Not too long ago,\u00a0foldable phones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0were obscure technology experiments intended less for commercial adoption than to work through the design challenges and to test whether a market existed. Now that multiple foldables are being sold by\u00a0Samsung,\u00a0Google,\u00a0and Motorola<\/span><\/span>, the category is growing, with double-digit growth forecasts for 2026.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to a December report from market research\u00a0firm IDC, global foldable phone shipments were expected to grow 10% in 2025 compared with\u00a02024. And that number will continue to grow in 2026, with an expected 30% year-on-year jump, thanks to rumors of an upcoming foldable iPhone<\/span><\/span> from Apple.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even though Samsung’s Flip and Fold phones have been around for years, the company’s newer TriFold<\/span><\/span> and rumored “Wide Fold<\/span><\/span>” have me hyped for what’s to come in 2026.<\/p>\n Huawei has led the way with innovative products, including its own trifold that beat Samsung to the category — the\u00a0Huawei Mate XT<\/span><\/span>\u00a0— as well as a one-of-a-kind wide-screen flip phone, the\u00a0Huawei Pura X<\/span><\/span>. It dominated China’s foldable phones market with a massive 68.9% market share in the third quarter of 2025, according to a report from IDC (via MyDrivers). This is huge for a single brand in any market, especially when a niche category like foldables has several competitors (Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and more).<\/p>\n These new foldable phone styles, along with the rumored iPhone Fold from Apple — which is said to have a passport-size design — could mean we’ll see four different types of foldable phones by 2026, giving people more options for compact devices that unfold into larger screens.<\/p>\n <\/div> I hope these phones with hinges go mainstream in 2026.<\/p>\n <\/span> Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n So far, the most popular foldable phones have been book-style (like the Galaxy Z Fold 7<\/span><\/span>) and flip phones (like the Motorola Razr<\/span><\/span>). While the former is a phone that unfolds into a mini-tablet, the latter folds into a more pocketable design. Both designs have their benefits, but if rumors are true, there are more ways to build a folding phone.<\/p>\n 2026 will see two new designs in the category, and one of them has already been launched in several markets. Here’s why I think all these new foldable phones will have an audience.<\/p>\n <\/div> The Razr Ultra 2025 in pink pops.<\/p>\n <\/span> James Martin\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Galaxy Z Flip 7<\/span><\/span> and Motorola Razr<\/span><\/span> lineups are built for those who want a compact phone without compromising on screen size. Not everyone has massive pockets in their jeans, but that doesn’t mean they need to settle for a smaller screen. These flip phones are designed to be more pocketable while also offering the same 6.9-inch display as a regular slab phone.<\/p>\n <\/div> Launched in December 2025, Huawei’s Mate X7 is the latest book-style foldable phone.<\/p>\n <\/span> Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold<\/span><\/span>, Oppo Find N5<\/span><\/span>,\u00a0and\u00a0Honor Magic V5\u00a0are all book-style foldables that unfold into mini-tablets. I like this design because I love browsing the web and reading on my phone, and the squarish aspect ratio when unfolded makes it an excellent e-reader.<\/p>\n Recent developments in battery tech (silicon-carbon anode batteries<\/span><\/span>) and hinge design have allowed manufacturers to reduce crease depth and overall thickness, making them almost as slim as regular slab phones. These phones typically have big screens that aren’t ideal for videos, due to thick letterboxing. But they can stand on their own, so you don’t need an external kickstand to watch 21:9 or 16:9 videos.<\/p>\n Book-style foldable phones are made for those of us who want to be more productive on a phone without needing a separate device.<\/p>\n <\/div> Both hinges on the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold (left) fold in the same direction, giving it a “C” shape, whereas the two hinges of the Huawei Mate XT (right) fold in opposite directions, forming a “Z” shape.<\/p>\n <\/span> Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n This is the most versatile foldable phone design as of now and its best examples include the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold<\/span><\/span> and the Huawei Mate XT<\/span><\/span>. However, not all trifolds are designed the same.<\/p>\n The Huawei trifold is the most versatile phone I’ve ever used, allowing me to use it as a phone, a mini tablet and a wide-screen 16:11 tablet for productivity and media consumption. It’s a true all-in-one device that delivers everything in a portable design.<\/p>\n By comparison, the Galaxy Z Trifold gives you a wide-screen 10-inch tablet that fits in your pocket and can also be used as a phone. It doesn’t offer a mini-tablet mode — you can use it either folded as a phone or fully unfolded — but Samsung’s trifold is designed as a productivity and media powerhouse. It’s essentially a flagship Galaxy Tab S-style device that fits inside your pocket.<\/p>\n <\/div> With its wide aspect ratio, the Huawei Pura X shows minimal letterboxing when playing 16:9 videos, especially compared with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, Z Fold 7 and the Huawei Mate XT.<\/p>\n <\/span> Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n The Huawei Pura X is the best example of a wide-screen foldable so far. While some might argue that the first-generation Oppo Find N<\/span><\/span> and Google Pixel Fold<\/span><\/span> could fit under this category, their inner screens were also squarish (8.4:9 on the Oppo phone and 5:6 on the Pixel Fold); they were smaller book-style foldables.<\/p>\n In contrast, the Pura X has a 6.3-inch display with a wider 16:10 aspect ratio, making it ideal for reading and watching videos. I used the phone for a few days recently, and it’s the best combination of portability and versatility. You can watch videos with minimal letterboxing (thick black borders at the top and bottom) on its 16:10 screen, or use it like an e-reader in vertical orientation. And for the times when you need to snap some selfies using the rear cameras, you get a decent viewfinder in the form of a big cover screen — without making the phone unwieldy like book-style foldables.<\/p>\n Apple is rumored to adopt this approach with its upcoming iPhone Fold<\/span><\/span>, but with a bigger cover screen. And Samsung is said to be developing a similar “Wide Fold” that’ll give you a 4:3 inner screen, too. According to a report from ETnews, this new Samsung foldable could have a 5.4-inch cover screen and support 25-watt wireless charging.<\/p>\n If the Korean company launches it alongside a presumed Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Flip 8, potentially in July 2026, it would launch ahead of Apple’s rumored foldable, which is presumed to launch in the fall.\u00a0<\/p>\n While these foldable phones will likely be expensive — especially the newer trifold and wide-fold shapes — they’re bringing a lot of new competition to a phone market that’s otherwise dominated by the candy-bar shape. As we move into 2026, I’m looking forward to having multiple size, design and functionality options, much like we do with traditional phones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nThe four kinds of foldable phones to expect in 2026<\/h2>\n
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Flip phones<\/h3>\n
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Book-style foldables<\/h3>\n
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The trifolds<\/h3>\n
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Widescreen foldables<\/h3>\n
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