Top Pick: Stick with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, Not the Ultra
Apple’s iPhone Ultra is a premium foldable phone positioned as the company’s most expensive handset, with a reported price roughly double the iPhone 17 Pro Max and limited launch supply that may cause long waiting times and steep resale markups, raising the question of whether its tablet‑like experience justifies the foldable iPhone cost for most buyers. For most people, the smarter choice will be Apple’s conventional flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. The iPhone Ultra price is expected to land around USD 2,300–2,600 (approx. RM10,166–RM11,050), roughly twice what you’d pay for the current Pro Max. You are paying a huge premium mainly for the novelty of a foldable design and early access, not for an essential upgrade in everyday phone tasks. Unless you are an early adopter who cares more about owning the first foldable iPhone than about value, stick with the Pro Max and let the Ultra’s first generation mature.
iPhone Ultra Price, Availability, and Scalper Risk
The iPhone Ultra price is forecast at roughly USD 2,300–2,500 (approx. RM10,166–RM11,050), putting it firmly in ultra‑luxury territory compared with other Apple phones. According to analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo, this is “roughly two times the price of the company’s current flagship, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.” On top of that cost, you face serious availability headaches. Apple is said to be producing only 500,000 to 1,000,000 units in the third quarter of 2026, versus 20,000,000 to 22,000,000 units of the standard Pro models, making the foldable iPhone cost harder to swallow when stock is so thin. Reports suggest pre‑orders could sell out instantly, with delivery times stretching 4–6 weeks and slipping toward December. Low supply is also expected to attract scalpers, who may push resale prices up by 50–100%, potentially doubling an already steep premium foldable phone.
Design and Use Case: iPhone Ultra vs iPad‑Like Experience
Where the iPhone Ultra actually earns its name is in its form factor. It is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, with a 5.5‑inch outer display and a 7.8‑inch internal folding screen that looks like an iPad mini when opened. In other words, it targets people who want iPad‑like functionality in a device that still fits in a pocket, redefining the iPhone Ultra vs iPad conversation. Unfolded, the body is reportedly under 5mm thick, even thinner than Apple’s planned ultra‑slim models. If you read, watch video, and multitask on your phone for hours every day, this premium foldable phone could replace a small tablet and consolidate your devices. But remember: you are paying the foldable iPhone cost mostly for the screen and new category status. For typical messaging, social apps, and photos, the Pro Max will handle almost everything just as well, without the complexity and risk of a first‑generation folding mechanism.
Launch Timing, Delays, and Whether to Wait
Apple plans to announce the iPhone Ultra in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but shipping is expected to lag. Kuo predicts the foldable will start arriving about a month later, echoing the staggered rollout seen with earlier high‑end models. With only 500,000–1,000,000 units slated for that quarter, supply shortages could push real‑world delivery back by one to two months and keep walk‑in retail purchases nearly impossible through December. Scalper activity and hype may keep both official and secondary‑market prices inflated until production ramps in early 2027, when inventory should improve and demand will be easier to read. Given this picture, the best move for most buyers is clear: skip the first wave, buy or keep a regular flagship, and revisit the iPhone Ultra once pricing, durability data, and software optimizations around the large folding screen are all proven.
Buy if / Skip if
- Buy the iPhone Ultra if you are an early adopter who wants Apple’s first premium foldable phone regardless of the high iPhone Ultra price and potential delays.
- Skip the iPhone Ultra if you mainly use your phone for everyday calls, messages, social apps, and photos where a standard flagship already excels.
- Buy the iPhone Ultra if you intend to replace a small tablet with one device and will fully use the 7.8‑inch internal screen that looks like an iPad mini.
- Skip the iPhone Ultra if you are unwilling to face possible 4–6 week shipping waits, limited launch supply, and scalper markups of 50–100% on the foldable iPhone cost.
- Buy the iPhone Ultra if owning Apple’s most expensive, rarest handset at launch matters more to you than getting the best value per dollar.
- Skip the iPhone Ultra if you prefer to wait until production ramps in early 2027 so you can judge long‑term durability, prices, and whether this premium foldable phone truly fits your needs.
