Apple's recently launched Apple Upgrade programme could make the high asking price of the iPhone Ultra easier to digest for consumers.
The foldable iPhone is rumoured to have similar dimensions as Pixel Fold (pictured)
Apple's first foldable iPhone is widely rumoured to launch later this year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. While the Cupertino-based tech giant has yet to confirm its plans, a seasoned journalist believes it could be the company's most expensive iPhone model to date. To make it more accessible to prospective buyers, Apple is reportedly offering the purported foldable, known as the iPhone Ultra, via the recently announced Apple Upgrade leasing programme.
In the latest edition of the Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the iPhone Ultra is expected to start at "at least $2,000, if not more." The journalist noted that Samsung's latest foldable smartphone is priced at around $1,900 (1.89 lakh), while Apple is expected to position its purported handset as a more premium offering.
Gurman believes Apple's recently launched Apple Upgrade programme could make the high asking price easier to afford for consumers. According to the report, the foldable iPhone could be available at a monthly lease of around $60 (roughly Rs. 5,700) to $70 (roughly Rs. 6,700) in the US.
But despite the seemingly high price tag, the purported foldable could still ship in big numbers. According to a report by market research firm Smart Analytics Global, the iPhone Ultra could capture as much as a 25 percent share in global foldable smartphone shipments within months of entering the segment.
The Apple Upgrade programme, notably, is a new leasing programme in the US that allows users to purchase select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models at affordable monthly prices. It is backed by Klarna and allows customers to lease eligible devices over fixed terms, with options to upgrade, return or purchase the device at the end of the lease period.
For reference, customers in the US can lease the iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max through Apple Upgrade, with monthly payments starting at $17.99 (roughly Rs. 1,720). The Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 are available from $11.99 (roughly Rs. 1,150) per month. Select iPad and Mac models are also eligible under 24-month and 36-month leasing plans.
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