Six days before the keynote, market research has revealed the first concrete price range for Apple's first foldable iPhone. The largest storage option is expected to exceed $3,000. A 10 to 20 percent price increase is anticipated for the entire new lineup – though this is limited by a decision Apple appears to be making deliberately.
The figures come from a report by market research firm TrendForce regarding the upcoming iPhone generation. It is the first publication from an analyst firm to specify a starting price for the iPhone Ultra – previous estimates of this magnitude came from Chinese leakers. The calculation is driven by a single factor: storage capacity.
Key Facts at a Glance
- The foldable iPhone is expected to have a starting price of $2,099 to $2,299.
- The largest storage configuration could exceed the $3,000 mark.
- A price increase of 10 to 20 percent is expected across the entire range.
- Storage costs for a Pro model with 256 GB were almost 400 percent higher in the third quarter than in the same period last year.
- Apple is expected to bear some of the additional costs itself in order to maintain its market share.
What the forecast for the foldable model calls
The expected starting price is between $2,099 and $2,299. For comparison, the current most expensive iPhone, the 2TB Pro Max, costs $1,999 in the US. Even the cheapest version of the foldable model would therefore be priced above the previous top price of the entire series.
The price range is more open at the top end. For the largest storage configuration, the analysis suggests a price exceeding $3,000 is possible – a value no Apple phone has yet reached.
Both figures align with what has been circulating from Chinese leakers since the end of June. The difference lies in their origin: those figures lacked any verifiable basis, while these come from a cost analysis by a company with access to storage pricing and supply chain data. The announcement itself points out that all figures are market estimates and that Apple's official prices are still pending.
The storage drives the calculation
The reason for the price increases lies in a single component. For a Pro model with 256 GB, storage costs in the third quarter of this year were almost 400 percent higher than a year ago. According to the analysis, successful negotiations regarding other components do not offset this.
This leads to the expectation for the entire series: 10 to 20 percent more. This is the first confirmation of this range by a market research firm – previously, it existed without independent support. How this figure compares to other circulating estimates can be found in the overview of price scenarios.
Why the surcharge isn't higher
The most interesting aspect of the announcement is not the number itself, but its limitation. Given the weak global economy and more cautious consumer spending, Apple is reportedly proceeding deliberately moderately and absorbing some of the increased costs itself. The stated goal is to maintain its market share.
The cost increase is therefore not the upper limit of the markup, but rather its calculated starting point – and the actual price list is below that. This aligns with Apple's own announcement that it expects pressure on its gross margin for the current quarter.
To compensate, cloud services related to Apple Intelligence and software subscriptions are expected to contribute more significantly to earnings in the future. Apple already has 1.5 billion paid subscriptions, and this part of the business is growing independently of storage prices.
What the price means for buyers in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (DACH region)
Dollar prices cannot be directly converted to euro prices. The price increase in June demonstrated how differently the same cost pressure is perceived in different countries – the base iPad saw an increase of around one-third, while other devices saw significantly lower prices. A standardized conversion factor does not exist.
In addition, there's an effect that isn't visible in the dollar forecasts: Value-added tax (VAT) is added to any markup in this country. The higher the base price, the greater the absolute impact of this surcharge.
We therefore expect the price difference between the foldable model and a Pro Max to be more significant in Germany than the US figures indicate. The documented starting point for this is the current German price: €1,449 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max compared to $1,199 in the US.
A price tag for a very small niche
Whether this price point works depends less on the device itself than on the format. Foldable smartphones are expected to account for only around two percent of the global market in 2026, and Apple's entry into the market will initially do little to change that – the late sales launch and the limited initial stock will postpone much of the impact until next year.
The starting price is therefore primarily a positioning statement, not a volume calculation. It sets the brand for the second generation, the development of which has already been approved, and only then will it be decided whether the format will transcend its niche.
Would a foldable iPhone be worth the extra cost compared to a Pro Max to you – or are you waiting for a second generation when the price will likely drop? Let us know in the comments where you draw the line.
