Counterpoint Research: Shipments of folding screen smartphone panels are expected to increase 46% in 2026

Zhitong Finance App learned that according to the “Folding/Scroll Display Panel Shipment Tracking” report recently released by Counterpoint Research, folding screen smartphone panel shipments are expected to grow 46% year-on-year in 2026.

Deputy Director Guillaume Chansin said, “As Apple (AAPL.US) begins purchasing panels for its first folding screen iPhone, it will be a core force driving market growth. We expect foldable iPhones to reinvigorate the entire folding screen market and significantly increase panel demand in 2026.”

Global folding screen smartphone panel supplier shipment share forecast

Source: Counterpoint Research Folding Screen Panel Shipment Tracking and Forecast Note: Percentages may not equal 100% due to rounding.

As far as morphology is concerned, folding screen panel shipments will be in line with the overall direction of smartphones, and book-type panels will further consolidate their dominant position in 2026.

“We are entering a new phase where a book-like folding screen is the main form.” Chansin added, “This has profound implications for the folding screen panel industry. On the one hand, this means that the average selling price (ASP) will increase significantly next year; on the other hand, it will significantly benefit Samsung Display, and its market share will exceed 50%.” The market share of multi-fold panels, such as the Galaxy Z TriFold, will remain in the low single-digit range.

Counterpoint predicts that overall shipments of folding screen smartphones will increase 14% year over year in 2025 and 38% year over year in 2026, with book models still dominant. Deputy Director Liz Lee said, “We are seeing the rapid spread of book-style folding screens. In the early sales phase of the second half of 2025, the Fold model in the Samsung Galaxy Z7 series sold more than the Flip model for the first time.”

Shipment share of book-style folding screen smartphones

Source: Counterpoint Research Folding Screen Smartphone Tracking and Prediction

This trend is also evident in the Chinese market. Although book-style models are more expensive, they have become the mainstream form of folding screens. “Consumer demand for tablet-level productivity and large-screen multitasking experiences is driving them to choose a book-like design with a larger internal screen and higher usability.” Lee added.