- A new report suggests that the prices of foldable phones could increase by 18% this year
- This is partly due to the iPhone Ultra, which could be launched at a very high price
- Samsung and other brands may well make money from this market shift
2026 could be one of the biggest years for foldable phones yet, as the foldable iPhone Ultra looks set to finally arrive in September. But while it’s sure to excite anyone who’s been waiting for an Apple-made foldable, it could also bring some bad news for consumers.
You see, according to a recent Counterpoint Research report (via 9to5Mac ), the average price of foldable phones could increase by as much as 18% this year, and that increase will be thanks in part to Apple’s upcoming model.
Specifically, the average price is expected to rise to $1,485 (around £1,110 / AU$2,140), and that’s partly because the iPhone Ultra itself is likely to cost significantly more than that, with a recent IDC report predicting that the phone could sell for as much as $2,500 (around £1,870 / AU$0) — and that might just be the starting price of the 3.
Since this is an iPhone, it’s sure to be popular and therefore can drive up the average price of foldable phones. But its impact could also extend to other brands, because a $2,500 foldable iPhone could make such prices more palatable when paired with phones from Samsung and other companies.
A welcome rival
With this in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that a Samsung executive said last year that the Korean giant “welcomes others to join this category” in response to a question about the arrival of the iPhone Ultra.
So don’t be surprised if future Samsung foldable devices cost more than the current ones – and not just because of rising RAM prices and inflation, but also because of the Apple influence.
Still, this Counterpoint report also has some good price news, as while it predicts book-style foldables will continue to rise in price, clamshell models are expected to drop in price on average, bringing them “closer to premium bar-type smartphone alternatives.”
So while book-style foldables may start to feel even further out of reach for many buyers, clamshell models may become increasingly attainable.
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