Kuo: Apple's First Foldable iPhone to Feature Book-Style Design, Sell for Over $2,000

[MacAddict1978]

It isn't surprising. Any phone maker's sandwiching two smartphones together so it becomes 2x the price.

I'd never buy one because of durability concerns and it'll add another step for me to use it.

You're not sandwiching two phones together. It's just a bigger display. This isn't like fusing two m-chips together. You also seem to forget at this point, this type of device is over 6 years old. Is any other folding phone two phone fused together? Nope.

 

[Peterrocks!]

iPhone 16 pro max already costs that in Canada and people buy them. Course this will be $3k+

 

[MacAddict1978]

It’s important to recognize that not all comparisons are meaningful. Yes, Apple’s product lineup has expanded beyond Steve Jobs original strategy, but that alone doesn’t make for a valid comparison. The world has changed. The market, the global population (and therefore the customer base), Apple’s market share, industry influence, and supply chain - none of these factors are the same as they were. Comparing today’s Apple to the past without accounting for these shifts won’t lead to a logical conclusion. It’s like comparing apples to oranges; the context is simply too different.

Honestly, if Jobs hadn't died, we'd have seen all the same things most likely. We probably would have had touch screen macs 10 years ago that still do not exist. If Jobs said Apple would never do something or wasn't looking to, you knew in 2 years it would arrive. He just never wanted anyone knowing what they were working on.

 

[blairh]

Why is it too small? It’s this way so the aspect ratio is like an iPad mini full screen

No Face ID is clearly a space reason

Open the display and it’s 7.8 so i don’t see the issue

Because it simply is. That is going to be a way too short when folded. I really hope this is wrong.

Look at every current book-style foldable. They are in the 6.5" range.

 

[TheColtr]

Take my money, I want a folding iPhone so bad.

 

[The Game 161]

Because it simply is. That is going to be a way too short when folded. I really hope this is wrong.

Look at every current book-style foldable. They are in the 6.5" range.

It’s not as it’s going to be small but wider aspect ratio

Many foldables are 6.5 inches but the inner display is too square. Which means has aspect ratio for media.

This aspect ratio solves many of the issues with foldables for content

5.5 inch display will be fine for most tasks and then the reason you buy a foldable you open the damn thing up

 

[blairh]

It’s not as it’s going to be small but wider aspect ratio

Many foldables are 6.5 inches but the inner display is too square. Which means has aspect ratio for media.

This aspect ratio solves many of the issues with foldables for content

5.5 inch display will be fine for most tasks and then the reason you buy a foldable you open the damn thing up

It would like the original Google Pixel Fold outer screen. Which was terrible.

None of the current book-style foldable outer screens (sans the Galaxy Fold line) are too square. They are the perfect size.

 

[The Game 161]

It would like the original Google Pixel Fold outer screen. Which was terrible.

None of the current book-style foldable outer screens (sans the Galaxy Fold line) are too square. They are the perfect size.

All personal preference I guess. The pixel fold I thought was great for that outer display. Inner display was also better for overall usage


They aren’t good for media though generally The black bars are very large so you are getting less media content so not much difference from normal displays

I would also expect foldable iPhone to have better options for apps as well

 

[JordanCautious]

So you can spend $2k on what is literally just a folding phone or spend $2k on a Mac Studio with a M4 Max…

 

[TechRunner]

Having owned a Z Flip 4 and spent time playing with a Fold 5 I'm curious what Apple will bring to the table. But I'm afraid I won't be able to justify the price.

 

[pup]

Have you searched and researched the prices of what flagship foldable phones cost before you posted this?

$2000 for the flagship, non-budget Android phones exist today.

I actually have one (Pixel 9 Fold) in addition to my iPhone 16 Pro Max for my profession

Have I both searched and re-searched? No.

But my recent research has made me aware that there are people in the world who carry around not one, but two cookie sheet sized phones. For their profession.

 

[tgwaste]

SOLD

 

[tbayrgs]

If it’s close to $2000, I’ll be getting one. The only thing I that keeps me from using my Pixel 9 Pro Fold as my daily driver is the fact that it doesn’t run iOS. Otherwise, it’s a great device I use daily

 

[The Game 161]

So you can spend $2k on what is literally just a folding phone or spend $2k on a Mac Studio with a M4 Max…

Completely different use cases. You can’t put that Mac in your pocket and be a phone

Madness to even compare the two

 

[CausticSoda]

It will also be positioned as a "true AI-driven phone," with the larger screens allowing for a better multi-tasking AI experience.

Oh please... I can't take any more. What a load of complete and utter BS.

 

[GtrDude]

Sounds like yet another Apple doomed to fail product.
Have they leaned nothing from the Vision Pro disaster?

 

[Chungry]

If it’s close to $2000, I’ll be getting one. The only thing I that keeps me from using my Pixel 9 Pro Fold as my daily driver is the fact that it doesn’t run iOS. Otherwise, it’s a great device I use daily

What's on iOS that's so sticky for you?

 

[svish]

Not surprised to hear the rumoured price. But will be extremely disappointing if it lacks FaceID. Expecting it to have two cameras only. Overall looks like it will be a disappointment.

 

[Chungry]

Interesting to note that maybe face ID is in a cul-de-sac in terms of miniaturization, I'll bet that would explain the purported 17 slim leans needing a bump on the back. Question is why

 

[KevinN206]

Either it’s $1,999, or it’s DOA. Aside from influencers and posers, there’s no way anyone would buy it when they could get an iPhone and an iPad Mini for the same price or less.

If it goes beyond $3K, it’ll just sit there collecting dust on Apple Store shelves—just like the Vision Pro.

The Vision Pro doesn't fit in your pocket, heavy on the head, has short battery life, and certainly limited apps support. A foldable iPhone has none of those issues that make the price easier to justify for the early adopters.

 

[KevinN206]

I bought a foldable to try it out and, while I agree with your list 100%, I can’t say I agree on the crease. It becomes less notable over time, but it’s always noticeable. Especially things like reflections or using outside. I guess how impactful that is varies by person. Not a deal killer for me, but certainly reduces the draw. My guess is that as this is being described as a “book” style, the crease will be somehow used as part of the design.

The crease on the OnePlus Open was really not noticeable while because it's already pretty small and also the anti-reflection coating is amazing. The AR is so much better than the glossy ZF6.

 

[jz0309]

Notably, Kuo says that the phone will forgo Face ID authentication, instead using a Touch ID side button as a means to save precious internal space.

That would be an instant non-buy for me.

As for the rumored price point, let's wait and see what/when Apple releases this.

 

[Chungry]

That would be an instant non-buy for me.

As for the rumored price point, let's wait and see what/when Apple releases this.

I don't think Apple knows what to do with FaceID in terms of enhancement, and they certainly don't have a compelling alternative so we're stuck with an ugly island.

 

[webkit]

iPhone 16 pro max already costs that in Canada and people buy them. Course this will be $3k+

Obviously, the $2,000 figure being discussed is USD.

The starting retail price of the 16 Pro Max in Canada is $1,749 CAD or around $1,222 USD which is fairly in-line with the $1,199 starting price of the same phone in the U.S.

 

[webkit]

Considering how most Pixel phones and iPhones have comparable retail prices in the U.S., I would think a foldable iPhone would come in at under $2,000 unless it is notably different than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and/or tariffs become a major factor.