Apple, Huawei Launch Foldables in September as 2026 Smartphone Shipments Face 17% Drop
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 31
Apple, Huawei Launch Foldables in September as 2026 Smartphone Shipments Face 17% Drop
3 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 31
Summary
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone on Sept. 9, two days after Huawei launches the Mate XT 2, putting both brands at the center of a weakening handset market.
A 17% drop in global smartphone shipments is forecast for 2026 as soaring component costs and a memory crunch squeeze demand, making the foldable launches a potential boost for the sector.
IDC says Apple’s entry has already reshaped the foldable market’s outlook, with analyst Nabila Popal projecting more than 17 million foldable iPhone shipments by 2027.
That volume would give Apple about 40% of the global foldable market and quickly position it against Huawei and Samsung in a category they have long led.
Will Huawei's radical new tri-fold design steal the spotlight from Apple's long-awaited but highly conservative foldable debut next week?
With a rumored $2,500 price tag and missing features, can Apple's first foldable truly conquer a market dominated by Samsung and Huawei?
As global smartphone sales plummet, are these ultra-expensive new foldables the industry's ultimate savior or just a desperate gimmick for the wealthy?