It's working well! The first sales forecasts for the iPhone Fold.

With the iPhone Fold, Apple is not aiming for a niche market, but rather a market shift.

According to new information from South Korea, Apple has ordered 22 million OLED panels from Samsung Display for its first foldable iPhone.

After deducting the usual rejects, this equates to almost 10 million devices – an unusually high figure for a first-time model.

Dominance in the foldable market

IDC estimates the global foldable device market will reach approximately 20 million shipped devices by 2025.

An Apple volume of 10 million units would therefore immediately mean a market share of around 50 percent.

This is a level that competitors like Samsung or Honor have not even achieved across several model series.

More figures from analysts

The new figures from IDC analysts also sound promising, although not quite as triumphant for Apple.

IDC expects the iPhone Fold to achieve a market share of over 22 percent and a revenue share of 34 percent in the foldable smartphone sector in its first year, based on its anticipated starting price of $2,400.

Why Apple plans so big

Despite growth, foldable phones are still considered a premium niche in the market: high prices, heavy weight, tricky durability.

However, IDC sees segment growth of over 30 percent in 2026, driven by thinner panels, better hinges, and price reductions.

This is exactly where Apple seems to be entering the market – not cautiously, but aggressively.

A signal to the industry

Such a high production target suggests Apple's expectation of expanding the segment itself.

If a single model were to launch at Samsung's level, that would be the strongest impetus since the category was introduced.

Furthermore, Apple's plans still point to autumn 2026 – provided the classic "The iPhone Fold is delayed" alarm does not materialize this time.

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