Foldable display shipments are on course for a sharp rise in 2026, and analysts say a shift toward wider device designs is a big reason. Omdia projects that shipments of foldable AMOLED displays will climb 44% compared with the previous year, with Samsung expected to play a major role in that growth.
The forecast follows a period of renewed interest in foldable phones, driven largely by Samsung and Apple. Samsung supplies the display panels for both the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the iPhone Duo, two devices that have drawn a great deal of attention over the past couple of months.
Much of that attention is credited to their shape. The wider form factor has been described as a refreshing change from the tall, narrow Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and from other devices that mimic that design.
Omdia's projection covers shipments of all foldable displays, not just those used in wide-format devices. The report indicates, however, that the expected growth is signaled by the wave of wide foldables that have been released or rumored this year.
If the prediction plays out as laid out, Samsung would be the main driver of the increase. The company already holds a majority share of foldable display shipments, and Omdia says that share could grow to 66% in 2026.
The picture looks different for Chinese manufacturers that currently ship high volumes of foldable displays. Omdia expects those suppliers to see a decline as demand from Apple and Samsung increases.
That does not mean the two companies will have the wide foldable segment to themselves. Motorola is expected to launch a similar foldable, and other manufacturers are likely to follow, chasing the size and shape Apple settled on for its first foldable iPhone.
