Counterpoint: Book-style foldables to dominate 2026
- Key Takeaways:
- Counterpoint analysts say 2026 will be a new chapter for the foldable smartphone market, with book-style designs becoming the backbone of the segment.
- Improvements in design, durability, software optimization and pricing are expected to broaden appeal beyond early adopters.
- The shift could reshape product lineups, carrier offers and how consumers use large-screen phones for multitasking and content.
Why 2026 may be a turning point
Analysts at Counterpoint forecast that 2026 will mark a meaningful maturation of the foldable smartphone market. They point to book-style, or vertical tablet-like, foldables as the design likely to drive the next wave of growth.
That transition reflects several concurrent trends: steady improvements in hinge and display reliability, software that better uses larger screens, and manufacturers moving to more mainstream pricing and distribution.
What "book-style" foldables mean for users
Book-style foldables open like a small tablet, giving a larger internal display for productivity, media and multitasking while still folding into a pocketable device. Counterpoint frames these models as better suited to replacing both large phones and small tablets for many buyers.
For everyday users, that can mean easier split-screen multitasking, more immersive video and a single device approach for work and entertainment — reducing the need to carry separate devices.
Market implications for OEMs, carriers and apps
If book-style foldables become the backbone of the segment, device lineups will likely shift accordingly. Manufacturers may prioritize internal-display quality, hinge longevity and software partnerships rather than pushing ultra-thin clamshell covers or niche form factors.
Carriers and retailers could expand financing and trade-in offers to make larger foldables more accessible, while app developers and OS vendors will be pressured to optimize interfaces and multitasking flows for bigger, variable screens.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on pricing moves, announced durability tests and software updates that highlight multitasking on larger displays. Also watch adoption signals from enterprise and education sectors — if book-style foldables gain traction there, it will strengthen Counterpoint’s outlook.
Counterpoint’s call frames 2026 as the year the category moves from specialist flagship curiosity to a more practical option for mainstream buyers. How quickly that happens will depend on execution across hardware, software and distribution.
