Motorola surprises with 50% foldable market share in the us
Motorola, not Samsung, is the leading foldable phone brand in the US, according to a new video from IDC analysts Francisco Jeronimo and Nabila Popal.
Motorola's razr series dominates the clamshell foldable segment
Motorola's clamshell Razr series has been incredibly successful in the US, with a whopping 50% market share in the foldable niche. This is despite Samsung's aggressive marketing efforts to promote its Galaxy Fold book-style and Galaxy Flip clamshell.
The Razr series' popularity can be attributed to several key factors. First, Motorola increased the size of its Quick View cover screen to 3.6 inches, outpacing Samsung's 1.9-inch ticker on the Galaxy Z Flip 4. The Razr Ultra (2025) also boasted a 7-inch pOLED internal display with a 165Hz refresh rate, compared to the Galaxy Z Flip 7's 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with a 1-120Hz refresh rate.
Moreover, Motorola made a strategic shift in its marketing approach, targeting a broader audience rather than just nostalgic fans of the original Razr feature phone. This change paid off, as the company moved from a midrange Snapdragon 7-series processor to the more powerful 8-series in the Razr+ (2023), and later introduced the top-tier Razr Ultra (2025) to directly compete with Samsung's offerings.
Motorola's success is not limited to the US. The brand also dominates the foldable market in Latin America with a 55% share, and globally, it claims 14% of the foldable market, a notable achievement considering its relatively lesser-known status compared to Samsung.
A potential challenge looms as apple enters the foldable market
However, Motorola may face a significant challenge later this year with the anticipated launch of Apple's iPhone Fold. According to IDC, Apple's entry could push global foldable sales up by 30%, with the company expected to capture 22% of the worldwide foldable market share in 2026.
The Motorola Razr Fold, along with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold, will directly compete with Apple's iPhone Fold. Rumors suggest the iPhone Fold will feature a 7.8-inch no-crease internal display, though pricing is expected to be steep, potentially reaching $2,400. In contrast, the Razr Fold is rumored to pack a 6,000 mAh battery, outperforming the iPhone Fold's 5,000 mAh cell.