Apple's foldable iPhone is finally coming, starting at $2,000

Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil its first foldable iPhone this autumn, a device that has been rumoured for over a decade. The device's expected price starts at $2,000 and will likely be called iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold. Manufacturing-related issues could, however, push the launch to 2027.

Apple is likely to bring its first foldable iPhone to market this year, a device that has been the subject of speculation for over a decade. According to analysts and journalists, the new model could be unveiled as early as September 2026, when Apple traditionally introduces its new products.

A decade of waiting

The first rumours of a foldable iPhone appeared in 2016, when MacRumors reported that South Korean company LG was planning to manufacture flexible displays that could also be supplied to Apple. In subsequent years, there was speculation that Samsung also offered its flexible displays for supply, and in 2020 it was claimed that Samsung had submitted the first displays to Apple as trial samples. This information was never substantiated.

The first two prototypes were only completed in 2024, according to sources cited by The Information. A new wave of speculation began in late 2025, when Apple introduced the iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone, which many analysts noted functions as a sort of testing ground for the foldable device's technologies.

What we know about the device

There is no official information so far, and even the device's name remains a secret. Western media use both the name iPhone Fold and iPhone Ultra. In late May 2026, a photo of an alleged mock-up device appeared on Chinese social media platform Weibo, showing a less elongated shape compared to most competitors' foldable phones.

According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, Apple's foldable iPhone's screen in unfolded mode is wider than most competitors', which would make applications resemble iPad software more closely. According to sources, Apple's engineers have solved the problem of the screen's crease being visible and improved the device's overall durability.

The device is reportedly equipped with two rear cameras (48 megapixels, with the second being an ultra-wide-angle) and two front cameras, one on each screen. The technical description also includes the next-generation A20 Pro processor, the same version as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Notably absent is Face ID: according to 9to5Mac, engineers were unable to fit two separate Face ID modules into a device with two screens, so a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button-Touch ID-is used instead.

The outer screen diagonal is estimated at 5.3-5.5 inches and the inner screen's at 7.6-7.8 inches, which when unfolded resembles an iPad Mini, which is slightly larger (8.3 inches).

Price and launch date

The foldable iPhone's expected price starts at $2,000, which is the price of the highest configuration of the current iPhone 17 Pro Max. Higher-capacity versions could reach $2,500, the same price Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs during its initial sales phase.

Mark Gurman believes the high price will deter some buyers who opt for the technically superior and cheaper iPhone 18 Pro. However, he is convinced that the launch of the new model will help increase Apple's overall revenue.

There is uncertainty around the exact launch date. Gurman claimed in April 2026 that an announcement could be expected as early as September. However, AppleInsider reported in mid-June, citing Taiwanese media, that sales would not begin before spring 2027, citing remarks by Largan Precision chairman Lin En-Pin, according to which the fourth quarter of 2026 is exceptionally busy due to shipments of new devices.

Gurman himself stands by his position: the foldable iPhone will arrive in 2026. He also reported that in 2027, a second, updated version is expected, which would coincide with the iPhone's 20th anniversary and would be designed by Apple's new chief executive John Ternus, who takes office on 1 September 2026, replacing Tim Cook.