According to Counterpoint Research, the launch of a book-type foldable iPhone will help accelerate wider adoption of the form factor. Here are the details.
Book-like foldable devices are on the rise, but Apple can help accelerate the shift
If the latest rumors are correct, Apple is expected to introduce a book-type (rather than clamshell) foldable iPhone later this year.
The device is expected to have a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner display with an aspect ratio similar to Apple’s largest iPads, according to a recent company report 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 data from Counterpoint, Samsung has led the foldable book market since 2020, with the exception of 2024, when Huawei dominated the category.
Here’s why Apple is poised to play such a significant role, according to the report:
This design direction underscores a clear focus on productivity-based use cases rather than form factor experimentation. While market results will depend on variables such as price, launch timing, and product placement, Apple’s entry is expected to significantly impact leadership dynamics in the folding book segment and accelerate broader market adoption.
And here’s Counterpoint’s Deputy Research Director Liz Lee:
“As book-type foldables gain traction, differentiation will increasingly depend on software expertise and ecosystem readiness. In this context, Apple’s expected entry reinforces the industry-wide convergence towards foldable foldables within OEM strategies and ecosystems.”
As with many forward-looking reports on the smartphone market, Counterpoint Research notes that the recent memory shortage is also a contributing factor to why the market may be more focused on the book-type than the clamshell device.
Here is Research Director Tarun Pathak
“As memory shortages become increasingly concentrated in components used for low- to mid-range smartphones, concerns are growing about the broader prospect of the mass market. (…) In this context, OEMs are placing more emphasis on higher-value devices and prioritizing profitability over volume. Book-type foldables are well-positioned for this shift, as their premium specs and higher-value configurations support rising ASP prices.”
In other words, if storage remains limited, phone makers are likely to favor higher-margin foldable devices rather than focusing on volume.
interestingly, Bloomberg recently reported that Apple is also considering a foldable clamshell iPhone, though there’s no expected timeline for when it’ll hit shelves:
Now, another foldable device is being considered in Apple’s labs: a square clamshell-style folding phone.
There is no guarantee that the product will reach the market. Still, Apple is betting that its first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to generate real demand for the category, and that customers will want more shapes and sizes, much like they have for traditional slab-style iPhones.
Be that as it may, while expectations that Apple’s foray into foldable devices could bring more attention to the category aren’t new, today’s report puts a number on just how much it could help move the needle for book-type devices in 2026.
To read the full Counterpoint Research report, click this link.
Accessories offer on Amazon
FTC: We use automatic income earning affiliate links. More.
