Apple’s first foldable iPhone could cost over twice as much as iPhone 17 Pro Max

In a July 5 post on X, Kuo said the foldable device is likely to be unveiled alongside the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in September, but shipments would begin about a month later, similar to the rollout of the iPhone X in 2017.

Kuo, an analyst at financial services group TF International Securities known for his supply chain sources in Asia, said the foldable iPhone would carry a price tag of "roughly $2,300–$2,500."

If accurate, the starting price would be more than double that of Apple's current flagship, the 17 Pro Max, the world's second best-selling smartphone in the first quarter of 2026, which starts at $1,199 for the 256GB model.

A a concept render of the Apple's foldable phone iPhone Ultra. Photo from X

Despite the premium price, Kuo expects demand to remain strong.

He predicted the device would sell out shortly after pre-orders open, with delivery wait times extending to four to six weeks or longer and remaining at that level through the end of 2026.

Analysts remain divided over the launch timeline. Some expect the foldable iPhone to ship on schedule, while others believe availability could be delayed beyond its September unveiling. Most recent reports, however, point to a September announcement, as reported by tech site Mashable.

Separately, Nikkei Asia reported earlier that Apple has increased its production target for the foldable iPhone to around 10 million units, up from earlier estimates of 7 million to 8 million.

It said Apple plans to produce another 70 million units of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, bringing total orders for new iPhone models launching in the second half of 2026 to about 80 million units.

Combined with other iPhone models, Apple's total production orders for 2026 are expected to reach around 220 million units, according to the report.