The global foldable smartphone market bounced back in Q2 2025.

Shipments surged 45% year-on-year, according to new Counterpoint Research figures.

Growth was fuelled by strong demand in China, still the largest market for foldables, as well as an unexpected surge in the US, where Motorola’s mid-market clamshell Razr models have hit a sweet spot.

In the US, shipments nearly tripled as Motorola’s Razr 60 series became one of America’s more affordable and popular foldables, boasting a base price of US$699 (around A$1,050).

“Pricing has been a big success factor for Motorola’s Razr series – nobody has yet come close,” noted Counterpoint analyst Maurice Klaehne. [Razr] has had the luxury of being the lowest-cost foldable phone in the US – nobody has yet come close.”

Samsung has been getting its lunch eaten by Huawei and Motorola

Motorola claims to have accounted for one in four foldables sold worldwide during the quarter.

China remained the powerhouse, with Huawei’s Mate X6 leading the pack. The ultra-premium book-type model represented more than a third of Huawei’s shipments, according to Counterpoint analyst Mengmeng Zhang.

“The Chinese foldable smartphone market remains robust, with Huawei driving the market. Consumers are gravitating towards the Mate X6 – an ultra-premium book-type foldable,” they noted.

Motorola and Huawei’s gains appear to have come at Samsung’s expense.

Its market share more than halved in Q2, though analysts expect a rebound in Q3 thanks to the strong uptake of the Galaxy Fold 7. “The ultra-premium fold form-factor is back in spades, with sales more than doubling compared to last year’s Fold 6,” said Counterpoint analyst Jene Park.

Looking ahead, Counterpoint forecasts sustained double-digit growth for foldable smartphones, with Apple tipped to belatedly enter the foldable race in 2026.