There's a good chance we'll see the first one foldable iPhone in less than a year. Rumors of the innovative phone hint at Apple's design magic in the details, but that fancy foldable design will likely cost you.
According to to the report According to Chinese publication UDN, engineers have made a “breakthrough” in creating a “crease-free design” for the iPhone Fold, and the production cycle has now moved from the experimental stage to pre-mass production mode. The Fold could reportedly launch in September 2026.
But you'll likely pay dearly for the lack of creases. iPhone screen. Another report from Fubon Research says the iPhone Fold could cost up to $2,399, making it the most expensive foldable smartphone on the market. Google Pixel 10 Pro Foldable, Samsung Galaxy Flip 7, Samsung Galaxy Z Foldable 7, Motorola Razr Ultra And Motorola Razrall of which range from $700 to $2,000.
Financial company UBS gives a more modest estimate of the cost of the iPhone Fold. Bank analysts predict that the cost will be between 1800 and 2000 US dollars. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Check this out: Physical AI vs Generative AI: Waymo ChatGPT Battles
More from CNET: Apple's warning about folding
The previously reported $2,400 price tag may be hefty, but so is the Fold's potentially revolutionary design quality. The market has grown steadily since the first folding phone was launched in 2018and no one has yet succeeded in making a product that will not fold after several folds. OnePlus Open has the least visible crease of any folding material, and even has subreddit extolling the advantage of its almost absence of folds. But a fold is a fold.
“No creases is a difficult feat!”
“2026 is the year of foldable devices,” it said. Jessica Naziricontent creator specializing in technology designed for women in TechSesh.co. “We've been begging our phones to act like laptops, and this brings us closer to that reality,” Naziri told CNET.
“If Apple does it, you know it will be good. Between the iPhone Air and the upcoming foldable device, it's nice to finally see Apple trying new form factors,” Naziri added. Despite the high price, she believes consumers will still pay. “Obviously the feat of engineering will cost more, and people will find a way to save money and pay,” she said.
Never miss any of our unbiased technical content and behind-the-lab reviews. Add CNET as Google's preferred source.
Without folds you have to pay
The UDN report states that teams from Apple, NewRixing and Amphenol are collaborating to develop key component bearings to avoid wrinkling on the iPhone Fold. According to the report, these teams used high-strength liquid metal technology to make the hinge components to improve the durability of the fold.
The internal screen is designed by Samsung Display, while the panel structure, material processing and lamination are designed by Apple, the report said. Taiwan's Hon Hai Technology Group has set up a production line where several dozen iPhone Fold devices will be initially produced for testing before mass production, the report notes.
However, advanced components and design work resulted in huge consumer costs. Fubon Research analyst Arthur Liao said the OLED panel, hinges and lightweight internals will help push up the price of the iPhone Fold. He also said RAM prices rose 75% last year, and overall material costs could rise 5% to 7% in 2026 due to increased demand for chips, memory and storage.
