“Seven Years Behind Samsung, Yet Priced at $3,000?”…First Foldable iPhone Reportedly Coming

사진 확대 Apple is expected to unveil new products, including its first foldable iPhone, later this week. [AP/Yonhap News Agency]

Apple is expected to unveil new products, including its first foldable iPhone, later this week. It will come about seven years after Samsung Electronics introduced its first foldable phone in 2019. As the device is expected to be an ultra-premium product priced above $2,000, or approximately 2.6744 million won, it could reshape competition in the premium smartphone market.

According to the IT industry on the 7th, Apple will hold the “Surprise and Shine” event at Apple Park in California on the 9th local time. The company is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone, along with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. It will also be the first iPhone launch event for Apple CEO John Ternus, who took office on the 1st.

The product drawing the most attention is the foldable iPhone, tentatively called the iPhone Ultra. Like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, it is expected to fold like a book. Reports suggest it will feature a display measuring approximately 7.8 inches when unfolded and 5.5 inches when folded. Foreign media outlets expect Apple’s key differentiator to be a display with little visible creasing when unfolded.

Thickness is also considered a key competitive advantage. Based on leaked information reported by foreign media and market forecasts, the foldable iPhone is expected to be approximately 4.5 millimeters thick when unfolded. Reducing thickness and weight is a technical challenge because foldable phones require more components, including hinges, than conventional smartphones. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, a competing product that has enjoyed major success this year, is also 4.5 millimeters thick when unfolded.

사진 확대 John Ternus, Apple’s CEO, attends an event unveiling new MacBook Pro products in October 2021. [Agence France-Presse (AFP)/Yonhap News Agency]

Although the foldable iPhone is expected to offer the highest specifications ever, its price will determine whether it becomes widely adopted. Market forecasts largely place the device at $2,000 to $2,500, or approximately 2.6744 million to 3.343 million won. CNN noted that Apple has not disclosed the price, while pointing out that the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is priced close to $2,000. Consumer prices are expected to be high as the costs of key components, including memory and semiconductors, have risen.

If it launches at $2,000 to $2,500, it will be the most expensive iPhone ever. Its detailed specifications are also expected to differ from those of existing iPhones. The device may feature dual rear cameras for wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle photography, while Touch ID could be integrated into the side power button instead of Face ID.

Apple’s entry is expected to have a significant impact on the foldable phone market. The potential customer base could expand substantially if Apple, backed by iPhone users, joins a market that Samsung Electronics and other Android manufacturers have spent years developing.

Some in the IT industry expect Apple to elevate foldable phones into a mainstream premium smartphone category if it succeeds in securing strong initial sales while maintaining its high-price strategy.

Some observers are also focusing on the possibility that initial supplies of the foldable iPhone could be limited because of its complex structure and high costs. The market is watching how Apple presents the actual price, launch schedule, and supply volume at the event.

Apple’s ability to attract demand in the foldable market, which has been dominated by Samsung Electronics and Chinese smartphone manufacturers, will also face a major test. Counterpoint Research forecasts that Apple could capture 25% of the global foldable phone market in its first year if it enters the market this year.

This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.