Apple’s rumoured foldable iPhone could end up costing owners far more than its eye-watering purchase price suggests.
According to a new resale value study from SellCell, foldable smartphones lose value significantly faster than traditional handsets. This raises questions about how well Apple’s expected iPhone Ultra could hold its worth after launch.
The foldable iPhone is widely tipped to arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in late 2026. Rumours point to a price tag of around $2,000. If it follows the depreciation pattern of today’s foldables, however, it could be worth just $708 after one year. This would represent a loss of roughly $1,292.
That’s based on SellCell’s analysis of flagship devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola and OnePlus. The study found that foldable phones lose an average of 64.6% of their value within 12 months. In comparison, conventional smartphones lose 55.3% on average. In practical terms, foldable owners lose nearly $1,000 on average after a year. Meanwhile, buyers of standard flagship phones lose around $605.
The findings highlight one of the biggest challenges facing premium foldables. While manufacturers continue to improve durability and design, resale values haven’t kept pace. As a result, they are a considerably more expensive long-term investment.
That said, Apple could prove to be the exception.
The company has historically outperformed almost every rival in retaining value. According to the same study, the iPhone 16 family retained 51.5% of its original value after 12 months. This outperformed devices from Samsung, Google, Motorola and OnePlus.
If the iPhone Ultra manages to match Apple’s existing resale performance rather than the broader foldable market, the outlook becomes less bleak. SellCell estimates a $2,000 foldable iPhone could still be worth around $1030 after a year. This would reduce depreciation by more than $300 compared to the average foldable.
Even then, owners would still be looking at a loss of roughly $1000 in the first year alone.
Of course, the iPhone Ultra doesn’t officially exist yet, and Apple’s foldable ambitions remain firmly in rumour territory. But if the reports are accurate, prospective buyers may want to factor in resale value. This would be alongside the inevitable excitement of Apple’s first folding handset.
For all the innovation a foldable iPhone could bring, keeping its value may not be one of its strongest selling points.
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