Samsung has owned the foldable phone game for years, practically unchallenged.
But 2026 is shaping up to be the year that cozy little monopoly gets a serious shove.
Rivals are circling, and a certain Cupertino giant is reportedly lurking in the shadows with plans of its own.
Let's talk numbers first, because they tell a wild story.
Samsung's foldable shipments are projected to slip to around 2.4 million units in 2026 — that's a jaw-dropping drop of nearly two-thirds from last year, according to industry forecasts.
Meanwhile, the overall foldable market is expected to GROW by roughly 20% in 2026.
The pie is getting bigger, and Samsung's slice is shrinking.
That's not a slump — that's a warning siren.
Multiple reports suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone is sliding toward a possible 2026 or 2027 debut, and even the mere rumor of it is making waves.
Analysts say Apple's entry could supercharge the entire category, the same way it legitimized smartwatches and wireless earbuds.
When Apple shows up, everyone else suddenly looks like they're playing catch-up.
Chinese heavyweights like Huawei, Honor, and Xiaomi are cranking out foldables at a furious pace, often undercutting Samsung on price and flexing thinner, lighter designs.
Huawei's foldable momentum has been especially aggressive.
Samsung, once the undisputed innovator, now finds itself defending turf instead of claiming new ground.
Here's the uncomfortable truth for Samsung fans: the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip lines are still excellent devices.
The hardware is refined, the software is polished, and the brand recognition is massive.
But "excellent" isn't enough when competitors are leapfrogging on form factor and price.
Samsung's biggest problem isn't quality — it's that the wow factor is wearing thin while everyone else is still hungry.
For American buyers, this brewing war is genuinely good news.
More competition usually means better features, thinner builds, and — fingers crossed — prices that don't require a second mortgage.
If Apple really does enter the ring, expect the entire foldable segment to get a rocket strapped to it.
The next two years could reshape what we expect from a phone.
The big question hanging over all of this: can Samsung innovate fast enough to hold the crown, or is it about to become the company that taught the world how to fold — only to watch someone else win the race? **Our take:** A little competition is exactly what this category needed after years of Samsung coasting on early momentum.
Consumers win when giants sweat, and right now Samsung is doing plenty of sweating.
Final Thoughts
If you've been waiting for the right moment to jump into foldables, the coming price and feature battles might just hand you the best deal yet.