Apple iPhone fold might cost $400 more than the Samsung Galaxy Fold7, claims intriguing analyst report

Apple's foldable iPhone, which the internet has named the "iPhone Fold", has been the subject of a surfeit of leaks and rumors in the past few years. Samsung's first foldable, the Galaxy Fold, arrived six years ago, followed by a plethora of foldable Androids from almost every single smartphone brand on Earth.

Apple, however, has always preferred playing it slow when it comes to adoption of newer technologies. While it can be argued that this strategy has worked well for Apple in the past, the present situation appears to be wildly different. The Cupertino giant fell behind the software behemoths in AI adoption, leading to widespread mockery and an embarrassing state of affairs inside Apple's AI department.

Apple's first foldable - the next big thing from Cupertino?

The company's upcoming foldable iPhone will be one of the most highly awaited gadgets to ever come out of Cupertino, and pricing will most likely be a crucial factor in determining its success. According to Fubon Research analyst Arthur Liao, the iPhone Fold might be as expensive as two iPhone 17 Pros combined, or roughly $2,399.

Further, the report adds that the rising cost of components, compounded by an expected decline of iPhone sales, will force Apple into pricing its first foldable at quite a premium. The company has previously been rumored to be using premium material for the hinge and display assembly, which increases the product's BoM (Bill of Materials) as well. The exact specifications expected to grace the iPhone Fold are as follows:

• 5.5-inch outer display, 7.8-inch inner display
• Titanium and aluminum build
• Barely visible crease along the fold line
• Hole-punch camera in the outer display, under-display camera in the inner display
• Rear camera with wide and ultra-wide lenses. No telephoto.
• A20 SoC

Apple's hardware design team, despite occasional hiccups in the past, has been doing an excellent job in the past few years. There is no doubt that the iPhone Fold, if and when it comes out, will impress visually, but whether or not Apple's software will make use of the additional screen real estate will justify the shocking price remains to be seen. For reference, the latest Galaxy Fold7 carries a price tag of $1,999 (currently $1,599 on Amazon).