GoKawiilReport: Tim Cook personally pushed Apple's foldable iPhone, price may hit $2,199
A new Bloomberg report says Apple began exploring foldable iPhone technology around 2016, but Tim Cook's personal enthusiasm after a trip to China in 2020 redirected the project toward a foldable phone rather than a foldable iPad. Rising component costs, partly driven by a memory shortage, have reportedly pushed Apple's internal pricing target from $1,999 up to $2,199, with higher-storage models potentially nearing $3,000.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Cook rarely involves himself in early product conception, so his direct push signals how strategically important Apple views foldables as smartphone design stagnates elsewhere. The steep pricing also suggests Apple may position the foldable as an ultra-premium flagship rather than a mass-market successor to existing iPhones, testing how much consumers will pay for new form factors amid supply constraints.
- Tim Cook's personal interest reportedly shifted Apple's foldable focus from iPad to iPhone.
- Pricing has climbed from a targeted $1,999 to as high as $2,199 due to component costs.
- The device, internally called iPhone Ultra, is expected to be unveiled at Apple's upcoming event.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 — While Apple's foldable iPhone is still rumored, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 lets you use a book-style foldable today, unfolding into a tablet-sized screen for multitasking and media. It's the category Tim Cook reportedly saw everywhere in Asia and wanted Apple to enter.
See Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: 9to5mac.com — Chance Miller, 2026-09-08
Published there as: “How Tim Cook shaped Apple’s foldable iPhone, and what it may cost”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.