Apple’s foldable iPhone to cost $2,000-plus, lease for $60-$70 a month

Apple ↗ 0.15% is preparing to launch its most expensive iPhone ever this September — a foldable device expected to carry the iPhone Ultra name and a price tag exceeding $2,000, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The device will be among the first major products supported by the company's recently launched Apple Upgrade leasing program, potentially softening the sticker shock with monthly payments between $60 and $70.fonearena+1

A New Price Ceiling for iPhone

The foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max during Apple's traditional September event. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has estimated the device could cost as much as $2,500 depending on configuration, which would make it the priciest iPhone Apple has ever released. Gurman's reporting places the figure at "$2,000-plus," suggesting the final price will depend on storage and other options.vietnamnet+2

Rising component costs are a key driver. The device is expected to use TSMC's 2-nanometer process for its processor, with production costs estimated at more than 20 percent higher than previous-generation chips. Memory prices have also surged due to demand from AI data centers and cloud infrastructure. The foldable's flexible OLED panels, durable hinge mechanisms, and thinner batteries further push manufacturing expenses higher.macworld+1

Apple Upgrade Changes the Math

Apple launched its Upgrade leasing program on July 28 in partnership with Klarna ↗ 1.41%, replacing the older iPhone Upgrade Program. The new program offers 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month options for Mac and iPad, with iPhones starting at $17.99 per month.macrumors+2

Gurman reported that customers will be able to lease the foldable iPhone through Apple Upgrade rather than paying the full amount upfront, at an estimated $60 to $70 per month on a 24-month term. At lease end, customers can upgrade to a newer model, return the device, or pay the remaining balance to keep it.x+2

Form Factor Takes Shape

The iPhone Ultra is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display — dimensions matching Samsung's recently released Galaxy Z Fold 8. The inner screen would provide an iPad mini-like experience that folds to fit in a pocket, according to reviewers who have compared the Samsung device's form factor to Apple's rumored specifications.9to5mac

Apple's foldable remains on track for a September launch, with mass production already underway according to reports from earlier this summer.macrumors+1