TrendForce: iPhone Duo Could Take Nearly 30% of the Foldable Market in 2027
TrendForce said on Oct 28 that Apple could hold 29.8% of foldable phone shipments in 2027, second behind Samsung. Its 2026 call is unchanged at about 5 million Duos. It also flagged split early feedback and some inner-display replacements.
This one is a forecast, not a leak, but it's the first new number on the iPhone Duo since Gurman's Duo 2 report last week. On Oct 28, the research firm TrendForce said Apple is on track to take 29.8% of the global foldable phone market in 2027. 9to5Mac picked it up the same day.
What TrendForce is saying
- 2026 is unchanged. TrendForce still expects Apple to ship about 5 million Duos this year, about 24.8% of foldable shipments, while the whole foldable market grows only 0.5%.
- 2027 is the new part. TrendForce now puts Apple at 29.8% of foldables next year. Earlier it expected the market to reach 23.5 million units in 2027, up 16.3%.
- The pecking order. If that holds, Apple would be second in foldables in 2027, behind Samsung (falling from 35.1% to 31.9%) and ahead of Huawei (falling from 24.8% to 21.3%).
The less flattering parts
TrendForce also said early feedback on the Duo is split. People like the unfolded split-screen view, but black borders in some apps, the button placement, and fingerprint unlock add a learning curve. It mentioned reports of damaged displays and high repair estimates, and said Apple has replaced a small number of Duos with inner-display problems. One idea from recent teardowns of damaged units is that the hinge's center support may not pull back far enough when the phone folds. That's a hypothesis from TrendForce's write-up, not something Apple has confirmed.
How this fits with what we've covered
This is a market-share forecast, so it doesn't compete with the order reports we've written up. Securities Times said Apple raised Duo orders 30% for 2026 (still under 10 million), and DigiTimes said the 12-month shipment target went up 44% to 14 million. TrendForce's 5 million for 2026 is more cautious than both. My read is that analysts agree demand is strong but don't agree on how many hinges and panels Apple can actually build this year.
Should it change what you buy?
Not really. A forecast doesn't make the Duo cheaper or easier to get, and US ship dates were already slipping into January. If you're on the fence, the display-damage reports are the bigger thing to watch. I'd wait for a few more weeks of owner reports before paying foldable prices.
Camera AirPods and iPhone 18: no change
Nothing new on camera AirPods. They're still expected in 2027 with low-resolution cameras for Siri and Visual Intelligence. The spring 2027 iPhone 18, 18e, and Air 2 timing hasn't moved either.
If you'd rather not wait on a foldable
- iPhone Air Space Black 512GB. A thin phone with no hinge to worry about.
- iPhone 16 Pro 256GB renewed. Telephoto and ProMotion for much less than a Duo.
- Anker Prime 25W Qi2.2 MagSafe 3-in-1. A MagSafe charger that works with whichever iPhone you end up with.
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Bottom line: TrendForce thinks the iPhone Duo will grab almost 30% of foldables in 2027, putting Apple second behind Samsung. It's a forecast, the 2026 number is unchanged, and the early reliability reports matter more if you're thinking of buying one.
Products in This Review
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iPhone Air Space Black, 512GB (Unlocked)
iPhone Air. The thinnest iPhone ever. 6.5-inch display, durable Ceramic Shield front and back, A19 Pro chip, 48MP Fusion camera system, and Center Stage front camera.
Apple iPhone 16 Pro, 256GB, Natural Titanium - Unlocked (Renewed)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro, US Version, 256GB, Natural Titanium - Unlocked (Renewed)
