Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold could arrive as the foldable phone market rebounds, with Omdia forecasting shipments to reach 36 million units by 2028.
Apple may be late to foldables, but it might be arriving at the exact moment the category finally starts making sense.
Apple’s long-rumored iPhone Fold is reportedly heading toward a stronger market than earlier foldable launches faced, with new Omdia data forecasting renewed growth for foldable smartphones through 2028.
According to Forbes, Apple’s expected foldable iPhone is arriving as book-style foldables gain momentum and clamshell-style models lose ground.
The report said the timing could work in Apple’s favor, especially if the company launches a wide-format foldable similar to newer book-style devices.
Foldable Phone Demand Is Starting to Shift
Omdia forecasts the global foldable smartphone market to grow by more than 20% annually through 2028, reaching 36 million units.
That would be more than double the 18.2 million foldable smartphones shipped in 2025.
The biggest change is not just growth. It is the type of foldable buyers are choosing.
Omdia said book-style foldables accounted for 69% of global foldable shipments in the first half of 2026. Meanwhile, flip-style foldables declined 47% compared with the same period last year.
That shift matters for Apple because the iPhone Fold is widely expected to use a book-style design, not a flip-phone layout.
Why Apple’s Timing Matters
Apple has not officially announced the iPhone Fold, its release date, its price, or its final design. But reports continue to point to a launch window tied to the next major iPhone cycle.
The timing could help Apple avoid one of the biggest problems early foldables faced: convincing buyers that the form factor was practical.
Samsung, Huawei, Honor, Oppo and Vivo have already spent years proving the category, improving hinges, reducing bulk, and making foldable software less awkward. Apple would be entering a market that is still small, but far more mature than it was when Samsung launched its first Galaxy Fold.
Forbes noted that Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 has also helped validate wider book-style foldables, with strong early demand in South Korea.
The iPhone Fold Still Has Big Risks
The market may be better now, but the iPhone Fold is not guaranteed to succeed.
Price is the obvious problem. Foldables remain premium devices, and analyst predictions cited by Forbes suggest Apple’s first foldable could reach around $2,400.
That would make trade-in offers, carrier deals, and AppleCare pricing much more important than usual.
Durability is another concern. Foldable displays are more complicated to repair than regular phone screens, and buyers may hesitate if replacement costs are too high.
Battery life may also be a challenge, especially if Apple’s foldable uses a large internal screen plus an outside display.
Apple Could Make Foldables Feel Mainstream
Apple does not need to be first for the iPhone Fold to matter. It only needs to make the category feel normal to iPhone users.
That has happened before. Apple did not invent smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, or wireless earbuds, but it helped turn each category into something mainstream.
The same could happen with foldables if Apple gets the design, software, battery life, and pricing strategy right.
As of this writing, Apple has not confirmed the iPhone Fold. But if the latest market forecasts are accurate, the company may be preparing to enter foldables just as buyers are becoming more open to the idea.
