'iPhone Ultra' Likely to 'Repeat the iPhone X Story' With Delayed Launch

[eifelbube]

LOL nobody wants a dorky foldable phone. How many people do you know that have any of the foldable phones that have been available for years now?

Do I need to know everyone? That’s just not possible because there are millions (“forecast to exceed 70 million worldwide before 2028”). If you think otherwise, don’t read the article from which the forecast and the points at bottom were excerpted.

DOA ?
Exactly
DesiredOnArrival

• Samsung is expected to remain the market leader in 2026F, but its share is projected to fall from 40% in 2025 to 31% in 2026F.
• Apple is forecast to enter the foldable smartphone market strongly, capturing 28% market share in 2026F.
• Huawei is projected to lose share, dropping from 30% in 2025 to 23% in 2026F.
• The data suggests that Apple’s entry could significantly reshape the global foldable smartphone market.
• Samsung and Apple together are forecast to hold 59% of the foldable smartphone market in 2026F.

 

[Dave245]

Do I need to know everyone? That’s just not possible because there are millions (“forecast to exceed 70 million worldwide before 2028”). If you think otherwise, don’t read the article from which the forecast and the points at bottom were excerpted.

DOA ?
Exactly
DesiredOnArrival

• Samsung is expected to remain the market leader in 2026F, but its share is projected to fall from 40% in 2025 to 31% in 2026F.
• Apple is forecast to enter the foldable smartphone market strongly, capturing 28% market share in 2026F.
• Huawei is projected to lose share, dropping from 30% in 2025 to 23% in 2026F.
• The data suggests that Apple’s entry could significantly reshape the global foldable smartphone market.
• Samsung and Apple together are forecast to hold 59% of the foldable smartphone market in 2026F.

Apple entering the foldable market will for sure increase foldable sales. People who want iOS on a foldable phone. Samsung make great phones, but they aren't Apple. Apple have great marketing and also make great products. I for one would be more interested in a foldable iPhone than I am in a foldable Samsung, that doesn't mean I will buy one.

Battery life and durability are my main concerns when it comes to any foldable. If Apple can solve those, then I would certainly be open to buying a foldable.

 

[uacd]

The brokie cope in the comments are insane. The ultra will definitely be popular. If you like the size of an iPhone mini then use that as the main and if you’re playing a game or watching a video on the couch then fold it out and you got an iPad mini

It is not a brokie cope, it is how people spend their money.

See, most of us don’t see why it is ridiculous to have any regular iPhone and large iPad. Given the prices of both, it can cost much more than the next-gen folding iPhone.

Having two devices is much better than all-in-one.

But tbh for videos I would choose iMac, MacBook or TV 9/10. These goofy mobile devices are for kids, as well as they have no games to start with. GTA San Andreas that was ported back when iPhone 5 came out doesn’t count. For mobile gaming experience there is Switch, Steam Deck and other portable gaming consoles

 

[DFWsCars&Tech]

Apple will likely "repeat the iPhone X story" by unveiling its foldable iPhone at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but starting foldable iPhone pre-orders at a later date, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo today said manufacturing challenges have limited early production of the foldable iPhone, which will reportedly be named iPhone Ultra. As a result, he believes the device may launch at some point after the iPhone 18 Pro models.

In 2017, Apple unveiled the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X on September 12. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders began just three days later, while iPhone X pre-orders began six weeks later on Friday, October 27. Likewise, Kuo believes the foldable iPhone may not be available to pre-order until the fourth quarter of 2026.

Kuo estimated that the foldable iPhone could have a starting price of around $2,299 to $2,499 in the U.S., and he believes that the device "could sell out immediately after pre-orders open, with delivery lead times quickly stretching to 4-6 weeks or longer."

Apple's suppliers will ship roughly 7–8 million foldable iPhones in 2026, compared to 20–22 million for the iPhone 18 Pro models combined, he said.

If this information proves to be accurate, expect the foldable iPhone to be unveiled in September, but you may not be able to order it until at least October.

Article Link: 'iPhone Ultra' Likely to 'Repeat the iPhone X Story'

For those saying $2200 is high personally maybe BUT Samsung’s is 2k and this is a first gen product where prices will inevitably trickle say in 2027 with a Pro Fold, etc.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

They say it might the 'iPhone X story' but I seem to remember it took me 5 months to even see someone using an iPhone X as for the time it was very expensive. So maybe on that note it will be comparable as the foldable is likely to be an awful lot of money. I always felt the addition of the iPhone XR the following year was more impactful at the time as it brought the first real mainstream iPhone with FaceID to the wider market. I can appreciate the iPhone X delivered the changes initially though.

On a funny note, I do remember the OLED vs LCD debates on here back then and a vocal minority of those with OLED iPhone X's suggesting any phone with an LCD screen was suddenly garbage, because they thought it was a flex lol. Then when OLED became mainstream on iPhones we were even more assured that that claim was total rubbish.

 

[Ramchi]

I agree, Ive been with Apple forever and a day and always had to pro phones but I do think I may now get a cheapo and a decent separate camera and change my habits. Less phone time is no bad thing.

This is exactly I have done, I have bought Nikon Z8 and Z6 III and along with lens array for Camera alone. And trying to keep my mobiles as long as they last. After that replace with the cheapest Android Mobile available. Keep the older generation low end iPhone as the main mobile.

 

[just1ed]

it won’t sell out = most people will not pay over $2000 for a phone.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will break records. But maybe due to not having the base mode or AIR like last year at launch.

It will definitely sell out at launch. You do not have to be rich to buy one. Almost everyone who has a Mac can afford it, it is whether you are willing to pay for you. Apple fan boys will snap it.

Even an overpriced cloth that Apple sells can get sold out in the millions. So is their dangling sock.

 

[jayducharme]

that price is insane.

The world is full of insane people with insane amounts of money.

 

[Torty]

The Ultra is double the price of the X. Let's see how it develops.

 

[frou]

The X and XS are among the best iPhones ever, so if they deliver the goods in that respect again then good on them

 

[Woyzeck]

Pricing of consumer electronics has become ridiculous. In the past I usually upgradad a Macbook Pro, an iPad, an iPhone every 2-4 years. With today's prices and my configurations that's 4k+2k+2k, so 8k for the whole circus, plus various smaller items like an Apple watch, Apple TV etc.

I can afford that, but do I want ?

 

[abowlby]

It will be interesting to see what Samsung's pricing looks like later this month. The Fold has traditionally had free storage upgrades during pre-orders but I'm not sure that is going to happen this time around. Those deals put you at $1999 for 512GB. For $500 more, this thing has to start at 512, right?

 

[aliensporebomb]

I thought the X when it was first released was one of the nicest products I'd ever seen by any maker. It's hard to see that now but at the time it seemed like they made it a really beautiful piece of work.

I just got a 17 Pro Max to replace my old 15 Pro Max. I don't think it's reasonable to pay for more than $2000 for a cellular phone and while the foldable tech is modestly interesting unless my vision gets noticeably worse having a
thick folder phone might not be too attractive. I work with people at my offices and the ones with folding phones
make them seem thicker than I like - women who buy them keep them in purses but I carry mine in my pants pockets.

I guess we'll see. $2400 is what you can spend for a base model Mac Studio these days.

 

[gnesterenko]

Loving all of the 2026 versions of: Who asked for this?

Reminding me of when Jobs released iPod back in 2001, and many here said: "Who asked for a thousand songs in your pocket? Flop."

Clearly Apple doesn't know what they're doing. Again. Will Apple survive?

Uhh.... everyone. Everyone wanted that. It was the age of MP3s and Napster. The iPod was the exact device that was desired at the time by all the kids (and hence by their parents). If you got one early, you were seen as the cool kid. Everyone wanted to try it. Everyone was jealous.

Compare to phablets, which are seen as folks with more money than sense, and represent 2.5% of the smartphone market. Not to mention, no FaceID, and a weird shape when folded? Yeah.... no.

Maybe, maybe, if they get cheap enough AND more durable than 3-5 years (and that's IF you take care to take care of them), foldable can grab a larger share. Will Apple have the patience to keep producing a weak (by Apple standards) demand product until such time? Maybe.

 

[citysnaps]

Uhh.... everyone. Everyone wanted that. It was the age of MP3s and Napster. The iPod was the exact device that was desired at the time by all the kids (and hence by their parents). If you got one early, you were seen as the cool kid. Everyone wanted to try it. Everyone was jealous.

Compare to phablets, which are seen as folks with more money than sense, and represent 2.5% of the smartphone market. Maybe, maybe, if they get cheap enough AND more durable than 3-5 years (and that's IF you take care to take care of them), foldable can grab a larger share. Will Apple have the patience to keep producing a weak (by Apple standards) demand product until such time? Maybe.

Everyone except most of the posters here. With the retort, "Who asked for a thousand songs in your pocket?" mocking Steve Jobs' iPod introduction when it was released.

 

[Wags]

What’s the starting price for reselling pre orders on eBay. Like 10,000 🤣

 

[oneMadRssn]

Just accept that there are a lot of wealthy individuals who can afford this. The device isn't for everyone, but there is clearly demand for foldables.

We have no idea if this is true yet, there is nothing to accept. You are speculating just as much as everyone else.

Yes there are a lot of wealthy individuals who can afford this. They can also afford Vision Pros, yet none of them are buying those either.

In 2025, foldables were only 2% of the market share of smartphones. If you squint, and you only look at high-end Android where foldables actually compete, you can maybe convince yourself that the true market share is closer to 4-5%. But there is no way you can read the actual market data to support the notion that foldables are anything but a small niche product. Certainly there is no data that shows any kind of serious demand.

And at $2,500, Apple is most likely ensuring it stays a small niche product.

 

[dontwalkhand]

What do they possibly mean by this? The thing is the iPhone X designs essentially took over the whole lineup.

If this repeats that story, that means Apple wants to only offer foldables down the road ? If that’s the case that would really suck.

 

[TheOldChevy]

Jesus Christ that price is insane. You could literally get an M5 MacBook Pro for less than the iPhone ultra.

I like a large desktop screen, a medium laptop and small phone. So independently of its price, this one is not for me.

 

[tuckerjj]

What do they possibly mean by this? The thing is the iPhone X designs essentially took over the whole lineup.

If this repeats that story, that means Apple wants to only offer foldables down the road ? If that’s the case that would really suck.

I think they just mean that the iPhone Fold/Ultra will be sold in parallel with the 18 and 18 Pro, in the same way that the X was sold along side the 8 and 8 plus, which completely misunderstands what the iPhone X story actually was.

 

[eifelbube]

This has Apple Vision Pro written all over it. People will rush to buy it, then return it once reality sets in. The price is simply too high. Mark. My. Words.

Which reality? The one of wearing a heavy gadget on your face tethered to an external battery pack and looking like you just came off the ski lift?

 

[eifelbube]

After 145 comments, I am surprised none of the skeptical (to put it mildly) ones so far have cautioned that repetitive unfolding and folding will lead to De Quervain's tenosynovitis which is an irritation of the tendons that run from the wrist to the thumb.

 

[eifelbube]

But there is no way you can read the actual market data to support the notion that foldables are anything but a small niche product. Certainly there is no data that shows any kind of serious demand.

What’s wrong with a niche product if it is practical for 1.6% of smartphone users worldwide?

Foldable Smartphone Statistics 2026: Adoption, Sales & Growth • TechRT

Foldable Smartphone Statistics reveal market growth, brand share, pricing trends, and future demand insights.

techrt.com

 

[JM]

After 145 comments, I am surprised none of the skeptical (to put it mildly) ones so far have cautioned that repetitive unfolding and folding will lead to De Quervain's tenosynovitis which is an irritation of the tendons that run from the wrist to the thumb.

Not mention the tendon issues from pressing a home button repeatedly that doesn’t move (in the iphones 7,8,SE2+3) thus putting all strain on the thumb bones and joints.

But it’s okay because if your moneybags can afford a $2500 phone, then you can probably afford a hand replacement surgery.

 

[Johns12]

I just checked with my niece who happened to own al Samsung Z fold since 4th iteration. He owned all latest mobiles from Apple and Samsung. When I checked with him, he was showing all the broken screens of Fold 4, 5, 6 and 7 which could not be repaired (he paid for extended warranty and screen replacement programs) since the screens are getting broken, and you can replace only once that too you still end paying some amount even if you have extended warranty or screen replacement covers. Now, he has to spend nearly $600 to fix the screen and lying unused.

He now owns feature phones with buttons, completely fed up with the Foldable ones.

Funny thing is, I have had the Samsung fold 4, 5, and now 7. Not one issue with the screen or anything else.