iPhone Foldable: Mass Production Begins, Price $2400 Plus
Apple's first foldable smartphone is scheduled for next autumn. There is now news from production and pricing.
A foldable, not from Apple here.
(Image: ra2 studio / Shutterstock.com)
Apple's first foldable phone is apparently close to entering production. This is reported by the Taiwanese newspaper United Daily News (UDN). Currently, the phase of Engineering Validation Tests (EVT) is underway, along with preparations for mass production. Apple and its suppliers have now succeeded in achieving the desired crease-free display when unfolded. This is intended to make the iPhone foldable the first "crease-free foldable". Technically, this is a complex undertaking that depends on a special hinge. The company uses a special metal alloy for this made of liquid metal.
New iPhone Price High
In addition to reports from the supply chain, there are also new speculations about Apple's planned pricing of the devices. These come from the analyst firm Fubon Research in Hong Kong. In a new report to investors, it is stated that Apple plans a starting price of $2399. It is already considered certain that the iPhone foldable will be Apple's most expensive iPhone ever. In Europe, a price of over 2500 euros is likely to be reached. Currently, a fully equipped iPhone 17 Pro Max already costs 2449 Euros with 2 TB; the 1 TB model, up to the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the top end, costs 1949 Euros.
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Fubon is otherwise optimistic regarding the foldable iPhone: the foldable is expected to account for up to 7 percent of all Apple smartphones. This means at least 5.4 million units sold in 2026 and 15.4 million units over the sales cycle – likely until autumn 2027 – are expected. The entire smartphone market hopes that Apple will provide a boost in the foldable device sector. This grew strongly at the beginning but is currently considered rather mixed. Apple could make the segment a mass business. However, the company has recently had problems getting its latest form factor, the ultra-thin Air, to customers.
Panel from Samsung with Special Technology
Meanwhile, reports from the supply chain indicate that Apple is relying on a combination of Samsung technology and its processes for the iPhone foldable. While the inner screen comes "exclusively" from the South Koreans, according to UDN, it has its panel structure, material processing, and lamination developed by Apple itself.
The hinge and bearing were developed by Apple together with suppliers SZS and Amphenol. The company hopes to have created a particularly durable foldable with this. The devices are expected to be launched in September 2026.
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