Apple is gearing up for its September 9 event, and the biggest headline isn’t just a new form factor—it’s the price tag attached to it. Supply chain insights from Taiwanese research firm TrendForce reveal that Apple’s first foldable smartphone, widely expected to carry the “iPhone Ultra” nameplate, could start as high as $2,099 to $2,299 in the United States.
That starting point comfortably eclipses existing high-end devices like the iPhone Pro Max series. Furthermore, Chinese supply chain leaks suggest that maxed-out configurations featuring 2TB of internal storage could cross 20,000 RMB. If true, this could push the price point past $2,900 or even $3,000 once local taxes land.
Rising memory costs push overall hardware prices higher
The eye-watering estimates aren’t just about Apple’s luxury positioning. These broader supply chain pressures are pushing hardware costs up across the entire industry. TrendForce reports that the cost of a standard 256GB storage module has jumped nearly 400% compared to last year, driving overall component bills up by 10% to 20% across all upcoming smartphone models (via Apple Insider).
Apple will likely absorb a portion of these manufacturing costs to protect its market share. However, the foldable tier remains expensive to produce. As a result, industry analysts estimate that foldable devices as a whole will represent only about 2% of the global smartphone market throughout 2026. All these factors will keep the iPhone Ultra firmly in ultra-premium territory.
High-end specs for Apple’s first foldable hardware
For buyers willing to spend laptop money on a handheld device, the rumored feature list offers serious muscle. According to reports, the book-style foldable will feature a 5.5-inch outer display paired with a flexible 7.8-inch inner OLED panel boasting a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate.
Underneath the hood, the device is expected to run on Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm manufacturing process, backed by 12GB of RAM. The camera array includes a 24-megapixel front shooter alongside dual 48-megapixel rear wide and ultra-wide sensors. To maintain a slim profile, Apple is reportedly swapping Face ID for a side-mounted Touch ID sensor. Lastly, as expected, the handset will retain full MagSafe wireless charging compatibility.
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