According to Counterpoint Research, Apple’s introduction of a foldable book-type iPhone will help accelerate the wider adoption of this form factor. Here are the details.
Book-type foldable devices have been on the rise, but Apple could help accelerate that change
If the latest rumors are correct, Apple is expected to introduce a foldable book-type iPhone (instead of the clamshell type) by the end of the year.
The device is EXPECTED to feature a 5.5-inch external display and a 7.8-inch internal display, with a ratio similar to Apple’s larger iPads, for a latest report from information.
According to Counterpoint Researchthis will help book-type foldable devices reach 65% of total foldable shipments in 2026, up from 52% in 2025.
Based on Counterpoint data, Samsung has led the foldable book-type market since 2020, with the exception of 2024, when Huawei led shipments for 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-driven use cases rather than form factor experimentation. While market results will depend on variables such as price, launch timing and product positioning, Apple’s entry is expected to materially affect leadership dynamics within the foldable book-type segment and accelerate broader market adoption.
And here’s Counterpoint Research Assistant Director Liz Lee:
“As book-type foldables gain traction, differentiation will increasingly depend on software experience and ecosystem readiness. In this context, Apple’s expected entry reinforces industry-wide convergence towards book-type foldables across OEM strategies and ecosystems.”
As is the case with many forward-looking reports on the smartphone market, Counterpoint Research notes that the recent lack of memory supply is also a contributing factor to why the market may place a greater focus on the book type, rather than clamshell foldable devices.
Here is Research Director Tarun Pathak
“While the tightness of the memory supply is increasingly focused on components used for low- and mid-range smartphones, concerns about the broader perspective of the mass market are growing. (…) Against this background, OEMs are placing greater emphasis on higher-value devices, prioritizing profitability over volume. configurations support the expansion of ASP (average selling price) aligning with growth strategies led by value.”
In other words, as long as the memory supply remains tight, phone makers will probably prioritize higher-margin foldable devices instead of focusing on volume.
interesting, Bloomberg recently reported that Apple is also considering a clamshell-style foldable iPhone, though there’s no expected timeline for when it will hit shelves:
Now there’s another foldable device under review inside Apple’s labs: a square, clamshell-style foldable phone.
The product is by no means guaranteed to reach the market. However, Apple is betting that the first foldable iPhone will be successful enough to generate real demand for the category, and that customers will want additional shapes and sizes, just as they have with traditional slab-style iPhones.
Either way, while expectations that Apple’s entry into foldable devices could bring more attention to the category aren’t new, today’s report puts a number on how much it could help move the needle on book-type devices in 2026.
To read the full Counterpoint Research report, follow this link.
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