Leaked estimates and supply chain analysis suggest Apple’s first foldable iPhone may launch at over $2,000, creating a new high-end flagship segment amid rising component costs and premium features.
With Apple’s autumn hardware event due on Wednesday, 9 September, the strongest conclusion from the latest iPhone 18 pricing chatter is not that the Pro models are heading for a shock increase, but that Apple’s first foldable almost certainly will sit in a different price class altogether. Estimates cited by Tom’s Guide place the foldable, widely expected to use the Ultra name, at $2,099 to $2,299 in the US, while the iPhone 18 Pro is put at $1,099 to $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,319 to $1,439. On that reading, Apple is not simply adding another premium iPhone; it is creating a much more expensive flagship tier.
The most dramatic figure in circulation, however, is also the least secure. PhoneArena reported that Vodafone Egypt’s PR team said no such leak had taken place on its side after screenshots spread online purporting to show pricing for unannounced Apple devices. Those images had attached EGP 155,750 to the foldable, with EGP 98,000 and EGP 105,000 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Even if the screenshot were genuine, the more useful takeaway would be the gap between models inside Egypt rather than any straight conversion into dollars or pounds, because taxes and local pricing structures distort cross-market comparisons.
A separate claim from Australia has drawn more attention because it broadly matches the analyst range. Tom’s Guide said a post from the X user @ev_downunder, attributed to Vodafone Australia, listed the 256GB foldable at AU$3,699, with 512GB at AU$4,199 and 1TB at AU$4,699. Using the Australian starting price of AU$1,999 for the iPhone 17 Pro as the benchmark, that would represent an 85% premium. PhoneArena arrived at much the same conclusion from the same figures, while MacRumors, citing TrendForce, said the highest-end US configurations could push beyond $3,000.
What gives the broader story weight is the supply-chain backdrop. TrendForce said the 256GB iPhone 18 Pro’s bill of materials is expected to be about 38% higher than that of its 2025 predecessor, chiefly because memory prices have surged. According to the research firm, memory’s share of the total bill of materials for 256GB Pro models has climbed from roughly 10% a year earlier to about 34% in the third quarter of 2026, and could exceed 40% in the first half of 2027. TrendForce said that shift means higher retail pricing is effectively unavoidable unless Apple chooses to absorb more of the increase itself.
That is also why the ordinary Pro handsets may rise in price without following the foldable into a different bracket. TrendForce has argued that Apple is likely to take a “relatively moderate pricing approach” and sacrifice part of its gross margin to protect demand, while Tom’s Guide said the iPhone 18 series and the foldable could see rises of around 10% to 20%. TrendForce also suggested Apple could revisit pricing on older iPhone models alongside the launch, spreading the effect of higher component costs across a wider part of the line-up instead of loading it entirely on to the new phones.
The expected hardware for the foldable helps explain why Apple may feel able to charge more than it does for any existing iPhone. MacRumors reported that the device is tipped to include a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner OLED panel with ProMotion up to 120Hz, along with an A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, 12GB of RAM and storage options running from 256GB to 2TB. The same report said Apple is expected to use Touch ID rather than Face ID, and to pair a 24MP front camera with 48MP wide and ultra-wide rear cameras. If accurate, that specification sheet would place the handset closer to a new premium product category than to a simple iPhone variant.
The event context is firmer than the pricing. Apple has already confirmed its “Surprise and shine” keynote for 9 September, and TechRadar said the foldable is expected to be the central reveal alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. TechRadar also said buyers should not expect a standard iPhone 18 or a second-generation iPhone Air at this presentation. Instead, the supporting cast may include a new Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 12, a refreshed HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV.
What follows the keynote is still less certain. Forbes, drawing on Apple’s usual timetable and Mark Gurman’s reporting, said pre-orders for the Pro models may open on Saturday, 12 September rather than Friday, because the usual Friday slot lands on the 25th anniversary of the 11 September attacks, with retail availability expected on 18 September. Forbes and MacRumors have both pointed to the foldable arriving at the same time as the Pro handsets or “very close to it”, although MacRumors noted that supply could still be tight. For now, the safest reading is that the Egyptian screenshot should be treated with caution, but the idea of Apple launching a foldable iPhone at well above $2,000 no longer looks far-fetched.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
