The global foldable phone market isn’t growing as fast as it used to, but it’s still evolving, and Huawei is now firmly in second place, right behind Samsung.
According to the latest report from TrendForce, global shipments of foldable phones are expected to reach 19.8 million units in 2025. That’s roughly the same as in 2024, with a penetration rate holding steady at about 1.6% of the total smartphone market.
Growth is clearly slowing, but foldables are still gaining traction in the mid-to-high-end segment, thanks to improving hardware and lower prices.
Samsung is the current leader in foldables, though TrendForce predicts that its share will drop from 45.2% in 2024 to 35.4% in 2025.
Huawei edging closer
Huawei, which has been focusing heavily on the Chinese market, is expected to hold second place globally with a 34.3% share, just one percentage point behind Samsung. The company has steadily rebuilt its smartphone business, foldables included, despite ongoing sanctions and a lack of Google support.
Other Chinese brands are gaining ground too. Honor and Lenovo (Motorola) are both showing strong momentum. Honor’s market share is projected to climb from 6.0% in 2024 to 9.1% in 2025. Lenovo could rise to 7.6% from 5.5%, thanks in part to renewed interest in its Razr lineup.
Xiaomi is also expanding its foldable presence with the MIX Flip, pushing its share from 3.0% to 5.1%. Meanwhile, Oppo, vivo, and others are expected to account for a combined 8.5% of the market.
TrendForce expects the foldable category to remain relatively flat this year, but it might grow in 2026, especially as Apple could launch a foldable next year.
The firm says Apple might release its first foldable iPhone in the second half of 2026, featuring a 5.5-inch external screen and a 7.8-inch internal display.
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For now, though, the market is consolidating around a few key players, with Huawei making it clear it’s not going anywhere.
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