Apple's $2,000+ Foldable iPhone: A Luxury Gamble with Uncertain Rewards

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone could be a game-changer for the tech giant, but its hefty price tag and first-generation hardware raise concerns about whether it's worth the risk.

The device, reportedly dubbed the iPhone Ultra, is expected to cost between $2,000 and $3,000, with the higher end of that range approaching or exceeding $3,000. This puts it firmly in luxury smartphone territory, and not just because of its price tag.

When folded, the phone's 5.5-inch outer display opens up into a 7.8-inch inner screen, making it thinner than Apple's current iPhone Air and even the 13-inch iPad Pro. However, this pursuit of extreme thinness may come at the cost of compromises elsewhere, such as the lack of Face ID in favor of Touch ID built into the power button.

Apple has a history of making early adopters pay for its learning curve, with the iPhone 4's Antennagate and iPhone 6 Plus's Bendgate being two notable examples. With the foldable iPhone Ultra reportedly priced at $2,000 or more, buyers may be paying not just for cutting-edge technology but also for Apple's mistakes.