The iPhone Fold could go on sale for $2,399: The most expensive iPhone in history?
Apple is reportedly preparing to enter the foldable smartphone market with the iPhone Fold, but the projected price of $2,399 is causing a stir in the tech world. If true, this could become the most expensive iPhone in history.
Apple is planning a complete restructuring of its iPhone product line next year, based on a series of reports from its supply chain and market analysis sources. If all predictions come true, 2026 will mark a significant strategic shift, as Apple will no longer launch four standard iPhone models in September, as it has done for many years.
Instead, Apple is reportedly only going to unveil three high-end models: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Fold – the first foldable iPhone.
Meanwhile, the more affordable versions will be delayed by a few months, expected to launch in spring 2027, including: iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18e, and another as-yet-unidentified entry-level model.
This new division shows that Apple wants to completely separate the high-end and mainstream segments, while also creating space for the high-end product line to have its own stage, especially the iPhone Fold.
iPhone Fold: The most expensive device in the entire iPhone ecosystem.
Investing.com predicts that the starting price for the iPhone Fold could reach $2,399, higher than any iPhone model ever released. This price far exceeds traditional high-end smartphones and positions Apple among the leaders in the ultra-premium foldable phone segment.
Previously, many predicted that the iPhone Fold would range from $2,000 to $2,500, equivalent to or higher than competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Huawei Mate X5.
If Apple chooses a price point close to $2,500, the iPhone Fold will almost certainly become the most expensive foldable phone on the market.
Why is the iPhone Fold so expensive?
The high price of the iPhone Fold is not surprising, and here are the main factors contributing to that exorbitant cost.
1. Global component costs have risen sharply.
According to analyst Arthur Liao of Fubon Financial Services (Taiwan), the global smartphone industry is facing unprecedented cost pressures, such as a 75% year-on-year increase in RAM prices; a sharp increase in demand for chips, memory, NAND, and connectivity components; and a potential 5-7% increase in raw material costs in 2026.
Although this price increase directly affects all smartphone manufacturers, the impact is even greater for foldable devices.
2. The iPhone Fold will incorporate expensive, specialized components.
Liao said Apple will have to buy or develop many complex components, including high-end, flexible, wrinkle-resistant OLED panels; ultra-durable mechanical hinges requiring hundreds of thousands of opening and closing cycles; and ultra-lightweight and ultra-durable chassis that can withstand more force than traditional devices.
In particular, Apple is reportedly looking to completely eliminate the crease on the screen, something that Samsung and other manufacturers have yet to fully address. To do this, Apple needs to purchase the most expensive crease-free OLED panels on the market, primarily from Samsung Display.
3. Low initial production, high research and development costs.
Apple is expected to sell only 5.4 million iPhone Fold units in 2026, out of a total projected 15.4 million units over the product's entire lifecycle.
Low production volume means that research and development costs for hinges, screens, and design optimization must be allocated to fewer machines.
The selling price has to be high in order to maintain Apple's profit margin between 38% and 40%.
4. Apple positions the iPhone Fold as a “super segment”
The iPhone Fold is not seen as a replacement for the traditional iPhone, but rather as a technological showcase product, and this is a special version for the most discerning users.
At the same time, the iPhone Fold is seen as a "catalyst" for Apple to expand its market amidst declining global smartphone sales.
According to predictions, global smartphone sales in 2026 will be around 1.2 billion units (a 4% decrease). Meanwhile, smartphone sales in China are projected at 275 million units (a 3% decrease) and iPhone sales at 234 million units (a 4% decrease).
In a saturated market, companies looking to "climb the slope" must target the ultra-luxury segment, where profit margins are higher and consumers are willing to spend more.
iPhone Fold: Both an experiment and a strategic weapon.
Although the $2,399 price tag might deter many, according to Fubon, the iPhone Fold still holds strong appeal thanks to its more advanced technology; superior iOS and iCloud ecosystem; limited initial production creating scarcity; and crease-free design – a key factor in the user experience.
The iPhone Fold is unlikely to become Apple's best-selling product, but it will be Apple's most important product in the period of 2026-2028, shaping the technological direction for the next generation of iPhones.
The iPhone Fold is not only the most expensive iPhone in history, but also a strategic move by Apple during a period of declining smartphone market and increasingly fierce technological competition.
Although the $2,399 price tag may be controversial, with its philosophy of optimizing the user experience and its strategy of targeting the ultra-premium segment, Apple expects this model to become a new growth engine, ushering in the future of the foldable iPhone era.