Vodafone leak reveals pricing for Apple’s first foldable iPhone

Apple ↗ 0.93% is six days away from what could be its most consequential product launch in years. The company's "Surprise and Shine" event, confirmed for Wednesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the company's first foldable smartphone, widely rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra.zdnet+2

The event will mark the first major product unveiling under new CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook on September 1 after a succession plan announced in April.apple+1

Foldable iPhone Pricing Leaks

Vodafone Australia appears to have jumped the gun, listing three configurations for the iPhone Ultra: 256 GB at AUD 3,699, 512 GB at AUD 4,199, and 1 TB at AUD 4,699. Accounting for the typical premium on Australian pricing, analysts estimate U.S. prices could fall between roughly $2,000 and $2,500 for the base model, with some estimates reaching higher. The device is expected to feature a book-style foldable design with a 7.8-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, and an A20 Pro chip.mobidevices+2

IDC's Nabila Popal, senior research director of the Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, said Apple's entry into the foldable market "has fundamentally altered the market's trajectory," forecasting the company will ship more than 17 million foldable iPhones by 2027 and capture roughly 40 percent of the global foldables market. According to Bloomberg, IDC expects Apple to deliver more than 10 million foldable shipments in its first year alone.appleworld+1

Pro Lineup Changes and Pre-Orders

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature Apple's A20 Pro chip built on TSMC's Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited ↗ 2.95% 2nm process, a triple 48MP camera system, and a notably smaller Dynamic Island. A new "Dark Cherry" finish is tipped to replace the popular Cosmic Orange colorway from the iPhone 17 Pro lineup.etnownews+1

Pre-orders are expected to open on Saturday, September 12, rather than the traditional Friday, with Forbes reporting that Apple is avoiding September 11 — the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The phones could go on sale as early as September 18.forbes

What Else to Expect

Beyond the iPhone lineup, Apple is also expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and new AirPods at the event. The standard iPhone 18 reportedly will not arrive until spring 2027. Apple will stream the event on its website, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube Alphabet Inc. ↗ 0.84%.macrumors+2