I've observed an interesting disconnect this year. At every mobile event, the biggest crowds swarm around the slimmest phones, from Apple's iPhone Air to Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge. When I pull one of these skinny handsets from my pocket, I'm similarly greeted with oohs and aahs from those around me. 

But most people aren't actually buying these sleeker devices. Sales of both Apple's and Samsung's skinny phones have reportedly been underwhelming, and the category as a whole remains very niche. Many view these slim handsets as more of a spectacle than a feasible purchase.

"Just because something looks great, doesn't mean you want it at the end of the day," said Nabila Popal, senior research director at market intelligence firm International Data Corporation. The biggest drawbacks for many consumers are scaled-back cameras, shorter battery life and sky-high price tags -- paired with a lack of clear reasoning as to why a phone needs to be thin in the first place.

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Does that mean we'll be seeing fewer sleek phones in 2026? Not likely. In fact, it appears these devices are setting the stage for a surge in another niche design: foldable phones.

Slim flat phones are standout devices in their own right, but they're also a critical stepping stone toward the development of sleeker, more appealing foldable phones. If you've nailed a slender design with a product like the Galaxy S25 Edge or iPhone Air, you can more easily repurpose that model into a foldable that doesn't feel like two phones stacked together. 

When I first held Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, I was struck by how much it felt like a normal phone when folded shut, with the added perk of a spacious internal display and top-notch cameras. It proved that foldables don't have to compromise on quality, feel or function. That's something several phone-makers demonstrated this year, and we'll likely see that even more in 2026.

Global foldable phone shipments are expected to grow 10% in 2025 compared with last year, according to a December report from IDC. In 2026, they're expected to jump to 30% -- and much of that growth will be driven by smartphone giants Apple and Samsung.

The road to a thin foldable

Samsung has proven to be the poster child for the slim-phone boom. In May, it released the Galaxy S25 Edge. In July, it debuted the Galaxy Z Fold 7, its thinnest foldable. In December, it took that design one step further with the Galaxy Z Fold, which borrows from the sleek design of its predecessors and features two hinges instead of one. The Z TriFold went on sale in Korea -- and reportedly sold out in minutes -- as well as other parts of Asia earlier this month, and is slated to launch in the US in the first quarter of 2026. 

Other companies have also flexed thin foldable designs, from Oppo's Find N5 to Honor's Magic V5 and Huawei's Mate X7. Huawei beat Samsung to the slim trifold punch last year with its Mate XT, as well as this year's version, the XTs. 

All eyes are on Apple to see if it'll follow a path similar to Samsung's. Before the Air was even announced, rumors swirled about whether the phone was a step toward the long-rumored foldable iPhone. Now, expectations for a thin, book-style foldable iPhone to make its debut next year are mounting.

"The launch of Apple's first foldable iPhone will mark a turning point for the foldable segment," Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at IDC, said in a statement. "Apple tends to be a catalyst for mainstream adoption of new categories."

A foldable iPhone is expected to drive up to 10% of Apple's total smartphone revenue, Jeronimo said. Although foldables are a niche market, he says that their high price tags -- which can be triple the cost of a standard phone -- help boost a company's bottom line. That's a huge incentive for companies to keep cranking them out -- and to keep trying to convince you to buy in.  

Spending upwards of $2,000 on a phone can be a tough sell for most consumers in an uncertain economy. But the dual phone-tablet interface of foldables can help them stand out, and may nudge some shoppers to justify the cost. 

Samsung saw record preorders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which was surely aided by the phone's sleek design and high-end cameras, minimizing the compromises that characterized previous versions of the phone. And now, it's building on that momentum with the Galaxy Z TriFold.

"Thinner and foldable phones offer new designs and are easier to carry on the go," said Thomas Husson, principal analyst at market research company Forrester. "While still relatively niche, early adopters and consumers looking for an all-in-one device are reacting positively."

Competition heats up 

Due to reportedly underwhelming sales of the Galaxy S25 Edge and iPhone Air, rumors have circulated that Samsung and Apple may not release second-generation versions of those thin phones. But Husson suggests that won't be the case, and that the phones weren't the flat-out disappointments they're often made out to be. 

Popal notes that the iPhone Air's marketing success led to inflated sales expectations, and the reality merely fell short of that. But, she noted, Apple may wait to release a second version of the Air until it can improve upon features like the camera and battery, which are top priorities for most consumers.  

Indeed, the scaled-back camera and battery on the iPhone Air were the biggest grievances I had with a phone that's otherwise eye-catching and refreshing to hold. I'd also like to see Samsung pack more battery into future versions of the S25 Edge. But those two phones were among my favorites to use this year because of their fresh, forward-thinking and feather-light designs. 

Thin and foldable phones may seem like frivolous devices that primarily appeal to the most dedicated tech enthusiasts, but they're an important way for companies to show they're still innovating, especially amid a sea of mobile sameness.  

"The recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold is a proof point that Samsung must constantly launch new niche products to maintain its technology leadership," Husson said.

Popal notes the timing of the Z TriFold's release as Apple's rumored foldable looms is "no friendly coincidence. It highlights how fierce competition is at the premium level, too, and this is Samsung saying to the world they are at the forefront of innovation."

It's that innovation, after all, that gets people buzzing. Maybe in 2026, it'll get more of them spending, too.