Report: iPhone Duo could give Apple a 25% share of foldable market in 2026

Apple is preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market with a device identified as the iPhone Duo. According to reports from TrendForce and other outlets, this new hardware is expected to capture nearly 25% of the global foldable market share by the year 2026. Data cited by TradingView specifies that this market penetration could be driven by approximately 5 million shipments of the device during that year. This move represents Apple's first venture into foldable technology, a step that is already triggering significant upgrades across its broader hardware supply chain to accommodate the new form factor. Coverage of this development is widespread across technology and financial news platforms. The Mac Observer and 9to5Mac both highlight the 25% market share projection for 2026.

Meanwhile, reports from 富途牛牛 reference analysis from TrendForce regarding the supply chain implications and Counterpoint regarding the broader health of the foldable panel industry. These outlets emphasize that Apple's entry is not merely a product launch but a catalyst for industry-wide growth, specifically regarding the production and distribution of foldable smartphone panels. Contextually, the timing of this entry coincides with a recovery in the global foldable smartphone panel market. Analysis from Counterpoint indicates that these panels are expected to recover in the second half of the year. Within this recovering landscape, Apple is projected to be the primary driver of incremental growth. TradingView suggests that this strategic expansion is a direct challenge to Samsung's current dominance in the foldable category, as Apple seeks to claim a significant portion of the crown previously held by the South Korean manufacturer.

Looking forward, the industry is monitoring the actual shipment volumes of the iPhone Duo to see if it meets the 5 million unit projection. The focus remains on whether the supply chain upgrades mentioned by TrendForce can scale effectively to support such a launch. Observers are also tracking the second-half recovery of foldable panels, as Counterpoint suggests Apple's contributions will be the largest factor in that growth. The primary metric for success will be whether Apple can realistically secure a quarter of the market share within the 2026 timeframe.