Do foldables need Apple more than Apple needs foldables?

According to a new report, Apple might finally be gearing up to launch its first foldable iPhone in 2026 – a timeline that’s already been floating around for a while. But the surprising bit is the price. This time, the rumor suggests it could land somewhere between $1,800 and $2,000.

That might sound steep, but it’s actually lower than previous estimates (some suggested $2,400 or more), and more importantly, it’s in line with what Samsung, Google and others are already charging. And to me, that says a lot. Apple isn’t looking to sit above the foldable market – it wants to compete directly with it.

Samsung just launched the new Z Fold 7. | Video credit – PhoneArena

We’ve already seen the Galaxy Z Fold 7 launch with a $100 price bump over last year’s model. Just before that, Honor unveiled the Magic V5 in China, vivo dropped the X Fold 5 there, too and Oppo kicked off the year with the Find N5. The Pixel 10 Pro Fold from Google is expected next month. So, the space is packed – at least on the Android side.But while we get better hardware, refined designs and slicker software with each new phone, most of these foldables still hover around the $1,800+ mark. That keeps them in luxury phone territory – a tough sell for anyone who isn’t a die-hard early adopter.

And to be fair, when we first heard Apple was working on a foldable iPhone, those rumors about a $2,400+ price tag seemed totally believable. After all, Apple has a long history of coming in late and charging more.

But this time, the game looks different. Foldables aren’t some untapped market. They are a small but growing niche and Apple might not want to position itself too far outside it. Especially after the Vision Pro lesson: $3,500 for a headset was a bit too much for most people and sales reportedly fell short of expectations.

So if Apple really launches its foldable at the same $1,800 – $2,000 price range as its biggest rivals, that’s a statement. It’s not trying to be the Ferrari of foldables. It’s showing up to play – in the same league as Samsung’s Fold series and Google’s Pixel Fold line.

And let’s be real – if Apple drops a foldable at $2,000, that basically cements the price floor for premium foldables. Brands like Honor, OnePlus and Oppo might still go a bit lower to stand out, but don’t expect Samsung or Google to blink. If anything, Apple’s entry gives them cover to keep their own prices high – now it’s “just what foldables cost.”

But here is where I think things really get interesting: perception.

Right now, a lot of people don’t even think about buying a foldable. $2,000 for a phone that folds? Especially if it’s from a brand they don’t fully trust yet? It’s a hard sell. But once Apple steps in, that might change.

People who would never consider a $2,000 Android phone might take a second look if it has an Apple logo on it. Carriers will push it harder. Retailers will make more space for foldables. Developers – finally – will have a strong reason to build better apps for foldable screens. That ripple effect is what Apple brings to the table.

If the price rumor is true, Apple won’t just be dipping a toe into foldables – it’ll be diving in. And that could shift the entire category more than any thinner hinge, brighter screen or faster chip ever could.

Because while Samsung and others have led the way on foldable tech, it might take Apple to actually normalize it.