Foldables Market to See its First Decline in 2025

Global foldable smartphone shipments in 2024 saw tepid growth at 2.9%, according to Counterpoint Research. Although many OEMs saw double- and triple-digit growth, the market’s overall growth was impacted by Samsung’s tough Q4 due to political instability and OPPO cutting production of its more affordable clamshell foldables.

This year is expected to be even tougher, with Counterpoint Research forecasting single-digit negative growth for the market in 2025. “I don’t see many positives this year, and we are actually expecting negative growth for the segment, which will be a first,” said Senior Analyst Jene Park. “But it is definitely not a sign of the market peaking; rather, it is a sign of regrouping before 2026, which is expected to be exciting and rejuvenating for the segment with the entry of Apple and a slew of clamshells.”

Counterpoint Research’s latest Report supports this growth view for 2026 with the forecast of a mid-double-digit growth in panel procurement. “The supply chain is telling us foldable order books are filling up further out,” said Research Director Calvin Lee. “At the moment, this doesn’t look like a market that is plateauing – it looks like a market that is about to transform. And that requires a lot of planning, hence the slight pullback this year.”