Folding smartphones are no longer just experiments; They are fast becoming the main arena for the fiercest competition among tech companies. The year 2026 in particular is going to be very exciting, as many big brands are preparing to launch their newest and most advanced foldable devices. From Samsung to Apple, everyone is involved in this race.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Wide
Samsung is once again ready to strengthen its dominance in the foldable segment. This time, the company is expected to launch two new book-style foldable devices: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and a new variant of it, the Z Fold 8 Wide. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to have a larger 5000mAh battery—which is said to be a huge leap over previous years. Apart from this, there is also talk of return of S Pen support. At the same time, the Z Fold 8 Wide may come with a completely different design, which may probably have a cover display of around 5.4 inches and a larger inner screen of 7.6 inches. Both phones are expected to run on the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor and support 45W fast charging. These are expected to be launched during the Galaxy Unpacked event in July.
Vivo
Vivo is also not far behind in this race. Reports related to Vivo Additionally, the device is also expected to feature a 50MP telephoto lens, making it a very attractive option for photography enthusiasts. It is believed that this device may be launched worldwide around July 2026.
Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold
Google is also ready to strengthen its hold in the market with its new foldable device, Pixel 11 Pro Fold. According to the leaked photos, a completely new design along with a triple-camera setup can be seen in this device. The phone is expected to run on Google’s 3nm Tensor G6 chipset, which will see significant improvements in both performance and AI capabilities. It is expected to launch in August 2026.
Apple iPhone Fold
In the foldable segment, Apple iPhone Fold is the most talked about. It is believed that it may be launched with the iPhone 18 Pro series in September 2026. It is expected to have a main screen of approximately 7.8 inches and an external display of 5.5 inches. Apart from this, it may have A20 chip, which will make it very powerful. One special thing is that Apple can probably bring back Touch ID, which it will integrate into the power button itself. Talking about the price, it will fall in the premium segment, and is likely to cost more than ₹200,000.
Increasing competition in foldable market
2026 is going to be a huge year for foldable smartphones. Industry giants like Samsung, Vivo, Google and Apple are ready to take this segment to new heights. In the coming months, it will be interesting to see which foldable phone wins the hearts of users and which one wins the market.