Apple’s iPhone Duo could nearly catch Samsung in foldable phone market
Apple could capture nearly 30% of the global foldable smartphone market in 2027, putting its first foldable iPhone within reach of market leader Samsung, according to a new forecast by research firm TrendForce.
The company’s iPhone Duo, which went on sale on 23 October, has attracted strong initial demand, with delivery estimates for some orders extending into January 2027.
In its 28 October report, TrendForce projected that Apple would account for 29.8% of global foldable smartphone shipments next year, compared with Samsung’s expected 31.9% share. Huawei is forecast to rank third with 21.3%.
Apple is also expected to ship around five million iPhone Duo devices by the end of 2026, giving it 24.8% of the market in its first year.
The forecasts suggest that Apple’s entry could significantly change a segment long dominated by Android manufacturers.
Samsung faces growing competition from Apple
Samsung’s market share is projected to decline from 35.1% in 2026 to 31.9% in 2027. Huawei could see its share fall from 24.8% to 21.3% over the same period.
TrendForce expects global foldable smartphone shipments to increase from approximately 20.2 mn units in 2026 to 23.5 mn in 2027, representing growth of 16.3%.
The research firm believes Apple’s close integration of hardware, software and applications could help it attract consumers seeking a larger screen for multitasking and productivity.
However, the iPhone Duo has also faced criticism over its durability, high repair costs and software compatibility.
Some applications do not yet fully support the foldable display, leaving black borders around content. Users have also reported problems with the inner screen, although Apple has replaced a small number of affected devices.
TrendForce said improving the reliability of the folding mechanism and adapting applications to the larger display would be important for the device’s long-term success. TrendForce
