Apple's first foldable iPhone could cost more than $3,000

Apple's first foldable iPhone could cost more than US$3,000 in its highest-end configuration, making it by far the company's most expensive smartphone yet.

A concept render of a rumored foldable iPhone, often referred to as the "iPhone Fold" or "iPhone Ultra"

Taiwanese market research firm TrendForce estimates the long-awaited foldable, tentatively called the iPhone 18 Fold, will start at $2,099-2,299.

Top-end configurations could exceed $3,000, according to the firm's latest smartphone industry report, released Sept. 3 ahead of Apple's launch event Wednesday.

Even the bottom of that range would put the foldable well above Apple's existing smartphones. The 17 Pro Max, currently the company's most expensive conventional iPhone, starts at $1,199 in the U.S.

Separate leaked pricing circulating ahead of the launch also points to the foldable crossing the $3,000 mark at higher storage capacities.

An Australian user on X claimed pricing obtained from a contact at telecom operator Vodafone Australia showed the device starting at AU$3,699 (US$2,660) for 256 GB, rising to AU$4,199 for 512 GB and AU$4,699 for 1 TB. The figures, reported by tech site Tom's Guide, have not been confirmed by Vodafone Australia or Apple.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has separately estimated that the foldable could start at around $2,000.

TrendForce expects the Fold, also widely rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, to feature a 5.5-inch outer OLED display and a 7.8-inch foldable inner screen with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The phone is also expected to use Apple's new A20 Pro processor, manufactured using TSMC's 2-nanometer process, and come with 12 GB of RAM.

Reducing the crease in the folding display is expected to be one of its key technological features. Apple is also projected to make some hardware trade-offs to keep the device thin, including using a fingerprint sensor instead of facial recognition and equipping it with two rear cameras.

The foldable is expected to be unveiled alongside the 18 Pro and Pro Max at Apple's event this week. The standard 18 and other models are expected to follow in the first quarter of 2027 as the company changes its traditional annual launch schedule.

Initial supplies of the foldable could be limited. TrendForce expects relatively late shipments and constrained early production and inventory.

The potentially record price comes as Apple faces sharply higher component costs, particularly for memory.

TrendForce expects prices for Apple's new models to rise by around 10-20%, although Apple could absorb some of the additional costs to protect its market share amid cautious consumer spending. The 18 Pro is projected to cost $1,099-1,199, while the Pro Max could be priced at $1,319-1,439.