Is the “Foldable iPhone” coming? This time, Apple wants to sell it for $3000

Among this wave of leaks on April 11, the most interesting part is not that Apple is finally making a foldable phone, but that it apparently does not want to turn this device into a “novelty toy” and instead aims straight for the ultra-premium segment. Reports say Apple’s first foldable phone is temporarily named the iPhone Ultra, is expected to join the product lineup in fall 2026, and will debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. This timing is crucial, because it suggests the device is more like part of Apple’s core strategy rather than a fringe product meant to test the waters.

From the product design perspective, Apple has ultimately settled on a book-style foldable route, which actually fits its consistent strategic style quite well. When closed, it reportedly has an outer display of about 5.5 inches; when unfolded, it reveals a 7.8-inch inner display with an aspect ratio of roughly 4:3, making it already very close in size to an iPad mini. In other words, this is not simply about unfolding a phone to make it bigger, but about trying to find a stable niche between a “phone” and a “small tablet,” allowing users to switch between portability and immersion.

If this design does make it to market, the biggest beneficiaries may not be everyday social scenarios, but rather high-frequency mobile work, long-form video consumption, and light gaming experiences. A 4:3 aspect ratio combined with dimensions close to the iPad mini means it has a natural advantage in reading, split-screen use, and landscape content display. On the other hand, if Apple really does remove Face ID and switch to a side-mounted fingerprint unlock similar to the iPad, that would also indicate that internal space and structural trade-offs remain highly aggressive. Foldables have never been as simple as “cramming in top-tier specs”; they are more like a comprehensive battle involving industrial design, battery life, and system optimization.

The hardware also carries the unmistakable feel of a top-spec flagship. Leaks mention that it will use the A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2-nanometer process, come equipped with 12GB of RAM, and may feature a battery capacity exceeding 5000mAh. For imaging, Apple is not going with an exaggerated multi-camera setup, but instead two 48-megapixel lenses covering the main camera and ultra-wide camera. This approach is very Apple: prioritize the core experience first, then keep the body size and internal stacking complexity under control. The truly startling part, however, is the price. Industry analysts predict the starting price will exceed $2000, with the top-end version potentially approaching $3000. This is no longer a mainstream flagship, but a clearly positioned ultra-high-end product.

Another signal worth noting is that related bloggers claim Apple has recently raised production preparation significantly, with the first batch rumored to have already reached 11 million units. For a foldable that has not even been officially released, if that figure is true, it would mean Apple’s judgment regarding market education and supply chain maturity is remarkably aggressive. It clearly does not want to repeat the foldable path taken by some manufacturers—“plenty of buzz, little scale”—but instead intends to use production capacity, ecosystem strength, and brand momentum to pull the category directly into the mainstream spotlight.

My buying advice is straightforward: if you are currently waiting for an Apple device that can replace both a phone and a small tablet, this iPhone Ultra is worth continuing to watch; but if you care more about value for money, or just want to try out the foldable form factor, the barrier of more than $2000 will most likely make it a launch-day toy for only a small group of people. Once Apple enters the game, the competitive logic of the foldable market will shift from “who can make one first” to “who can deliver a complete experience and ecosystem.” From this perspective, the real point to watch in 2026 may not be whether Apple will make a foldable phone, but what it intends to redefine a foldable phone as.