In an investor research note today with British bank Barclays, analyst Tim Long said Apple's first foldable iPhone could have a starting price in the $2,300 range in the United States, which would make it by far the most expensive iPhone model ever.If the first foldable iPhone starts at $2,299, that means it would cost nearly twice as much as the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199.Long shared this pricing estimate following a recent trip to Asia, where his team met with hardware manufacturers.
He said there is increasing discussion within the supply chain about a foldable iPhone launching in late 2026 to early 2027, but he believes that the device's higher starting price would unsurprisingly limit sales volume.Earlier this month, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the first foldable iPhone would be priced between $2,000 and $2,500, so multiple analysts agree that the device will cost at least a few thousand dollars.Kuo believes there could still be strong demand for the foldable iPhone despite its higher price, however, provided that the device's quality meets expectations.
For example, Apple releasing a foldable smartphone without a visible crease in the screen would be a major breakthrough.Kuo said the first foldable iPhone would feature a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, two rear cameras, one front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and a high-density battery.He expects the device to be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded, and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded.
He expects the device to have a titanium exterior, but the hinge would use a mix of titanium and stainless steel.Kuo said the foldable iPhone would enter mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.With the foldable iPhone at least a year and a half away, keep in mind that this pricing estimate is surely just an educated guess.
