Samsung regains a dominant 64% share of the global foldable market as shipments rise 14%, as rivals shift sharply

Foldables enjoyed growing popularity with consumers in the quarter, and accounted for 2.5 percent of total smartphone shipments. The segment’s performance was driven by book-style models, and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 had a better showing than Counterpoint expected.

Samsung’s sharp recovery to 64 percent market share

Samsung’s foldable business grew by 32 percent year-on-year. It was a significant improvement from the previous quarter, when it lost about half of its market share to a surge from Motorola. The South Korean company controlled about 64 percent of total foldable sales thanks to the success of its latest Galaxy Z-series line-up.

Rivals record major gains and steep declines

Q3 2025 was a mixed bag for Samsung’s rivals. A steady demand for the Mate series helped Huawei hold on to second place, with a respectable 10 percent year-on-year growth. Vivo’s foldable shipments also grew by 67 percent.

Motorola maintained some of its Q2 momentum, with its clamshell Razr 60 series powering a 16 percent year-on-year growth.

Xiaomi, however, saw shipments slump 54 percent year on year. Fellow Chinese brand Honor also sold 31 percent fewer foldables.

Looking ahead to 2026

According to Counterpoint, growth in the foldable segment will accelerate in 2026. The research firm expects Apple’s rumoured folding phone, if released, to fuel the uptick in the premium tier. It also predicts the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold to ship in limited volumes.