Apple's Foldable iPhone: Release Date, Price and What We Actually Know
Apple has confirmed an event for 9 September 2026 but has never publicly acknowledged that a foldable iPhone exists. Everything below is reporting, clearly labelled as such.
Reviewed by the PhonesForCash buying teamLast reviewed
This guide reflects practical device identification, inspection and resale considerations used by our buying team when assessing phones and other devices. It is general guidance, not a confirmed valuation.
Confirmed by Apple: an event on 9 September 2026. Never confirmed by Apple: that a foldable iPhone exists at all. There is no official name, price, specification or release date. Every detail on this page is attributed reporting.
Is Apple actually making a foldable iPhone?
Apple has never said so. What exists is several years of consistent supply-chain reporting from outlets including Bloomberg, MacRumors, CNET and AppleInsider, all pointing to a book-style foldable arriving alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. Some reports also cite references found in early iOS 27 developer software.
Consistent reporting is not confirmation. Apple has cancelled well-reported products before. Treat 9 September as the day this either becomes real or does not.
What is it likely to be called?
There is no settled name in the reporting. iPhone Fold and iPhone Ultra are both widely used, with iPhone Ultra Fold and iPhone Flip also appearing. We use “foldable iPhone” on this page because that is the only description we can stand behind.
When would it go on sale?
The consensus expects an unveiling at the 9 September event. The on-sale date is genuinely contested: some reporting expects it to ship alongside the Pro models around 18 September, while other reporting suggests it may be announced in September but not reach shops until December.
A staggered release would not be unusual for a first-generation product with a complex supply chain, so both possibilities are credible. Nobody outside Apple knows.
How much is the foldable iPhone expected to cost?
The most consistent figure in reporting is around $1,999, which has held steady across sources for over a year. Some analysts have suggested higher, in the $2,000 to $2,500 range, with Asia-based leakers floating considerably more for larger storage tiers.
Apple has priced recent iPhones at rough dollar-pound parity in the UK, so £1,999 is a reasonable expectation — but that is an inference, not a leak. No UK price has been reported by anyone, and Apple has published nothing.
For context, Samsung's current top-tier foldable launched in the UK at £1,899 — and Samsung is many generations into refining its hinge and display. A first-generation Apple foldable at a higher price would be an aggressive position, though not an unfamiliar one for Apple.
Reported specifications
| Feature | What is reported | How solid is it? |
|---|---|---|
| Inner display | Around 7.8in, opening book-style | Consistently reported |
| Cover display | Around 5.5in | Consistently reported |
| Biometrics | Touch ID in the power button, no Face ID | Widely reported — chassis reportedly too thin for Face ID hardware |
| Crease | Claimed to be very shallow or near-invisible | Contested — every foldable maker has made this claim |
| Rear cameras | Two 48MP lenses, wide and ultrawide, no telephoto | Reported |
| Chip | Apple's next-generation A-series | Reported |
| SIM | eSIM only, no physical SIM tray | Reported |
| Panel supplier | Samsung Display | Reported |
The dropped telephoto lens is worth noting if you care about photography: a folded body leaves little room for a periscope module, so the foldable would likely be a step down from the iPhone 18 Pro on camera reach despite costing considerably more.
Should you buy a first-generation foldable?
We buy and inspect second-hand foldables every week, so a practical word from that side of the counter. First-generation folding hardware has historically carried real reliability risk: hinge wear, inner-display failures and dust ingress are the faults we see most. Repairs to a folding inner panel are expensive, and that cost is why foldables tend to lose value faster than conventional flagships.
None of that is a prediction about Apple's device specifically — it has not been released or tested. But if you are choosing between a proven Pro and an unproven foldable, it is a fair thing to weigh. Our guide on why foldable phones depreciate faster explains the economics.
What it could mean for your current iPhone
A foldable at around £2,000 sits above the existing range rather than replacing anything in it. That means it is less likely to affect second-hand iPhone values than a conventional new flagship would — it is a new tier, not a successor.
The iPhone 18 Pro models launching at the same event are the ones that will move the market for older Pro handsets. If you are weighing up a sale, see should you sell your iPhone before the iPhone 18 launches.
If you do buy the foldable: we buy iPhones at our St Helens and Carlisle counters, including current-generation Pro models. Funding part of a £2,000 phone with the one in your pocket is worth a five-minute conversation before you pre-order.
Key takeaways
- Apple has never acknowledged a foldable iPhone — everything is reporting
- It is widely expected at the confirmed 9 September 2026 event
- Around $1,999 is the most consistent price report; no UK price exists
- Reported as roughly 7.8in unfolded, with Touch ID instead of Face ID and two rear cameras
- First-generation folding hardware carries real durability and depreciation risk
- A new top tier is less likely to dent existing iPhone values than the 18 Pro will
Common questions
Has Apple confirmed a foldable iPhone?
No. Apple has never publicly acknowledged the product. It has confirmed an event on 9 September 2026, and reporting expects a foldable to appear there.
What will the foldable iPhone be called?
Unknown. iPhone Fold and iPhone Ultra are the two names most commonly used in reporting, but nothing is settled.
How much will it cost in the UK?
No UK price has been reported or confirmed. Reporting consistently cites around $1,999 in the US, and Apple has recently priced at rough dollar-pound parity, but that is an inference rather than a leak.
Will it have Face ID?
Reporting says no — a Touch ID power button instead, reportedly because the folding chassis is too thin for the Face ID camera array. Unconfirmed.
Do you buy foldable phones?
Yes. We buy Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip models and other foldables, subject to condition, hinge and inner-display testing, ownership checks and account locks being removed.
Will a foldable iPhone reduce what my iPhone is worth?
Less than a conventional new flagship would. A device at that price creates a new top tier rather than replacing an existing model, so it competes less directly with second-hand Pro handsets.
Want this applied to your specific device? Send the model and we'll come back with a realistic guide figure.
Related reading
iPhone 18 Pro release date and price →
The confirmed event and the reported specs.
Sell your iPhone before the 18 launches? →
What a launch does to resale value.
Best time to sell your iPhone →
Timing a sale around a launch.
Why foldables depreciate faster →
Hinge wear and repair economics.
Sell your iPhone →
Every model, valued individually.
Sell iPhone 17 Pro Max →
Fund an upgrade with your current phone.
Sell your Samsung →
Including Z Fold and Z Flip.
What to do before selling your phone →
Backups, accounts and Find My.