iPhone Fold expected to help drive adoption of book-type devices
iPhone Fold expected to help drive adoption of book-type devices
Publish Date: 2026-02-11 15:31:00
Source Domain: 9to5mac.com
According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s introduction of a book-type foldable iPhone will help accelerate broader adoption of this form factor. Here are the details.
Book-type foldables have been on the rise, but Apple might help accelerate that shift
If the latest rumors are correct, Apple is expected to present a book-type (rather than a clamshell-type) foldable iPhone towards the end of the year.
The device is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display, with an aspect ratio similar to Apple’s largest iPads, per a recent report by The Information.
According to Counterpoint Research, this will help book-type foldables reach 65% of total foldable shipments in 2026, up from 52% in 2025.
Based on Counterpoint’s data, Samsung has led the book-type foldable market since 2020, with the exception of 2024, when Huawei topped shipments for the category.
Here’s why Apple is poised to play such a meaningful role, per the report:
This design direction underscores a clear focus on productivity-driven use cases rather than form-factor experimentation. While market outcomes will depend on variables such as pricing, launch timing and product positioning, Apple’s entry is expected to materially influence leadership dynamics within the book-type foldable segment and accelerate broader market adoption.
And here’s Counterpoint Research Associate Director Liz Lee:
“As book-type foldables gain traction, differentiation will increasingly depend on software experience and ecosystem readiness. In this context, Apple’s expected entry reinforces the industry-wide convergence toward book-type foldables across OEM strategies and ecosystems.”
As is the case with many forward-looking reports on the smartphone market, Counterpoint Research notes that the recent memory supply shortage is also a contributing factor in why the market may put a greater focus on book-type, rather than…
