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iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra prices leak ahead of launch

Apple's price increases may not be as bad as many have feared.

By Ilia Temelkov

Published: Sep 03, 2026, 5:30 PM

Apple

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Dummy units of iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro on a table.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra are launching next week. | Image by TechDroider

Update from September 4, 2026:

Vodafone Egypt has reached out to PhoneArena to specify that no such leak has taken place on its end. PhoneArena's team was unable to verify the authenticity of the leak, and as such we've altered parts of the following text so it does not appear misleading.

That being said, Apple's event is less than a week away, so we'll know everything there is to know about the iPhone Ultra soon enough.

The original story follows below:

With less than a week left until the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and the foldable iPhone Ultra, their price is among the few things that remain largely unknown. After various estimations, forecasts, and wild suggestions, we may have gotten the first leaks, which are not all bad news.

iPhone Ultra’s price leaks from multiple sources

Rumors about the iPhone Ultra put its price anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500 in the US. A few recent leaks from across the globe may have revealed its price in other markets, but they strongly suggest the final tag stateside could be much closer to the lower end of this spectrum.

The first alleged leak is claimed to stem from Vodafone Egypt, but that has since been denied by the company's PR team. The leak involved a screenshot from Vodafone's website, which features a brief listing of the iPhone Ultra, with a starting price of 155,750 Egyptian pounds. While this converts to a little over $3,000, it allows a much more relevant comparison with the iPhone 17 Pro, which is currently listed for 88,799 Egyptian pounds. This could mean the foldable may be about 75% more expensive than the 17 Pro, but we'll have to wait until September 9 to be sure.

Another leak, also attributed to Vodafone but in Australia, and shared by @ev_downunder on X, claims the iPhone Ultra will start at 3,699 Australian dollars (about 2,666 USD). Again, the direct conversion is less relevant than the comparison with the iPhone 17 Pro, which starts at 1,999 Australian dollars. In this case, the iPhone Ultra appears 85% more expensive than last year’s model.

If the iPhone Ultra is about 80% more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro, then its price in the US may be $1,999. However, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce released an estimate today, which puts the minimum price of the foldable at $2,099, which would be 91% higher than last year’s flagship.

The latest on the iPhone Ultra:

iPhone 18 Pro prices are going up, but it's not all bad news

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected in three colors. | Image by Macworld

When it comes to the price of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, we only have a claim about the Egyptian prices. A leaker says they’ll sell for 98,000 and 105,000 Egyptian pounds, respectively. Again, those prices directly convert to a rather shocking $1,928 and $2,065, but the difference with last year’s models is more important.

Compared to last year, the 18 Pro may be about 10% more expensive, and the 18 Pro Max could go up 11% in Egypt. If Apple has the same increase for the US market, then we can get a rather modest $100 price bump.

The estimation done by TrendForce is a little more pessimistic, putting the increase between $149 and $200 for both models. Either way, all these prices are way below some earlier forecasts that suggested a $300 increase.

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What’s probably more exciting for Apple is the possibility that the iPhone 18 Pro Max could match the starting price of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. If we’re looking at only a $100 increase, the best slab iPhone will start at $1,299, matching Samsung’s price before the expected increases with the Galaxy S27 Ultra.

The iPhone Ultra may have a tough time

There may be a silver iPhone Ultra. | Image by Saurav_DJ47 on X

Things may look a bit different in the foldable space, where Apple will still need to face a stiff competition, especially from the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Samsung launched its first passport-style foldable last month at $1,899 for the 256GB version, and it is already proving to be extremely successful.

Then there are the other types of foldables, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, which starts at $2,099 and offers more than the iPhone Ultra in terms of cameras, displays, and battery life. We also have the Motorola Razr Fold, which starts at $1,899, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which is even cheaper at $1,799.

None of these competitors have the brand power Apple has, though. Even at a higher price, the iPhone Ultra will be the only foldable with iOS, which will help it sell well, at least initially.

The iPhone 18 Pro might be a great deal

I know $1,200 is a lot of money, but if this is the starting price of the iPhone 18 Pro, I think Apple will enjoy even better sales than with the iPhone 17 Pro. Of course, we’ll need to see the official numbers, and fortunately, we don’t need to wait long for them.

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Ilia, a tech journalist at PhoneArena, has been covering the mobile industry since 2011, with experience at outlets like Forbes Bulgaria. Passionate about smartphones, tablets, and consumer tech, he blends deep industry knowledge with a personal fascination that began with his first Nokia and Sony Ericsson devices. Originally from Bulgaria and now based in Lima, Peru, Ilia balances his tech obsessions with walking his dog, training at the gym, and slowly mastering Spanish.

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