Jenith
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The global foldable smartphone market has had a rough Q1 2026. A new report indicates that both shipments and revenue registered double digit declines in the first quarter of this year.
Despite the rocky market conditions, Samsung has almost doubled its shipments and revenue for foldable smartphones during the period under review.
The latest data from SAG shows that Samsung had the biggest share gain of all players in the foldable market during the first quarter of this year. Its shipment and value share nearly doubled compared to the same period last year.
Samsung's share of the global smartphone market almost doubled from 14% in Q1 2025 to 25% in Q1 2026. Its value share saw a similar growth from 16% the previous year to 31% in Q1 2026.
Aggressive channel promotions for both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, particularly in key markets of South Korea and Japan, contributed to this gain. Improving foldable demand in North America and select markets across Europe also helped.
Samsung also enjoys a structural advantage to rivals like Huawei who generate the bulk of their foldable sales in China. The Korean giant has a truly global market reach for its foldable phones, and its access to North American markets is one that the Chinese players can't tap into.
Huawei continues to have the dominant share in the global foldable phone market, given that it sees considerable demand for its products in China, where Samsung's market share is almost non-existent.
However, Huawei saw its market share decline from 54% in Q1 2025 to 40% in Q1 2026. Higher competition from rivals and softening demand from premium customers in China is said to be among the reasons why Huawei has seen its market share decline.
Despite the rocky market conditions, Samsung has almost doubled its shipments and revenue for foldable smartphones during the period under review.
Huawei continues to enjoy the dominant position
The latest data from SAG shows that Samsung had the biggest share gain of all players in the foldable market during the first quarter of this year. Its shipment and value share nearly doubled compared to the same period last year.
Samsung's share of the global smartphone market almost doubled from 14% in Q1 2025 to 25% in Q1 2026. Its value share saw a similar growth from 16% the previous year to 31% in Q1 2026.
Aggressive channel promotions for both the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Galaxy Z Flip 7, particularly in key markets of South Korea and Japan, contributed to this gain. Improving foldable demand in North America and select markets across Europe also helped.
Samsung also enjoys a structural advantage to rivals like Huawei who generate the bulk of their foldable sales in China. The Korean giant has a truly global market reach for its foldable phones, and its access to North American markets is one that the Chinese players can't tap into.
Huawei continues to have the dominant share in the global foldable phone market, given that it sees considerable demand for its products in China, where Samsung's market share is almost non-existent.
However, Huawei saw its market share decline from 54% in Q1 2025 to 40% in Q1 2026. Higher competition from rivals and softening demand from premium customers in China is said to be among the reasons why Huawei has seen its market share decline.