For several years, whispers have circulated about Apple developing a foldable iPhone, and while the company has remained tight‑lipped, recent leaks suggest those rumours are gaining real traction. Tipster Instant Digital shared fresh intel on Weibo indicating that Apple’s first foldable handset may carry a very premium price tag, potentially setting it apart from existing foldable offerings in the market. Unlike more affordable mid‑range devices, the expected cost in India could breach the Rs 2 lakh threshold once taxes and import duties are factored in.
Behind this lofty figure lies Apple’s drive to position its foldable as a luxury product that showcases cutting‑edge materials, innovative engineering and its trademark design finesse. Consumers who have already grown accustomed to the seamless experience of the iPhone lineup can anticipate a similar emphasis on build quality and user interface consistency, albeit with the added complexity of two displays that must work in harmony.
Even as competitors such as Samsung and Google refine their foldable models, Apple appears determined to leverage its software‑hardware integration to deliver a user experience that justifies a steep price premium. At the same time, the potential Rs 2 lakh-plus sticker price will raise questions about market viability in price‑sensitive regions, especially in India where value‑for‑money considerations often drive purchase decisions. If these leaks prove accurate, Apple’s entry into the foldable category will further blur the lines between smartphones and premium luxury gadgets, challenging buyers to weigh the novelty and prestige of a foldable design against its significant financial outlay.
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Pricing leak: over Rs 2 lakh?
According to leaked figures, the upcoming iPhone Fold could be priced between $2,100 and $2,300 in the United States, translating to roughly Rs 1.80 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in India after adding the country’s steep import duties and GST. This pricing would position Apple’s foldable device above Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, which currently retails at around Rs 1,49,999, and Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold, priced at roughly Rs 1.62 lakh. For perspective, the most expensive current iPhone model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max, starts at approximately $1,199 (around Rs 1 lakh), almost half of the projected cost of the iPhone Fold.
Such a premium tag raises questions about its target audience: early adopters eager for the latest tech, luxury buyers seeking exclusivity, or enterprise customers requiring top‑tier mobile productivity. Beyond raw price comparisons, the leak suggests Apple believes consumers will pay extra for distinctive features such as its proprietary Adrenox software suite, enhanced durability through a liquid metal hinge and seamless integration with existing Apple services and accessories.
Nevertheless, the premium positioning may narrow the potential buyer base, pushing Apple to rely on aspirational branding and loyal fans to drive initial sales. In markets like India, where smartphones under Rs 50,000 dominate, Apple’s foldable entry will likely cater to a niche segment, at least until production costs fall or Apple introduces more affordable variants down the line.
Expected specifications and design features
Leaked details point to a sophisticated hardware package underpinning Apple’s foldable ambition. The device is said to sport a Samsung‑supplied 5.5‑inch OLED display on the outer shell, complemented by a 7.8‑inch foldable AMOLED panel on the interior. When unfolded, the handset could measure a mere 4.5 to 4.8 mm thick, offering a remarkably slim footprint for a dual‑screen device; when closed, its thickness would expand to around 9 mm.
Durability is central to Apple’s design, with reports indicating the use of a liquid metal alloy for the hinge mechanism—an approach expected to provide greater resilience and a smoother folding action compared to conventional titanium or steel hinges. Performance is likely to mirror Apple’s current flagship standards, potentially featuring an enhanced A‑series chip optimized for multitasking across two screens, along with at least 8 GB of RAM and storage options starting at 256 GB. Battery capacity remains speculative, but analysts predict a dual‑cell design delivering a combined capacity in the 4,500–5,000 mAh range to ensure all‑day usage even under heavy multitasking.
Photography on the iPhone Fold may also receive a boost, with a triple‑lens rear module incorporating enhanced optical zoom, ultrawide and wide‑angle sensors, as well as advanced computational photography capabilities. Software will play a crucial role in adapting iOS to foldable form factors, with Apple expected to introduce split‑screen app interfaces, drag‑and‑drop across displays, and seamless continuity between folded and unfolded states.
foldable iPhone Launch timeline and competitive landscape
Industry insiders anticipate that Apple will unveil its foldable iPhone sometime in 2025, possibly at an autumn event alongside new iPad and Apple Watch models. If that timeline holds, Apple would enter the foldable market two years after Samsung debuted its first Galaxy Z Fold, and a year after Google’s Pixel Pro Fold launch. Despite this later entry, Apple’s ecosystem strength—iCloud, Apple Pay, FaceTime and a vast App Store—could help it capture attention and differentiate its offering.
The success of the iPhone Fold will depend on how Apple addresses common foldable pain points, such as crease visibility, long‑term screen wear and hinge reliability, all while maintaining battery life and performance. Samsung, having refined its foldable tech across multiple generations, remains the market leader, but Apple’s ability to deliver a polished user experience may sway consumers who value software cohesion above all else.
Beyond Samsung and Google, Chinese manufacturers like Oppo and Vivo are also preparing foldable models at aggressive price points, which could challenge Apple’s premium strategy in emerging markets. Ultimately, Apple’s entry will raise the stakes across the industry, pushing competitors to innovate faster while giving consumers a wider array of foldable smartphones to choose from. Whether the Rs 2 lakh-plus price resonates with buyers will be a defining factor in shaping the next chapter of foldable mobile devices.