.png){kind=logo}
Apple could sell more than 10 million foldable iPhones in its first year.
IDC expects Apple to ship more than 17 million foldables in 2027.
The device could strengthen Apple’s premium strategy with a price near USD 2,500.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone could become far more than a new product. IDC now forecasts more than 10 million units in the first year, despite a possible price near USD 2,500. The forecast gives Apple a clear chance to create a new premium tier for the iPhone and gain a major share of the foldable phone market.
The date also matters. Apple has set September 9 for its next major iPhone event, and current reports point to a possible foldable iPhone reveal at the event. The date also marks the first major Apple product event under John Ternus, who will replace Tim Cook as chief executive on September 1. Reuters says the foldable could help Apple raise iPhone prices and profit margins.
Ten million units would represent a small part of Apple’s total iPhone business, yet the figure carries much more weight than the volume alone suggests. IDC expects Apple to ship more than 10 million foldable iPhones in the first year. IDC also forecasts more than 17 million Apple foldables in 2027, which would give Apple about 40% of the global foldable market.
That forecast places Apple near the top of a market that Samsung has led since the first Galaxy Fold arrived in 2019. A smaller sales base at a price near USD 2,500 could still create a large revenue pool.
IDC estimates an average price above USD 2,550 for Apple’s foldable in 2027. At that level, Apple could create more than USD 45.7 billion in value from the product and take more than half of the total value in the foldable category. The figures show why Apple can treat the foldable as a premium business rather than a mass-market phone.
The reported design fits that plan. Current reports point to a book-style phone with a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch inner screen. Rumors also point to a thin body, a small crease, Touch ID in the side button, an A20 chip and a price above USD 2,000.
Apple could place the device above the iPhone Pro Max and use it as an Ultra-level product. The product could also change Apple’s release strategy. Reports suggest Apple may place more focus on Pro models and the foldable in September, while standard iPhone models could arrive later.
Also Read - iPhone 18 Pro May Outshine Android Flagships with Stronger Privacy
The biggest challenge may sit in the supply chain. Samsung Display received Apple’s approval for foldable OLED module production after the supplier cleared a reported yield target of at least 70%. Samsung Display reached more than 80% yield, MacRumors reports, and an initial order covered about three million panels.
Earlier reports placed Apple’s production target near 10 million units, while other estimates suggested a lower initial output. Apple could therefore face strong demand before supply reaches full scale.
The wider foldable market also gives Apple a strong chance. IDC forecasts a 12.6% rise in global foldable shipments in 2026 and an 18% rise in 2027. At the same time, IDC expects the wider smartphone market to fall sharply in 2026. Foldables stand out as one of the few smartphone segments that can support both higher prices and unit growth.
Why this Matters
Apple’s foldable iPhone could reshape the company’s smartphone strategy. A forecast of more than 10 million units shows strong market expectations for Apple’s first foldable model. Its premium price could also lift iPhone revenue and margins while giving Apple a major position in the fast-growing foldable phone market.
Apple enters the category years after Samsung, Google and Motorola. That delay gives Apple access to lessons from earlier foldable phones. Hinge durability, screen creases, software support and device thickness have all shaped the category.
Apple can now position the foldable as a mature premium product rather than an early experiment. The number also gives suppliers a clearer demand signal and gives Apple room to test a new product class at scale.
The real test starts with the September event. A strong launch, a clear reason for the high price and enough supply could turn the foldable into a new pillar of Apple’s iPhone business. The 10 million forecast does not signal a mass-market replacement for the regular iPhone. It signals a much more focused plan: build a costly new category, protect premium margins and use Apple’s huge customer base to push foldables into the mainstream.
1. How many foldable iPhones could Apple sell?
IDC forecasts more than 10 million units in the first year.
2. How many could Apple sell in 2027?
IDC expects more than 17 million foldable iPhones in 2027.
3. How much could the foldable iPhone cost?
Reports point to a price near USD 2,500, although Apple has not confirmed the price.
4. What market share could Apple gain?
IDC expects Apple to hold about 40% of the global foldable market in 2027.
5. Why is the foldable iPhone important for Apple?
It could create a new ultra-premium iPhone tier, raise revenue and strengthen Apple’s position in foldable smartphones.
