Samsung accounted for 69% of global foldable-phone shipments in the third quarter of 2026, its highest share since 2023, according to Smart Analytics Global. The company’s foldable shipments rose 13% year over year even as the overall market declined 2%.
Galaxy Z Fold8 was Samsung’s largest contributor during the July-to-September period, representing nearly 55% of the company’s foldable shipments. The report attributes part of its traction to a wider outer display and an internal screen with proportions close to 4:3, a layout it says is better suited to video, gaming and large-screen apps.
The result widened Samsung’s lead in a difficult quarter for its rivals. Combined foldable shipments from other manufacturers fell 24% year over year. Huawei held 14% of the market, while Lenovo and Motorola together accounted for 8%. Samsung gained nine percentage points from its 60% share in the third quarter of 2025.
The quarter was the first full period in which Samsung’s new foldable generation was on store shelves. The competitive picture could shift in the fourth quarter as the iPhone Duo enters the category. Analysts expect Apple could overtake Samsung in foldable shipments, although order delays may complicate the device’s commercial launch.
Wide-format foldables are projected to exceed 65% of category shipments in the final three months of the year, with Galaxy Z Fold8 and iPhone Duo expected to be the main drivers of that transition.
