Apple is preparing its first flip phone, and according to new information from China, the iPhone Ultra could arrive in September with a starting price of as much as $2,300. Enough to make this model the most expensive iPhone to date.
The price is particularly interesting because it exceeds the limit that users usually associate with phones. According to the same post, the iPhone Ultra will cost about the same as the MacBook Pro, although it also says it won’t necessarily be the best flip phone on the market.
If the starting price of $2,300 turns out to be correct, the iPhone Ultra will be almost twice as expensive as the iPhone 17 Pro Max model, whose starting price is listed at $1,199. With that, Apple would set a new absolute price record in its own range of phones.
iPhone Ultra breaks all records in terms of price
The comparison with the MacBook Pro line further highlights how expensive the device could be. The current 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro on Apple’s website costs $1,999, which is still less than the alleged starting price of the iPhone Ultra model.
According to available information, the iPhone Ultra has already entered mass production. Apple’s main device assembly partner, Foxconn, has reportedly launched a major hiring spree to ensure sufficient production capacity and speed up inventory preparation.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that shipments of iPhone Ultra phones in the second half of 2026 could reach between seven and eight million units. In the third quarter, the delivery of 500,000 to one million devices is expected, which would make up about ten percent of the total volume in that period.
Kuo also predicts that the iPhone Ultra could sell out quickly once pre-orders open. The delivery time could be extended to four to six weeks, and the shortage could last until the end of the year.
Apple’s entry into the flip phone segment could change the broader market as well. According to Counterpoint data, global shipments of folding panels in 2026 could reach 27.5 million pieces, which would represent a growth of 24 percent. The value of that market is estimated at around 4.4 billion dollars, with a growth of 48 percent. The iPhone Ultra is therefore not only important as the most expensive Apple phone, but also as a signal that flip phones are entering a new phase. Apple lags behind the competition, but its arrival can increase demand, raise prices and further accelerate the development of this segment.