That’s according to a research note from Tim Long to investors. If the foldable iPhone starts at $2,299, that would be nearly double the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199.

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A folding iPhone concept. Photo: 9to5mac

Tim Long made this estimate after a recent trip to Asia, where his team met with hardware component manufacturers.

He said the supply chain is discussing more about a foldable iPhone model that could launch in late 2026 or early 2027. However, he believes the product's high price tag could limit sales.

Previously, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted that the first foldable iPhone would cost between $2,000 and $2,500. This shows that many experts agree that the foldable iPhone will cost up to thousands of dollars.

However, Kuo believes that the device could still attract strong demand, as long as the product quality meets expectations. For example, if Apple could launch a foldable iPhone without a crease on the screen, it would be a major breakthrough.

According to Kuo, Apple's first foldable iPhone could feature a 7.8-inch unfolded display, a 5.5-inch external display, a dual-lens rear camera system, a single-lens front camera, a Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, and a high-density battery that provides long battery life.

He predicts the device will be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded and between 9mm and 9.5mm when folded. Kuo also believes the device will have a titanium outer shell, but the hinge will use a mixture of titanium and stainless steel.

The analyst also said that the foldable iPhone will begin mass production in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Along with the forecast for the launch timeline of Apple's foldable screen device, analyst Jeff Pu also said that mass production of Apple's foldable devices is expected to begin in the second half of 2026.

Pu predicts a weak iPhone sales outlook in 2025, as Apple delays some personalized Siri features until next year. However, he believes foldable devices will boost Foxconn's business in 2026.

With at least a year and a half until its launch, the price of the foldable iPhone is still just a guess and could change over time.

However, if Apple can deliver a groundbreaking design with superior screen quality and folding mechanism, the high price may still not reduce the appeal of this product.

See the foldable iPhone concept with Touch ID design. (Source: ConceptsiPhone)

(According to Macrumors, 9to5mac)

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