Apple’s Foldable Launch Set to Impact Market and Challenge Samsung
NEW DELHI: Apple is set to enter the foldable smartphone market with the launch of the iPhone Duo, priced at Rs 2,99,900. This move is expected to draw attention to a category that remains relatively small in India. While Samsung currently dominates the market with a wider price range, Apple’s entry could enhance consumer awareness and developer interest in foldable devices.
Samsung has been a key player in the foldable segment for years, with a significant share of the market. Upasana Joshi from IDC India noted that Samsung’s diverse pricing across multiple foldable models strengthens its position. According to IDC, India’s foldable shipments were just under 6.3 lakh units in 2025, compared to total smartphone shipments of 15.2 crore. Samsung accounted for the majority of these shipments. IDC projects that foldable shipments will rise to 8-8.5 lakh units in 2026, even as overall smartphone shipments are expected to decline to around 12.5 crore.
Counterpoint Research’s Tarun Pathak anticipates that the foldable market in India will surpass 10 lakh units next year, largely driven by Samsung’s pricing advantage. While Apple’s entry may not immediately challenge Samsung’s leadership in volume, it could encourage developers to create better user experiences and help consumers better understand foldable technology. Pathak emphasized that foldables are transitioning from being mere technology showcases to a more established premium smartphone category. Currently, India has an installed base of around 30 lakh foldables among more than 74 crore smartphone users. He does not foresee the category becoming mainstream for another three to four years.
Observer Voice is the one stop site for National, International news, Sports, Editor’s Choice, Art/culture contents, Quotes and much more. We also cover historical contents. Historical contents includes World History, Indian History, and what happened today. The website also covers Entertainment across the India and World.
