Not long ago, Foldable phones They were vague technical experiments aimed not so much at commercial adoption as at working through design challenges and testing whether the market existed. Now that many foldable devices are on sale Samsung, google, and MotorolaThis category is growing, with double-digit growth forecast for 2026.
According to December Report from market research IDCglobal foldable phone shipments were expected to grow by 10% in 2025 compared to 2024. This number will continue to grow in 2026, with an expected jump of 30% year-on-year, thanks to rumors of an upcoming foldable phone. Foldable iPhone From Apple.
Although Samsung’s flip and fold phones have been around for years, they are the company’s newest Tri-fold And it is rumoredWide fold“I’m thrilled with what’s to come in 2026.
Huawei has led the way with its innovative products, including its tri-fold product that beats Samsung in this category Huawei Mate XT – In addition to a unique wide-screen phone Huawei Bora. It dominated China’s foldable phone market with a whopping 68.9% market share in Q3 2025, according to a report by IDC (via MyDrivers). This is huge for a single brand in any market, especially when a niche category like foldables has so many competitors (Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and more).
These new foldable phone styles, along with Apple’s rumored iPhone Fold — which is said to feature a passport-sized design — could mean we’ll see four different types of foldable phones by 2026, giving people more options for compact devices that unfold into larger screens.
The four types of foldable phones expected in 2026
I hope these hinged phones become mainstream in 2026.
Until now, the most popular foldable phones have been book-style (e.g Galaxy Z Fold 7) and flip phones (eg Motorola Razr). While the former is a phone that converts into a small tablet, the latter transitions into a more pocket-friendly design. Both designs have their benefits, but if the rumors are true, there are more ways to build a foldable phone.
2026 will see two new designs in this category, one of which has already been launched in several markets. That’s why I think all these new foldable phones will have an audience.
Flip phones
Razr Ultra 2025 in pink.
the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Motorola Razr The lineups are designed for those who want a compact phone without compromising on screen size. Not everyone has big pockets in their jeans, but that doesn’t mean they need to settle for a smaller screen. These foldable phones are designed to be more pocket-friendly while also offering the same 6.9-inch screen as a regular tablet.
Foldable in the form of a book
Launched in December 2025, the Huawei Mate X7 is the latest book-style foldable phone.
samsung galaxy z fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, OPPO Find N5, and Honor Magic V5 They all fold into a book shape and can be turned into small tablets. I like this design because I love browsing the web and reading on my phone, and the square aspect ratio when open makes it an excellent e-reader.
Recent developments in battery technology (Silicon and carbon anode batteries) and the hinge design allowed manufacturers to reduce crease depth and overall thickness, making them almost as thin as regular slab phones. These phones usually have large screens that are not ideal for videos, due to the thick letterbox size. But it can stand on its own, so you don’t need an external kickstand to watch 21:9 or 16:9 videos.
Book-style foldable phones are designed for those of us who want to be more productive on the phone without needing a separate device.
Triads
Both hinges of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (left) fold in the same direction, giving it a “C” shape, while the two hinges of the Huawei Mate XT (right) fold in opposite directions, forming a “Z” shape.
This is the most versatile foldable phone design to date, and the best examples of it include the recently launched phone Samsung Galaxy Z Tri-Fold and Huawei Mate XT. However, not all tri-folds are designed the same way.
The Huawei trifold is the most versatile phone I’ve ever used, allowing me to use it as a phone, a mini tablet, and a 16:11 widescreen tablet for productivity and media consumption. It’s a true all-in-one that offers it all in a portable design.
In comparison, the Galaxy Z Trifold gives you a 10-inch widescreen tablet that fits in your pocket and can also be used as a phone. It doesn’t offer a mini tablet mode — you can use it either folded as a phone or fully unfolded — but the Samsung tri-fold is designed to be a productivity and media powerhouse. It’s basically a flagship Galaxy Tab S that fits in your pocket.
Foldable widescreen displays
Thanks to its wide aspect ratio, the Huawei Pura
The Huawei Pura X is the best example of a foldable widescreen yet. While some may argue that the first generation OPPO Find N and Google Pixel Fold It could fall into this category, and its internal displays were also square in shape (8.4:9 on the Oppo phone and 5:6 on the Pixel Fold); They were smaller, book-shaped folds.
In contrast, the Pura I’ve been using the phone for a few days recently, and it’s the best combination of portability and versatility. You can watch videos with minimal lettering (thick black borders at the top and bottom) on its 16:10 screen, or use it like an e-reader in portrait orientation. And for those times when you need to snap some selfies with the rear cameras, you’ll get a convenient viewfinder in the form of a large cover screen – without making the phone unwieldy like book-style foldable devices.
It is rumored that Apple will adopt this approach with its next phone iPhone foldBut with a larger cover screen. Samsung is said to be developing a similar ‘Wide Fold’ which will give you a 4:3 internal screen as well. According to A a report From ETnews, Samsung’s new foldable car could have a 5.4-inch cover display and support 25W wireless charging.
If the Korean company launches it alongside the supposed Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, perhaps in July 2026, it will be launched before the launch of Apple’s foldable phone, which will supposedly be launched in the fall.
Although these foldable phones are likely to be more expensive — especially the newer tri-fold and wide variants — they bring a lot of new competition to a phone market dominated by the candy bar shape. As we move into 2026, I look forward to having multiple options in size, design and functionality, just like we do with feature phones.