Foldable smartphones gain ground in Russia as sales hit record high

A total of 53,000 foldable smartphones worth 4.84 billion rubles ($57.3 million) were sold in Russia in the first half of 2026, marking the highest figure since records began, according to Citilink, one of Russia's largest online retailers.

It noted that the format is gradually moving beyond its narrow premium segment, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

One of the main drivers of growth has been price. While the average cost of a foldable smartphone exceeded 121,000 rubles ($1,432) in 2022, it had fallen to 90,700 rubles ($1,074) by mid-2026.

Manufacturers have also improved device durability by upgrading hinges, enhancing dust and water resistance, and introducing ultra-thin glass.

Citilink claimed that the latest generations of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip are showing the strongest growth. The Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 began appearing more prominently in the company’s sales data from mid-2025, while shipment volumes increased in 2026.

Meanwhile, sales of older models such as the Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 5 have virtually dried up.

The company also noted seasonal fluctuations in demand for certain models, particularly Samsung devices. Among storage configurations, 512 GB versions are the most popular, while 256 GB and 1 TB models sell in significantly smaller volumes.

Practical colours such as grey, blue and black are the most sought after.

The segment could continue to grow, according to the company, driven by lower prices, the introduction of more affordable models and further improvements in device durability.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov