Global electronics market shows growth in TVs and AR despite foldable smartphone fluctuations

The global consumer electronics market is seeing divergent trends across different device categories. In the television sector, global shipments in the first half of 2026 rose 1.3% to 93.74 million units, marking a post-pandemic high. Samsung leads with 17.6 million units, followed by TCL with 15.08 million and Hisense with 14.23 million. The industry is seeing increased brand polarization as major players leverage cost advantages and advanced technologies like RGB Mini LED to maintain market share.

Conversely, the foldable smartphone market is undergoing a structural shift. Despite a 21.6% decline in shipments during the first half of 2026, analysts project significant growth through 2028. This rebound is expected to be driven by a new category of wide-format foldable devices, such as the Huawei Pura X Max and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which offer tablet-like experiences. Projections suggest shipments could reach 36 million units by 2028.

In the augmented reality (AR) space, a shift toward lightweight smart glasses is underway. Omdia predicts that AR display panel shipments will reach 21 million units by 2030, surpassing VR shipments. This transition reflects an industry focus on balancing AI capabilities, battery life, and device weight.