Other At what point is Price for the iPhone Fold/Ultra a deal breaker for you?

[Yourbigpalal83]

Heres the deal. I currently have the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPad Pro 11 inch M4, both in 256 Gigs. I bought them before the price increases, obviously, and i dident see that big of a change to warrant a trade in for the upgraded 17 pro max and M5 Versions.

However, i love the idea of the iPhone Fold/ Ultra, what ever its going to be called. Now, at 2000 dollars, thats a ton of money for me. I am far from wealthy but its worth saving up, plus getting a reduction with trade in from both devices to offset the cost by hopefully at least 800-1000 dollars as both my current devices are in mint condition. No scratches or cracked screen, nothing. My devices live with screen protectors the moment they leave the box and cases on them (My iPad Pro lives on its Magic Keyboard).

But with the recent price increases, it makes me wonder at what point does it no longer make any sense to buy the iPhone Fold/Ultra even with trade in value?? For me, if it STARTS at 2499 or upwards with only 256 gigs in it, thats a deal breaker for me.

Now, yes i know alot of you dont want to buy a foldable iphone, espically with trade offs like no FaceID, No Magsafe native in the device (rumored) and unlikely to have Apple Pencil support when unfolded. Thats all understandable. I'm not expecting that stuff...but if we are getting basically a watered down iPad mini OLED crammed into a foldable format with none of its features (yes i dont expect the new iPad Mini to have FaceID).... for something twice the price....is it still worth it?

Whats your deal breaker point?

 

[turbineseaplane]

I can't fathom anything beyond about $1200 for these sorts of things, which is why I know I'm out to begin with.

 

[3Rock]

I sold my iPad mini 6 and would like another one, but since the Fold/Ultra is coming out, I’m looking at that one very closely. If I bought a iPad mini 8 with cellular and another iPhone Pro, the cost would be fairly close to the iPhone fold/ultra. But I would not be willing to pay more than $2400 worth. And definitely get the Apple warranty. Sell my iPhone Air would offset the price just a little bit. Which is helpful.

 

[JPack]

This probably isn't limited to Ultra as all major Apple computing products received a $100 to $200 increase. The Ultra has 12/256GB, so the increase should be limited to $200.

If +$200 is a deal breaker, then most other new iPhones would be in jeopardy.

 

[ElPaso]

Heres the deal. I currently have the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the iPad Pro 11 inch M4, both in 256 Gigs. I bought them before the price increases, obviously, and i dident see that big of a change to warrant a trade in for the upgraded 17 pro max and M5 Versions.

However, i love the idea of the iPhone Fold/ Ultra, what ever its going to be called. Now, at 2000 dollars, thats a ton of money for me. I am far from wealthy but its worth saving up, plus getting a reduction with trade in from both devices to offset the cost by hopefully at least 800-1000 dollars as both my current devices are in mint condition. No scratches or cracked screen, nothing. My devices live with screen protectors the moment they leave the box and cases on them (My iPad Pro lives on its Magic Keyboard).

But with the recent price increases, it makes me wonder at what point does it no longer make any sense to buy the iPhone Fold/Ultra even with trade in value?? For me, if it STARTS at 2499 or upwards with only 256 gigs in it, thats a deal breaker for me.

Now, yes i know alot of you dont want to buy a foldable iphone, espically with trade offs like no FaceID, No Magsafe native in the device (rumored) and unlikely to have Apple Pencil support when unfolded. Thats all understandable. I'm not expecting that stuff...but if we are getting basically a watered down iPad mini OLED crammed into a foldable format with none of its features (yes i dont expect the new iPad Mini to have FaceID).... for something twice the price....is it still worth it?

Whats your deal breaker point?

My deal breaker point would have to be $900. Lol that means I'll never own one fer sure -- but my last Android phone was a Motorola RAZR 2023, a folder which cost me $599, that I used for 2-1/2 years. The quality of the device was very, very good - the folding mechanism and the screen were both bulletproof - so I know a high quality folder can be made inexpensively. Also, with the price of the high-quality 16e and 17e (I forget - $699?) and the very high quality MacBook Neo ($599, original price) I know Apple can sell less expensive, but awesome machines.

So, I figure that a $2000 folder from Apple would be largely inflated in price beyond what is demonstratively needed. It could probably be sold, with a nice profit for the company, at a grand. So it ain't for me - unless its under 9.

 

[Daveydawg]

North of 2000, which it sounds like it will be… I mean, if it’s 2300 for a 256gb model, I am all the way out. I’ll use my air and grab the mythical oled iPad mini with no annoying crease down the middle.

 

[ClaraStahlbaum]

$2000 is way, way too much for a phone. Prices have inflated outrageously.

 

[poorcody]

For me it's probably about $3000. I'm expecting the utility of the larger screen to add a lot of value to me, especially combined with the fact I keep using the phone for more and more things over time. At that high price though, I won't upgrade it as much. That's sort of the compromise I make.

North of that, even if I wanted to pay more, since it's always in my pocket and traveling along, I think I would worry too much about it being dropped, lost, stolen or otherwise broken. I find that with my MacBook Pro -- the only reason I don't always travel with it is because I worry about it more.

 

[shady16]

I can't fathom anything beyond about $1200 for these sorts of things, which is why I know I'm out to begin with.

then all the pros are out for you too. with the rumoured price increases the 18 pro is looking to be 1400 and the pro max 1500

 

[Andeddu]

I can't fathom anything beyond about $1200 for these sorts of things, which is why I know I'm out to begin with.

At that price, I’d buy 2!

I am guessing it’ll be considerably north of $2000, possibly $2500 if we’re lucky.

The issue is the RAM shortages are making even mediocre tech massively overpriced. The present lineup is an absolute bargain at its current price point. I’d even consider picking up an Air or another 17 Pro as a spare as I believe we’ll be seeing a $300-400 price hike going forward.

 

[anthonymoody]

It's going to retail from $2000 and up. No way Apple prices under Samsung.

For my part, if I decide to switch back, the price won't stop me. I'll sell my Fold 7 and iPad mini to help offset whatever the final tally is. And I'll for sure do either iUP or AT&T payment plan. Interest free can't be passed up.

 

[eltoslightfoot]

I can't fathom anything beyond about $1200 for these sorts of things, which is why I know I'm out to begin with.

Exactly. I went with a 17e when I needed a phone. $599 free and clear. I bet that iPhone Fold is like $2k. I could buy almost four of my phone for that price. Or my phone, the lowest iPad Air, and a Macbook Neo instead of that one device. Crazy.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Exactly. I went with a 17e when I needed a phone. $599 free and clear. I bet that iPhone Fold is like $2k. I could buy almost four of my phone for that price. Or my phone, the lowest iPad Air, and a Macbook Neo instead of that one device. Crazy.

Agreed.

Given how expensive "life" has gotten, my desire for "cool/fun" tech things (like a very expensive foldable phone/pad thing) is basically zero.

Maybe if I had a need it was solving?

I not only don't want my iPhone & iPad in one device, I actively prefer them as separate devices.

Should be fun to see how the uptake is though!

 

[cubbie5150]

^^^ Basically me...
The joy I got from nerding out on tech is gone; lots of reasons for it, but fundamentally, it all just feels so gross to me now.

Anyway, I bought a iPhone 17 Pro (have had it for about a week & a half) and this is much, much more than what I need/want. I talked myself into it as my last big'ish tech purchase for some time. Barring mishap, I'll be sitting things out from now through 2027 at least.

 

[Le_Chiffre]

To most price will be a dealbreaker.

Personally I’m waiting on the iPhone Air 2 so not really interested in foldables from any oem.

Having said that, I believe Apple will dominate the foldables sector this year, if they actually release one.

if Apple does release a foldable, I expect a crater in the profits of the last remaining Android oems that make flagship phones.

Some might not even survive by 2028 due to massive increases in ssd and memory prices + iPhone foldable.

The smartphone market will consolidate further, the writing is on the wall. 😊

 

[Macdctr]

Since I collect iPhones, I will be getting the Ultra/fold in the highest storage configuration and leave this iPhone inside it’s original packaging sealed and untouched to be placed next to my original 16GB 2G iPhone and my two Silver and Space Grey iPhone X on display so price does not matter here.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I don't live on my phone like so many here seem to do. As such, I really have no desire to spend $2K+ on a phone that won't see much action day to day. If I want a bigger screen than my iPhone Air, I have my 11" Nano iPad and 13" Nano iPad which I don't see this new phone topping in regards to screen quality, RAM, and ability.

 

[JUCJ85]

I feel like a device that costs that much with only 256gb of storage is not worth it, and I’m not a fan of the whole foldable phones but even if I was I wouldn’t by it for that price with that storage not when I spent the near $2k for my 2TB 17 Pro Max and I’m nowhere near wealthy, just lucky I can afford the monthly plans on these devices

 

[TracerAnalog]

I don't know yet what price would put me off from buying it. I'll probably buy it, try it, and only keep it if I absolutely love it, especially if it is over $1999. It has to be flawless.

Such an expensive mobile device also needs AppleCare+ (it will be prohibitively expensive to repair) so there's that too.

Rationally I shouldn't even consider this thing. Sigh.

 

[Luftkopf]

I’m on a six-year cycle. My current phone is an iPhone12 Pro from 2020. I do plan to replace it this year with either an 18 Pro or an Ultra, depending on what the Ultra turns out to be. I’ve replaced the battery twice, and the second one is now down to 84%. The storage needs to be updated, and while it’s acceptable for now, it’s just not as zippy as it used to be. It doesn’t seem likely to make another three years, so I’d say that now (2026) is the time. The previous phone was an iPhone 7, so also not a quick upgrade.

I generally have a long-run policy. My desktop is a 2025 Studio, but the previous one was a 2014 Skylake iMac. I’m mid-cycle on my MacBook Pro: it’s an M1 Max, a 2021 model. I presume I’ll upgrade it sometime in late 2027 or early 2028 with M7 generation equipment.

My wife is on an iPhone 11, doesn’t particularly plan to update it although I will get her to do it once software updates (security at least) stop.

I went from a 2012 11” i7 MacBook Air to a 2023 M3 Pro MacBook Pro, and don’t expect to upgrade until at least the M10.

My wife went from a Pixel 4a to an iPhone 11 because her Pixel died and, for her, using a phone we already had sitting around was preferable to buying a new phone.

^^^ Basically me...
The joy I got from nerding out on tech is gone; lots of reasons for it, but fundamentally, it all just feels so gross to me now.

Anyway, I bought a iPhone 17 Pro (have had it for about a week & a half) and this is much, much more than what I need/want. I talked myself into it as my last big'ish tech purchase for some time. Barring mishap, I'll be sitting things out from now through 2027 at least.

I do still enjoy nerding out on tech, I just can’t afford to buy any. I will keep reading up about everything, and enjoy what I’ve got.

And scheme about how to upgrade my iPad Air 2

 

[ofarlig]

Anything up to $3k in the US (higher tax over here in Europe) would probably be an instant buy from me, since we’re talking a maximum “once per year purchase” the price difference from a slab isn’t really significant in my eyes up to that point.

 

[3Rock]

I find myself at my older age either waiting in the doctors or dentist lounge for myself or taking other people and I find it will be very nice to have a larger screen for those waiting times. It will be an almost instant buy for me. 👍

 

[The Game 161]

no more than 2500 for iphone ultra. depends on the storage options. i'm hoping 1TB can be had for 2500 lets see.

 

[poorcody]

I find myself at my older age either waiting in the doctors or dentist lounge for myself or taking other people and I find it will be very nice to have a larger screen for those waiting times. It will be an almost instant buy for me. 👍

Exactly! The idea I will be able to catch up on reading anywhere is a real selling point for me.

 

[Sami13496]

The price isn’t really the issue for me. The problem is that I see foldable phones as a gimmick. They don’t solve any real problem; they just let you fold your phone, which is apparently something some people want. I simply don’t see the value in it.

More generally, I’ve never been willing to spend more than about €800 on a smartphone. I keep my iPhones for years, at least until they no longer support the latest iOS version or become too slow to use comfortably.

Of course, it’s none of my business how other people spend their money, but since you asked, I’ll explain my reasoning. In my opinion, people spend absolutely ridiculous amounts of money on consumer tech these days.

That said, even if we assume that this contraption of a folding concept were genuinely useful instead of just a gimmick, my personal limit would still be around €400, roughly half the price of a regular iPhone. My reasoning is simple: the folding mechanism would probably wear out or break about twice as fast as a conventional phone.