According to 9to5Mac, a new report indicates Apple’s first folding iPhone, expected next year, will likely be priced at the higher end of the estimated $1,800 to $2,500 range. The report from The Information states Apple is encountering a high level of defects during the development and trial production of the device’s display. This follows earlier indications that Apple has raised the bar on folding phone tech, specifically rejecting Samsung display samples due to a visible crease and putting its own designers on the hinge mechanism. The combination of these extreme quality demands and low manufacturing yields is driving the expected average production cost way up. While Apple isn’t surprised by the defect rates, it solidifies the expectation of a premium price. List prices for new iPhones are also a strong guide, as carrier deals often lock users into plans that recover the cost over time.
Why this means a sky-high price
Here’s the thing: folding phones are already a luxury. Look at the Android market. The cheaper “flip” style models start around what a new iPhone Pro Max costs, and the “book-style” foldables Apple is making are even pricier. Apple was never going to undercut that. But this report gives us the “why” behind the inevitable sticker shock.
It’s not just about adding a fancy hinge. Apple seems to be chasing a level of perfection—no visible crease, a bulletproof hinge—that even the best Android makers haven’t consistently hit. That requires more expensive technology and, crucially, a willingness to throw away a lot of components that don’t meet the mark. High defect rates plus ultra-strict quality control equals a brutally high cost per usable unit. They can’t just bin a slightly underperforming display like they might with a chip. If the screen creases or the hinge feels wrong, it’s scrap.
Who actually buys this thing?
So who’s the customer for a $2,500 phone? It’s a vanishingly small slice of the market. We’re talking early adopters with very deep pockets, tech influencers, and maybe some enterprise users where the form factor is a true productivity game-changer. For the average person, even someone who buys a new Pro iPhone every year, this is a bridge too far.
But that’s probably okay with Apple, at least at first. This isn’t an iPhone 17. It’s a halo product, a statement piece. Its job is to showcase Apple’s engineering prowess, define the “Apple way” to do a foldable, and test the waters. The real money and volume will come later, in maybe 3-5 years, when the tech trickles down and gets refined into a more affordable model. For now, though, get ready for some serious price tag shock. It’s going to make a $1,599 iPhone 16 Ultra look like a bargain.
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