaxy Z TriFold in December 2025, a phone that unfolds twice into a tablet-sized screen. It went on sale in South Korea on December 12 at about 3.59 million won, and Samsung has said it will come to the US in the first quarter of 2026. It is a halo product, not a mass one, but it shows how much room the form still has.
The numbers are modest but growing. IDC expected about 20.6 million foldable shipments in 2025, up around 10 percent, which is still a small slice of the overall phone market. For 2026, IDC forecasts roughly 30 percent growth, and Counterpoint about 20 percent.
Much of that forecast rests on Apple. A foldable iPhone has not been announced, but analysts widely expect one in 2026, and both firms credit it with a large share of their projected growth. If it arrives, it will likely do for foldables what the Apple Watch did for smartwatches: make the category normal for people who never looked at it.
The weak points have not disappeared. Prices near $2,000 put these phones out of reach for most buyers, repairs are expensive, and the crease is still visible on most models.
The short version: foldables are just starting, not dying. If you want one now, the Fold7 and Pixel 10 Pro Fold are the most mature options. If you are curious but cautious, wait until late 2026, when Apple's entry could push prices and choices in your favor.
