Apple’s first foldable might hurt your wallet

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If you’ve been dreaming about Apple’s first foldable iPhone, it might be time to start a dedicated savings account or at least prepare your credit card. 

According to a new report from Fubon Research analyst Arthur Liao, Apple’s long-rumored folding iPhone could launch with a jaw-dropping price tag of around $2,399. 

That’s not a typo, that’s basically a MacBook wearing a phone costume.

This new estimate is noticeably higher than earlier rumors, which had Apple’s foldable landing somewhere between a still-painful $1,800 and $2,100. 

So what happened? Apparently, hinge engineering is expensive, who knew? 

Fubon’s analysis points to rising costs across the board, including ultra-fancy foldable displays, lightweight materials, and specialized hinge parts that won’t give up after five aggressive folds.

The timing is also interesting. Fubon predicts global smartphone shipments might decline in 2026, meaning people are buying fewer phones overall. 

So instead of chasing volume, Apple could do what Apple does best: sell fewer devices at eye-watering prices and still make enough money to construct several small space programs.

If the foldable iPhone actually launches around 2026 or 2027 (as many analysts expect), Apple may give it a flashy name like “iPhone Ultra Fold” or “iPhone Fold Pro.” 

And while it might look like a phone, this thing is being positioned more like a portable computer, the kind that could potentially replace your tablet or even a lightweight laptop.

At $2,399, this wouldn’t just be a fancy gadget for texting and doomscrolling. It could be Apple’s way of blurring the line between phone, tablet, and productivity machine. 

And this isn’t just an “Apple thing,” either. If Apple drops a foldable at this price, competitors like Samsung and Google might feel oddly validated. 

Suddenly, charging $1,900 for a foldable doesn’t seem that crazy, it just seems comparatively reasonable, which is a very dangerous place to be in tech.

For regular people? This means adjusting expectations. If you were hoping Apple’s first foldable would be a quirky, slightly expensive experiment, nope. 

This looks more like a luxury device aimed at people who routinely describe purchases as “an investment.”

Now, it’s a waiting game. If Apple stays on schedule, expect leaks, dummy models, and blurry factory photos in the next couple of years.