Apple is expected to launch its first foldable iPhone in late 2026, and some analysts believe the iPhone Fold will be the most expensive iPhone to date. But even as a new report sounds the alarm about pricing, a separate leak claims that the device will solve the problem of creases in foldable displays.
The potential price was suggested in a report from analyst Arthur Liao in a research note from Fubon Research, an analytics firm (via Investing.com). Liao forecasts that rising materials costs and certain components like the hinge will push the price of the iPhone Fold to the upper end of its rumored price range.
Price comparison
Specifically, Liao claims the foldable device will need to hit $2,399 to cover the materials costs and hit Apple's margins. For comparison, the most expensive iPhone you can buy currently is an iPhone 17 Pro Max kitted out with 2TB of storage — that model costs $1,999.
A $2,399 iPhone would be a premium price, putting it more in line with a 16-inch MacBook Pro featuring an M4 chip ($2,499) or a fully kitted out 13-inch iPad Pro M5 with 2TB of storage, nano-texture glass, Wi-Fi and Cellular connectivity, an Apple Pencil Pro and a Magic Keyboard ($2,599).
Optimistically, the firm said that Apple expects to sell around 5 million foldable iPhones next year. That would make it more of a niche device, with early adopters and luxury purchases being among the first wave of buyers.
On one level, Liao’s price claim isn’t too much of a surprise. Price estimates have ranged between $2,000 and $2,500 for a while for the foldable iPhone.
Apple reportedly designed a crease-free screen
Rumors about a folding iPhone have been flitting around the web since at least 2015, but reportedly Apple’s long-delayed foldable was due to the company’s insistence on eliminating the display crease before releasing one.
According to the Chinese site UDN (via Apple Insider), Apple has finally made a breakthrough on folding displays. Allegedly, this solution will make the iPhone Fold the first foldable with a true “crease-free design.”
If you haven’t seen a foldable in action, existing foldable displays have an issue where the portion of the screen that folds tends to develop a visible crease in the screen. It can make the display weaker over time, and aesthetically, it isn’t as pleasant looking as a normal screen.
Apple eliminating that crease could give the company a huge selling point in the foldables market, even as competitors have managed to significantly decrease the prominence of the crease in their devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.
Reportedly, the folding inner display for the future iPhone would come from Samsung Display, though Apple Insider claims Apple designed the panel structure, processing and lamination method. Rumors claim that the Fold should look like two iPhone Airs fused together with the interior display measuring 7.8 inches with an exterior cover screen offering a 5.5 inch panel.
The hinge under the iPhone Fold display is tipped to be made using liquid metal, minimizing deformation and making it a stronger piece of the phone.
What to expect from the iPhone Fold
Like other iPhones, the Fold would likely have multiple storage capacities, but we have no specifics on that yet. We believe it will likely launch with an A20 or A20 Pro chipset and at least 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
As we enter 2026 the rumor mill will kick into high gear as we get closer to the rumored release date. Tom’s Guide will be there to parse the chaff from wheat to give you a clearer picture of Apple’s next device.
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