iPhone Fold Pricing Is Insane, and Supply Is Tiny

Quick summary: Days before Apple’s foldable event, rumors suggest the iPhone Fold could cost anywhere from about $2,099 to $3,099, and Apple is reportedly making only a few hundred units a day. Also in this roundup: the Huawei Mate XT 2 TriFold, a possibly creaseless Pixel Fold, and Galaxy S27 charging speeds.

Huawei Mate XT 2 TriFold

• It now folds like Samsung’s TriFold: a cover screen plus a 10-inch-plus display. It’s 3.5mm thin unfolded.
• Every model has 16GB RAM, with 512GB, 1TB, a 1TB privacy-display model, and a top 2TB model with a privacy display and stylus.
• Obsidian Black, White and Purple.
• Expected 6,000mAh battery and 100W charging.
• Pre-orders are open in China, with global availability later. Pricing isn’t announced, but I’d guess close to $3,000.

It looks premium, though to me it reads like a gamer-style “guy phone.”

A creaseless Pixel Fold?

I still doubt Google makes another Pixel Fold given sales. Rumors say the next one would be creaseless, working with Samsung Display. I find “no crease at all” hard to believe, and the crease isn’t a big deal anyway.

iPhone Fold price

• The long-rumored $2,499 start may be $2,099 to $2,299 in the US.
• A possible 2TB model could hit $3,099, driven by a reported 400% year-over-year spike in memory costs. With California tax and fees, that’s around $3,400 to $3,500.
• Another leak (Yogesh Brar) lists $2,299 (256GB), $2,499 (512GB) and $2,799 (1TB), with no 2TB.

Compare that with the same-size Galaxy Z Fold 8 starting at $1,899. It’s probably not $400 better, but for diehard iOS users, staying in the ecosystem is worth a lot. I expect trade-ins, financing and leasing to make it more palatable.

Extremely limited supply

Reports say Apple is producing only a few hundred units a day because of strict quality control on hinge structure, display durability and surface flatness. An extra verification step was added in August, pushing production back several weeks. Samsung reportedly makes 25,000 Fold 8s a day. Expect a US-first launch, fast sellouts, and maybe Apple-only sales at first, which is bad news for someone like me who wants one to compare.

Galaxy S27 charging

• S27 Ultra and S27 Pro: 60W.
• S27+: 45W.
• S27: 25W.

That’s the same as last year, and I’m fine with it. The S27 Ultra may get up to a 5,700mAh battery, so a full charge will take a bit longer.