Google‘s Pixel 11 Pro Fold, priced from S$2,499 in Singapore, arrives at a pivotal moment for the foldable smartphone category. Industry analysts now expect 2026 to be the year folding phones move from niche flagship experiment to a genuine mainstream contender, with the loudest catalyst yet to even launch: Apple’s long-rumoured first foldable iPhone.
Foldables are entering a breakout year
Global shipment forecasts for foldable smartphones have been revised sharply upward for 2026. IDC’s Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker now projects 30 percent year-on-year growth for the category, up from an earlier forecast of just 6 percent, citing the anticipated arrival of Apple’s first foldable iPhone alongside Samsung’s Galaxy Z Trifold as key drivers. Omdia is even more bullish, forecasting foldable shipments to grow by as much as 50 percent year-on-year in 2026, with momentum expected to carry into 2027.
Asia-Pacific remains the centre of gravity for the category, commanding more than half of global foldable revenue. Manufacturing improvements have also brought prices down, with ultra-thin-glass display yields crossing the 90 percent threshold and panel costs falling by roughly a third over the past two years, alongside carrier subsidies tied to 5G data plans, pulling premium foldables below the US$1,500 mark in several markets.
- IDC: foldable shipments forecast to grow 30% YoY in 2026, versus 6% previously projected
- Omdia: foldable shipments forecast to grow up to 50% YoY in 2026, with momentum into 2027
- Asia-Pacific accounts for more than half of global foldable smartphone revenue
- Falling panel costs, alongside carrier subsidies, have pulled premium foldables below the US$1,500 threshold in some markets
The Pixel 11 Pro Fold slots into this environment as Google’s most durable foldable yet, with a glass fibre composite back cover and redesigned hinge that the company says make it three times more durable than its predecessor, alongside a Tensor G6 chip and 16GB of RAM built for on-device Gemini Intelligence.
Apple’s rumoured entry could supercharge the category
Apple has not officially confirmed a foldable iPhone, but supply chain reporting has pointed consistently towards a September 2026 unveiling alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Leaks describe a book-style design with an internal display of around 7.7 to 7.8 inches, dual 48MP rear cameras, and a starting price north of US$2,000. Some reports had suggested production delays tied to hinge engineering challenges, though more recent supply chain signals indicate the launch remains on track.
An Apple entry into the category would put every major smartphone maker into direct foldable competition for the first time. Samsung, the current volume leader with its Galaxy Z Fold series, already launched its Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Z Fold8 and Z Flip8 in Singapore in July, pricing the Fold8 Ultra from S$2,798 and the standard Fold8 from S$2,498, alongside a newly launched Galaxy Z Trifold. Huawei’s HarmonyOS-based foldables are also expected to see shipments nearly double in 2026.
For Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian market, that convergence matters. Regional buyers already have access to Samsung, Huawei, Honor and Oppo foldables alongside Google’s newest Pro Fold, giving the category more shelf presence and price competition than at any point since folding phones first launched. Should Apple confirm a foldable iPhone in September as expected, industry watchers say it could be the moment that pushes folding phones from an early-adopter niche into a mainstream premium segment, mirroring the S$1,500-to-S$2,000-and-above pricing band where Google, Samsung and Apple are now converging.
