The latest developments from the supply chain show that Apple’s first foldable screen iPhone, which has been in preparation for many years, has officially entered the trial production stage and is getting closer to officially meeting consumers.Some Apple supply chain companies involved in the project revealed that the company has recently begun delivering supporting parts in small batches to this first foldable screen iPhone. According to the target guidance given by Apple, this product will be officially announced at the autumn launch conference in September this year.
According to previous pricing references leaked from the industry, the starting price of the National Bank version of Apple's folding screen iPhone may be set at 14,999 yuan. Due to limitations in yield and production capacity ramping progress, the stocking volume in the early stage of the product's launch is likely not to be too high. In the early stage, supply is likely to exceed demand and people will queue up to buy it.
Looking at the global consumer electronics market, except for Apple, which has not officially entered the market, all other leading Android mobile phone manufacturers have already completed the layout of folding screen product lines. The iteration of related products has reached the fourth and fifth generations, and market acceptance has been increasing year after year.
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Statistics publicly disclosed by IDC show that the total global shipments of foldable screen mobile phones in 2025 have reached 20.6 million units, a year-on-year increase of 10%, and the entire track has maintained a steady pace of expansion.
Focusing on the domestic market, according to IDC statistics, China's foldable screen mobile phone market shipments in 2025 will be approximately 10.01 million units, a year-on-year increase of 9.2%, accounting for nearly half of the global market share.
The 2026 market outlook given by the agency clearly mentioned that as Apple officially enters the folding screen field, more brands will launch innovative products with more diverse forms. The entire track's public attention and appeal to ordinary consumers are expected to see a significant increase again.
Analysis by research firm Counterpoint pointed out that as Apple's first folding screen iPhone enters the countdown to launch, the competitive landscape that has been maintained for many years in the entire folding screen industry is likely to change rapidly. The entire folding screen mobile phone market will officially enter a new competitive stage in 2026. The early core demand for this folding screen iPhone will most likely come from the existing high-end iPhone user replacement group.
Counterpoint mentioned in the report that although the total shipments of foldable screen mobile phones in 2025 will only account for 1.6% of the overall smartphone market, currently various manufacturers are desperately relying on high-premium models to hedge against the fierce price war in the entry-level and mid-range markets. The foldable screen category that can support high gross profits continues to increase its strategic importance to all mobile phone brands.
In the high-end mobile phone market, where competition is becoming increasingly fierce, as various manufacturers continue to improve the durability of folding screen devices and optimize the software adaptation experience of the large-screen ecosystem, folding screen mobile phones are breaking away from the position of early adopter toys in the past, gradually establishing their own clear market role, and becoming the new growth core of the high-end market.
