Foldable iPhone Price Estimated at $2,099 to $2,299, Could Top $3,000 [TrendForce]

TrendForce estimates that Apple's first foldable iPhone will carry a U.S. starting price of $2,099 to $2,299, with top-end configurations that could exceed $3,000, according to new research published by the firm ahead of the device's expected debut.



The report uses the tentative name "iPhone 18 Fold" for the device and projects a fall debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple is holding its September 9 event next week, where the three models are expected to be unveiled. Employees internally call the foldable the iPhone Ultra, though Apple has not confirmed any branding. If the projections hold, it would become the most expensive iPhone ever, well above the iPhone 17 Pro Max's $1,199 starting price.


The three fall models are forecast to bring improvements to processing, thermal architecture, displays, cameras, and battery life, though they are generally expected to lack breakthrough upgrades. All three are set to use the A20 Pro chip based on TSMC's 2nm process, along with WMCM memory packaging that shortens signal paths and helps reduce heat buildup. More efficient LTPO+ displays and larger batteries are also anticipated, with the Pro Max seeing the most pronounced battery life improvement thanks to its larger chassis. The Pro models will add a mechanical variable aperture to the main camera, a first for the iPhone.

For the foldable, Apple is expected to make some hardware trade-offs to balance a slim design with everyday usability, including a dual-camera system and conventional capacitive fingerprint sensor. Improvements in crease reduction are also identified as a key technological highlight.

Memory costs are driving much of the projected increase in pricing. For the 256GB Pro model, memory is forecast to cost nearly 400 percent more in the third quarter of 2026 than a year earlier. Despite efforts to negotiate lower prices for other components, those savings are unlikely to offset the pressure on overall bill-of-materials costs. Prices across the new lineup are projected to rise around 10 to 20 percent, with Apple absorbing some of the increase to help preserve market share.

The company has already raised prices across its Mac and iPad lineups this year amid the same shortage, and then-CEO Tim Cook described the memory crunch as a "hundred-year flood".


Apple is also expected to split its iPhone launch schedule beginning this year. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable are slated for the fall, while the standard iPhone 18 and other variants would follow in the first quarter of 2027, consistent with previous reports of a staggered launch. TrendForce estimates that foldables will account for only around 2 percent of the global smartphone market in 2026, while the foldable iPhone's relatively late shipment schedule, limited initial production, and constrained inventory are expected to limit its immediate impact on overall penetration. Earlier supply chain checks have also pointed to launch delays and severe shortages for the device.

With hardware costs remaining elevated, Apple Intelligence cloud services and software subscriptions are expected to contribute more significantly to earnings going forward. Expanding these higher-margin revenue streams could help Apple maintain overall profitability as hardware costs remain under pressure.