Apple Bets on 25 Million Foldable iPhones, Disrupting Samsung's Plans

SadaNews - After years of rumors, it seems that Apple's official entry into the foldable phone market is just a matter of time, as the company grows confident in its upcoming phone's potential to achieve record sales starting in 2026.

According to new estimates from renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple expects to sell between 8 and 10 million units in 2026, with figures rising to 20–25 million devices in 2027, numbers that could surpass the total sales of Samsung's foldable phones over two whole years.

While Samsung's Galaxy Z series recorded about 5 million units sold by the end of 2024, Apple aims to multiply these figures significantly, signaling a shift in the competitive landscape of a market dominated by Huawei and Samsung for years.

Experts believe this optimism may stem from either positive market research results conducted by the company, or expectations of initial success for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which could invigorate the sector, or perhaps Apple's conviction from the outset of strong demand, but hesitance in its production capabilities.

Foldable iPad Lacks Shine

In contrast, the expectations for a foldable iPad are much less enthusiastic, with shipments expected to range between half a million and a million units only by 2028, a modest figure compared to the expectations for the "iPhone Fold".

Apple is also working on a new version of its mixed-reality glasses under the name Vision Air, with expected sales reaching one million units by 2027, surpassing the first release Vision Pro, which has not yet exceeded the 400,000 devices mark.

Thus, Apple is preparing to reshape the scene of foldable devices and mixed reality together, in a move that could disrupt Samsung's calculations and those of other major players after 2026.