Foldable smartphone display shipments are forecast to climb 44% in 2026 to about 29 million units, according to Omdia, reversing a 12% decline recorded in 2025. The figures cover shipments of foldable inner display panels rather than finished smartphones, so component volumes will not directly match handset sales.
Wider foldables are expected to be the main driver of the rebound. Omdia projects that models with broader internal screens will account for 44% of foldable displays shipped this year, gaining ground on more square-shaped book-style devices and compact flip phones. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Apple iPhone Duo are identified as products supporting that shift.
Samsung Display is forecast to benefit substantially as the panel supplier for both models, with Omdia expecting the company to hold 66% of the foldable-display market. The research firm expects several rival panel makers to lose share:
- BOE
- China Star
- Tianma
- Visionox
Demand in China remains relatively modest for now, although more local smartphone makers are pursuing the wider format first popularized by Huawei. LTPO is expected to dominate foldable-display production in 2026; it costs more than LTPS but enables more precise refresh-rate adjustment. Whether wider designs can turn growing panel shipments into sustained handset demand, particularly in China, remains a key question for the segment.
