An analysis found that book-type foldables that fold left and right are emerging as the core growth driver of the global foldable market.
According to Counterpoint Research on the 13th, the share of book-type models is expected to expand from 52% last year to about 65% this year, accounting for a significant portion of global foldable shipments. In contrast, clamshell models that fold up and down are projected to see their overall share gradually decline as their role is reorganized into a complementary lineup emphasizing design and portability.
Counterpoint Research cited improved hardware completeness and usability, along with strengthened manufacturer confidence in the high-value form factor, as drivers of book-type adoption. Despite the high price, the trend of consumers valuing functional utility such as multitasking and productivity over mere novelty was also identified as a factor boosting book-type demand. In fact, at Samsung Electronics, Galaxy Z7 Fold shipments are understood to have exceeded the Z7 Flip. Motorola recently unveiled its first book-type foldable at CES, and Google is continuing to invest in the Pixel Fold lineup.
Counterpoint Research said Apple's expected entry with its first foldable in the second half will be a variable that accelerates a shift in market structure. In particular, with the possibility raised of adopting a book type with a wide-fold display in a 1:1.414 ratio, the assessment is that manufacturers' strategies and the broader app ecosystem are increasingly likely to converge around the book type.
Industry officials say that while flip models led with accessibility and fashion in the early popularization phase, in a mature market the book type, equipped with large-screen productivity, will likely solidify as the main lineup driving long-term growth.