iPhone Fold price $2,000: why Apple's first foldable phone will be the most expensive in history

iPhone Fold? You know what's funny? We've been listening for six years to Apple will never make a foldable phone. Because they're a compromise. Because the technology isn't mature yet. Because the crease on the fold is ugly.

Six years.

And now, look at him, he will take the stage in the fall of 2026 John Ternus, who will succeed Tim Cook as CEO on September 1, 2026. He will utter the most worn Apple line in history: “And one more thing…”

This “one more thing” will be a foldable phone. It will probably be called iPhone 11 or iPhone 11Apple itself hasn't decided yet - which is like someone at Petrol still thinking about whether to go to Bled or Bohinj.

But let's not rush. We're not getting a single new iPhone in September 2026. We're getting threeAnd for the first time in history, Apple is playing a strategy that is so BMW-esque that it should win an award for cleverness.

Apple divides the year into two parts – as if we weren't tired enough

First, what will hurt the average customer the most. Apple is splitting the line iPhone 18 in two parts: the more expensive Pro and iPhone Fold models will arrive in the fall of 2026, while the cheaper iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will not arrive until the spring of 2027.

Translated into Slovenian: if you're an ordinary mortal expecting a new "regular" iPhone in September, like you've been getting every year for the past 18 years - forget it. Apple wants to focus all its attention on its three most expensive models in the fall: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the iPhone Fold, which will cost more than $2,000 (about 1,850 euros).

It's like if a restaurant removed the menu and served you only a tasting menu for 200 euros. Hungry? That's right.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: evolution, not revolution

Design: the same, just different

Don't be fooled by the internet. The design of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will resemble the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but there are some changes announced. The screens remain the same – 6.3 inches for Pro and 6.9 inches for Pro Max. Three-point “plateau” for cameras as well.

Another interesting thing: the new shade for the iPhone 18 Pro is called Dark Cherry. It replaces the Cosmic Orange from the iPhone 17 Pro. Other colors include Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver.

Yes, you read that right. Apple will drop the black color for the second year in a row. The classic of all classics. It's like Porsche stopped making the 911 in black. Unimaginable. And yet – here we are.

Dynamic Island is finally losing (a little) weight

We all wanted a smaller “pill” at the top of the screen. Rumors suggest that the Face ID “flood illuminator” will be moved below the screen of the iPhone 18 Pro. This will allow for a smaller Dynamic Island.

The Dynamic Island will be reduced by up to 35 percent compared to previous models. More screen space. Less distraction. Everyone happy.

That's not all. The display will feature LTPO+ technology, which will contribute to longer battery life. Translated: the phone will cry less for the charger at night.

A20 Pro chip: welcome to the nano world

This is where it gets serious. Apple will put a chip made by 2-nanometer processThe current A19 is 3-nanometer.

“The A20 chip could be up to 15 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than the A19 chip.”

The A20 chips will be up to 15 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient than the A19 chips. Apple will also use a new WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) technology, which will integrate RAM directly onto the same die as the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine.

Translated: faster, cooler, longer. If I'm a cynic – the same promises as every year. Maybe this time.

Adjustable aperture: a photographer in your pocket

This is perhaps the most interesting new feature. The main 48-megapixel Fusion camera on both iPhone 18 Pro models will have an adaptive aperture. This will allow users to control the amount of light that passes through the lens and reaches the sensor.

Remember when everyone was turning up their noses at Samsung's adaptive aperture on the Galaxy S9? Seven years later, Apple says: “This is revolutionary!” Some say Apple is late. Others say Apple is waiting until the technology actually works. Maybe they're both right.

A mechanical aperture will allow the user or a computerized photography system to dynamically adjust the amount of light entering the lens. This will improve low-light performance and prevent overexposure in bright conditions.

The front camera gets a 24-megapixel resolution. An upgrade from 18-megapixels. Your selfies will now be so sharp you might regret buying the phone.

C2 modem and satellite internet

Apple's next-generation C2 modem is expected in 2026. It will be more powerful than the current C1 and C1X. The C2 could support 5G mmWave connectivity. The C2 modem could also bring support for 5G satellite connectivity via the NR-NTN standard.

Translated: Your iPhone could be running full internet via satellite in the coming years. Apple is partnering with Amazon for this service. In April, Amazon acquired Globalstar, which until now provided satellite connectivity for the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Pocket Starlink, just without Elon. Sounds like a win-win.

Battery: everything for endurance

The iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery with a capacity of between 5,100 and 5,200 mAh. Together with the 2-nanometer chip, they predict up to 40 hours of battery life with mixed use.

Forty hours. If that's true, you could spend a weekend in Belgrade, Split, and Trieste without your phone ever seeing a charger. Naive? Probably. But hope is the last thing to die.

Price: surprisingly reasonable

Now, be careful. Apple is expected to keep the prices the same as the iPhone 17 Pro. That means a starting price of $1,099 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

In euros this means around 1,020 euros for Pro and 1,110 euros for Pro Max (Slovenian prices will of course be higher – probably around 1,299 and 1,449 euros). The 128 GB or 256 GB base models will likely remain at their current prices. However, Apple may increase the price of the 512 GB or 1 TB versions.

Apple not raising prices? Shocking. Almost as shocking as Mercedes not charging extra for air coolers that they could give away for free. Almost.

iPhone Fold: a $2,000 book gem

Now for the star of the season. Apple is finally – after six years of rumors – ready to make a foldable phone.

Book design with an iPad mini feel

The inner (unfolded) screen will measure 7.76 inches with a resolution of 2,713 x 1,920 pixels. The outer (folded) screen will measure 5.49 inches with a resolution of 2,088 x 1,422 pixels and an aspect ratio of 4:3.

yes, 4:3. Like an iPad mini. That means the phone will look like a mini tablet when unfolded, not like a long phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says this will be “the most significant redesign in iPhone history.”

And that ugly crease on the crease?

The 2026 foldable iPhone will have no visible crease. This is a problem that plagues most foldable devices on the market. Apple is said to be working on solving this problem “no matter the cost.” It has developed a “new material property” that is supposed to eliminate the crease. When the iPhone is unfolded, the crease is said to be “almost invisible.”

Apple, which does something “regardless of the price” – this is, by the way, the most expensive four-word phrase in modern technology.

Thinner than you expect

When folded, the phone will measure 9.4mm. That's comparable to the current iPhone Pro models. When unfolded, the internal body thins down to 4.7mm. That makes it one of the thinnest foldable smartphones.

Four point seven millimeters. This is so thin you'll be scared the first time you slip it into your pocket. A phone you can barely hold in your hand, like you're holding anything.

A battery that could start a car

The phone will feature the largest battery in an iPhone to date, ranging from 5,400 to 5,800 mAh. Apple is said to be using a dual battery system in each compartment of the foldable display.

This is literally the largest battery ever used in an iPhone. The motherboard will be located on the right side. The designers wanted to avoid the hassle of routing circuitry across the display. As a result, the left side is completely clean and devoid of physical buttons, with all the space dedicated to the display and battery assembly.

Translated: The buttons have been moved to the right side. All of you who have been pressing the volume on the left side for 18 years will had to retrain their fingers. This is not a defect, this is a feature. Or as they would say at Volkswagen: “The car, just with other buttons.”

Camera: no telephoto lens, dual 48-MP

The iPhone Fold will have a dual rear camera setup – two 48-megapixel lenses (main and ultra-wide). No telephoto lens. So Apple is prioritizing versatility over zoom.

This will be a bit of a pain for telephoto enthusiasts who are used to the Pro Max's 5x optical zoom. But there's clearly not enough room for everything on a foldable phone. They had to make a compromise somewhere.

Touch ID returns

The Touch ID sensor is integrated into the power button, providing enhanced security without compromising the device's slimness.

That Touch ID that Apple killed in 2017 is now coming back like Lazarus. Because even Apple admits that Face ID isn't the most practical when your phone is folded in half. Logic? Sometimes.

A20 Pro and 12GB RAM

The iPhone Fold will be powered by the next-generation A20 Pro chip built on a 2-nanometer process. The phone will have 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.

Twelve gigabytes of RAM in your phone. Remember when you had a 4GB laptop in 2010 and thought you had a rocket ship? Apple has packed three times as much into your phone as you had in your laptop back then.

Price: oh, Steve…

The foldable iPhone won't be cheap. Rumors suggest a starting price of over $2,000. This will be the most expensive iPhone in the 2026 lineup. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the price is expected to be between $2,000 and $2,500.

Two thousand dollars for the phone. That's about 1,850 to 2,300 euros. In Slovenia, this figure will probably be closer to 2,700 euros. For this price, you could buy a used Volkswagen Polo with a long history and 200,000 kilometers.

But Polo doesn't stack up. Point for Apple.

Conclusion: is this finally that year?

Let me tell you something you probably already know. Apple doesn't make revolutions. Apple improves on things that others are already making until they're good enough to sell as revolution. They do it with watches. They do it with headphones. They'll do it with smart rings (well, not yet, but you'll see).

And now they're doing it with foldable phones. Samsung launched its first Galaxy Fold in 2019. Apple needs seven yearsto come to market. But – and here's the trick – when Apple finally does, it usually doesn't come with one half of a product. It comes with a product that works. At least most of the time. And that's going to be the iPhone Fold.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be solid evolutionary upgrades. 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, adjustable aperture, 24MP front camera, smaller Dynamic Island, 5,100–5,200 mAh battery and dark cherry colorThe price remains $1,099 for Pro and $1,199 for the Pro MaxThis is actually reasonable in light of a 2-nanometer chip.

The real center of attention, however, will be the iPhone Fold (or Ultra – Apple's choice). 7.76-inch internal display, 5.49-inch external, 4.7 mm thin open, 5,800mAh battery, without visible wrinkles, Touch ID, 12 GB of RAM. All this for $2,000 to $2,500.

Does that justify the price? Honestly? Probably not. Will the lines at Apple Stores still be as long as they were in 2007? One hundred percent. Because Apple doesn't sell phones. Apple sells an idea, that you have something in your pocket that others don't. And in September 2026, it will no longer be just an empty marketing mask. After six years of waiting, Apple will finally have physical product, which other phones simply can't replicate.

Some may say that Samsung has been doing this for years. Apple will set a new benchmark with its seamless display, book-style design and 4.7mm thinness.

Your wallet will be very, very sorry in the fall of 2026. But at least your selfies will look great.