Apple's most expensive iPhone will only compete against the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra

Two reports (1, 2) on one of Taiwan's largest news portals, the United Daily News Group (UDN), are currently causing a stir among Apple fans. According to these reports, the first foldable iPhone, potentially launching as the iPhone Ultra, will not only be very expensive but will also hit the market much later than previously expected. Reports of delays in the iPhone Fold development have been circulating for months, but the latest indications from the supply chain now suggest a delay of at least four months.

Apple's foldable device is not expected to launch until early 2027, and definitely not alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September, although an announcement at the September event is likely. Instead, the iPhone Ultra will probably go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra, expected in January or February 2027, and set a new price record for iPhones. The base model is expected to cost around $2,000, while the top-of-the-line model with more storage is likely to retail for around $2,200.

This would make the iPhone Fold the most expensive iPhone ever. For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max currently costs $1,199 in the US in its base configuration, meaning the iPhone Fold would be 66% more expensive. A simple calculation reveals that if we add that 66% to the MSRP of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in Germany, we arrive at a price of at least €2,400 for the iPhone Fold in Europe. Nevertheless, a  market research institute (upon inquiry by the UDN) expects Apple to capture 30% of the foldable market and sell 11 million units by 2027. Whether these indications from the supply chain will prove true remains to be seen and are yet to be officially confirmed.