Launch timing and price

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is being lined up for the iPhone 18 cycle in fall 2026, right as John Ternus takes over as chief executive on September 1. (cnbc.com) CNBC reported on April 20 that Tim Cook will become executive chairman on September 1, with Ternus moving up from senior vice president of hardware engineering. MacRumors reported a day later that the foldable is expected in the same fall launch window as the iPhone 18 Pro models. (cnbc.com) (macrumors.com) The pricing rumors sit in premium territory. MacRumors said the foldable could start at about $2,000, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in March 2025 that Apple’s first foldable would likely land above $2,000 and as high as $2,500. (macrumors.com 1) (macrumors.com 2) That price would place the device above today’s Pro and Pro Max models and closer to a separate top tier than a direct replacement for the regular iPhone. MacRumors said recent dummy models have circulated under the nickname “iPhone Ultra,” reflecting that positioning. (macrumors.com) The hardware rumors also describe a product Apple would market as distinct from its standard slab phones. MacRumors said the foldable is expected to use a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch outer display, a roughly 4.5-millimeter frame when unfolded, and Touch ID in the side button instead of Face ID. (macrumors.com) Kuo’s earlier supply-chain report pointed in the same direction: a book-style design, titanium parts, a dual-lens rear camera, and first-generation shipments of 3 million to 5 million units in 2026. That is a much smaller volume than Apple’s mainstream iPhone launches and suggests tighter supply if the device ships on time. (macrumors.com) The timing is still not settled. On April 7, 9to5Mac and MacRumors both cited reports that engineering problems could push the foldable into 2027, while CNBC reported later that Bloomberg said the phone remained on track for a September 2026 debut. (9to5mac.com) (macrumors.com) (cnbc.com) That uncertainty has fed a second debate inside the rumor mill: whether Apple gives the foldable the headline slot and lets lower-end iPhones wait longer or ship with fewer changes. 9to5Mac tied that possibility to the broader iPhone 18 roadmap now taking shape under Ternus. (9to5mac.com) If Apple keeps the fall 2026 schedule, the company’s first foldable would arrive as both a product launch and a leadership handoff. If it slips, the same price and design rumors will still frame it as Apple’s most expensive iPhone bet yet. (cnbc.com) (macrumors.com)