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I wonder how it will affect the upgrade cycle. $2k is a hefty lift.
Probably a tik-tok schedule of incremental and transformative changes alternatively.

I’m curious how it changes or impacts the existing iPhone upgrade subscriptions particularly useful for the target audience of foldable such as devs and creative professionals.
 
I don’t have any interest in a foldable iPhone, but I would like to where Apple takes foldables. I for one will continue to purchase the Pro Max as long as Apple continues to release them with upgraded cameras and chips.
 
The price will be double in Australia and definitely a hard pass.
I still think this year's Air variant is template for the the fold.
 
BREAKING: Apple’s Foldable iPhone Will Fold Your Wallet in Half Too

By an Apple Apologist Who Just Mortgaged Their House for a Preorder


Cupertino, CA — In a bold move, Apple has announced its next revolution in extracting money from your bank account mobile technology: the foldable iPhone. Officially dubbed the iPhone Flex (Your Budget), it promises to bend in half—just like your financial stability.

“People have been begging for innovation,” said Apple’s VP of Bending Physics, Chad Curve. “So we took the iPhone, doubled it over, and quadrupled the price. You're welcome.”

Starting at $2,000, the iPhone Flex costs more than a MacBook Pro, a vacation to Italy, or your dignity. But don’t worry—it does come in four colors you’ll immediately cover with a $99 FineWoven Pro case.


Features Nobody Asked For, But Will Defend Online​

  • OLED Infinity Flex Display that folds with all the grace of a wet tortilla
  • “Crease OS”: A new version of iOS 19 that’s fully optimized to utilize a new Dynamic Isthmus and pretend the crease doesn’t exist
  • Triple Hinge Engineered by NASA (probably) for that perfectly satisfying crackling sound
  • AppleCare+ Fold Edition, just $899/year in case your $2,000 phone decides to become two $1,000 halves

Financing Options Include:​

  • Selling a kidney (or a gently used Tesla)
  • Taking out a second mortgage through Goldman Sachs: “It’s just 64 easy payments of $31.25!”
  • Trade-in your current iPhone 16 Pro Max for a $147 credit and a participation trophy

Competitive Landscape​

Sure, Samsung’s been making foldables for years, but Apple waited until the tech matured (and by “matured” we mean “cost more”). While Galaxy Fold users are still figuring out how to open theirs without causing a pixel implosion, Apple fans are preparing to camp outside stores to experience the most expensive phone ever made.


Apple’s Official Statement:​

“At Apple, we don’t follow trends—we perfect them. Then we price them as if they’re plated in unicorn tears.”


Critics may laugh, but let’s be honest—you’re still going to buy one. Because deep down, you need that dopamine hit from unfolding your phone like it’s a futuristic pop tart. Just don’t drop it—unless you’ve already emotionally detached from money.

Stay tuned for next year’s model: the iPhone Origami Pro Max Ultra. It folds twice. So does your credit score.
AI is lame - really... it takes away all the thinking.
 
AI is lame - really... it takes away all the thinking.
I’m okay with ChatGPT and in that I can bounce ideas off it, and get a first draft analysis of things, but that’s when I go to it. I am choosing to engage with it.

Gemini, which cannot be disabled in modern Android anymore, always watches and trains off your data. You can turn off the ability to interact with it, but it still trains on your data and there’s nothing you can do about it. It incredibly intrusive and it’s a big part of why I changed my mind on switching to Android.
 
I am sure some will want it..personally think it’s a pointless device. I dont want to have to fold and unfold a phone every time I use it. Also I want something that’s going to fit in my pocket. Not need a bag to carry it
but you won’t. Only when you want the full form factor will you unfold it. Otherwise it’ll be just like a regular phone.
 
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I’m excited about this. Essentially it’s an iPad mini that folds to become a regular phone. Two in one. Nice.

I’m really eager to know how Apple implements the Phone mode (folded). It will be quite a bit shorter than a regular phone when folded, so will it only run iPad apps (they can handle the weird form factor)? iPhone apps wouldn’t really fit that form factor. I’m assuming it’s iPadOS all the way, folded or unfolded. How will Apple handle the transition from folded to unfolded? I think that could be the slickest part.

“We’re releasing an all new phone today… and an all new tablet. A phone… a tablet. Are you getting it? These are not separate devices, it’s one device!” — Tim Cook probably.

I hope the rumors about the lack of a crease pan out. That would be quite a feat.
 
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A $1799 price tag will be good but I think there is a high probability that Apple will go for $1999. Definitely expecting it to be thicker and have worse camera specifications than the Fold 7. I would like to see a telephoto lens but don't know whether it will happen.
 
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In Essence you get both an iPhone and an iPad Mini for that single price. Which is one reason why, as I see it, Apple has finally given the iPad some true Mac like capabilities (iPadOS 26) .. to keep the iPhone Fold from cutting into iPad sales.
 
For those whose phone is their live-on-it primary device, I can see the appeal, for sure. For those of us like me who are light phone users, it would be harder to justify. Even though I won't buy one I'm still interested in following its development to see what Apple comes up with in the foldable space.
Oddly, I suspect one market for a foldable iPhone may be those who really really want a small iPhone - when folded, it sounds like the height and width may be in the ballpark of an iPhone 13 mini, with the thickness being perhaps 50% more. Most of the people that really want an iPhone mini are concerned about the height and width, not so much the thickness. Having it fold open into a tiny iPad would just be a bonus.

I could see the appeal once it gets to say the third release of a foldable iPhone from Apple, once they have all the kinks worked out (physics has a lot to say about making a truly reliable folding screen with no seam/bump). So, yeah, I'll be interested to follow the developments too. But I'll be happy with my 16 Pro for many years to come.
 
That is the ********* render i've ever seen. Someone just put two iphones together and drew a screen over them lmao
 
What we want is a nice folded up device that's a phone, you unfold it once and it's an iPad, you unfold it AGAIN and it's a MacBook! - BINGO! Market cornered!
 
if they are smart they make the actual phone sizes fodable vertically or horizantally. No one needs a huge an heavy phone.
 
Totally agree about the camera. If it doesn't match the Pro camera at the time I won't be buying the foldable.
Yep. I love to travel and watch concerts. Camera is the main reason to upgrade(aside from new form factor). If it is 20% difference than the Pro Max, fine. If more than that- sadly, pass.

But then when I look at my photos taken with iPhone 7 PM, iPhone X, they are not that bad in today’s standards lol. I guess we love to nitpick.
 
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