Foldable smartphone display shipments are expected to rebound in 2026, driven by the introduction of book-type foldable smartphones with new and wider aspect ratio screens, according to Omdia’s latest research.
Beginning in 2026, Samsung and Apple introduced book-type foldable smartphones with wider aspect ratios. Compared with the conventional combination of a 10:9 main display and a 21:9 front display, foldable smartphones with wider screen ratios such as 4:3 and 14:10 can support a wider range of uses, particularly multitasking similar to tablet PCs, content consumption including web browsing, social media usage and productivity applications. The market has responded positively to this new form factor, indicating a successful initial adoption phase. Chinese smartphone OEMs are also expected to adopt wider-format foldable designs in 2027.
Consequently, Omdia forecasts that AMOLED display shipments for foldable smartphones in 2026 will increase to 29 million units, up 44% year over year (YoY). The LTPO-based flexible AMOLED display market is expected to grow significantly.
According to Brian Huh, Principal Analyst in Omdia’s Display research practice, “Display shipments for wide-screen foldable smartphones are expected to account for 44% of total foldable panel shipments in 2026. This share is expected to surpass the 60% threshold in 2027 driven by the entry of additional Chinese makers into the market.”
In terms of supply chain, Samsung Display is expected to strengthen its leadership in the foldable smartphone display market in 2026 by exclusively supplying AMOLED displays for the Samsung Galaxy Fold8 and Apple iPhone Duo. The company’s market share is forecast to rise to 66% of the total foldable display market, while Chinese display makers are expected to see their market share decline due to weakening foldable smartphone demand from Chinese smartphone brands.
Note: Foldable display shipments and foldable smartphone set shipments are reported independently and may not align within the same quarter. Displays typically ship ahead of device production to support assembly lead times, so display shipment trends can lead or lag set shipment trends depending on inventory and production cycles.
