If you’re planning to wait another year before buying a foldable phone in hopes of getting a better deal, that strategy may no longer work. Foldable phone prices will climb further, and 2026 is set to see an 18 percent jump alone.

The overall foldable market is rapidly shifting toward ultra-premium devices priced above $1,600. Delaying your purchase could actually mean paying more for the type of foldable that manufacturers increasingly prioritize.

A new Counterpoint report indicates that devices above the $1,600 price bracket could account for roughly 60 percent of all foldable shipments in 2026, fundamentally changing the category’s average selling price.

Apple’s arrival changes the pricing equation

Industry estimates suggest Apple’s first foldable, widely rumored as the iPhone Ultra, could capture nearly 28 percent of the global foldable market in its first year.

Unlike many Android manufacturers that compete across multiple price tiers, Apple is expected to launch directly into the premium book-style segment.

That single move dramatically raises the industry’s weighted Average Selling Price (ASP). Ironically, it also hides the fact that lower-priced foldables continue getting cheaper underneath the surface.

The real story isn’t hardware, but AI

The smartphone industry has reached a practical limit. Traditional slab phones maximize portability but struggle with multitasking. Flip phones prioritize compactness, yet sacrifice usable workspace.

Book-style foldables solve a completely different problem: they create a pocket-sized workspace capable of supporting simultaneous AI workflows. We found that multitasking is becoming the strongest justification for expensive foldables.

For years, consumers expected smartphones to become cheaper with time. Foldables are beginning to follow a different path, where the devices delivering the most productivity gains also command the industry’s highest premiums.

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