iPhone Ultra Could Cost Over $3,000 — Vodafone Australia Leaked the Prices
Apple's first foldable iPhone is shaping up to be the most expensive device the company has ever sold. Vodafone Australia briefly posted what appear to be full pricing tiers for the iPhone Ultra before pulling the page — and the numbers are eye-catching even before currency conversion.
The leak
The Vodafone listing showed three storage options priced in Australian dollars: A$3,699 for 256GB, A$4,199 for 512GB, and A$4,699 for 1TB. Converting at current rates puts those at roughly $2,652, $3,012, and $3,369 USD respectively. Australian retail prices typically run around 30% higher than US equivalents due to logistics and local taxes, which would bring estimated US prices closer to $2,100–$2,300 for the base model — consistent with what analysts have already been saying.
MacRumors (TrendForce) puts the US starting range at $2,099–$2,299, with top-tier 1TB configurations potentially clearing $3,000. For context, the iPhone 17 Pro Max maxes out at $1,999 — so even the entry iPhone Ultra would blow past it.
The price gap
Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Fold 8 at $1,899 and the Fold 8 Ultra at $2,099, per CNN. Apple's foldable, if priced at $2,099–$2,300 to start, lands 10–20% above the competing Samsung at the low end — and the gap widens sharply toward the 1TB tier. That premium reflects Apple's approach with first-generation hardware: limited supply, high positioning, and a bet that the ecosystem pulls buyers in regardless.
Whether that bet pays off depends on what the Ultra actually delivers. Macworld notes Apple is entering the foldable market later than rivals, positioning the Ultra as a polished first attempt rather than an experimental one.
What to expect
Apple's September 9 event will confirm official pricing. A US launch is expected shortly after the announcement. UK and Australian buyers are likely looking at a phased rollout, with availability coming two to three months after the US — a pattern Apple used with the Vision Pro (US in February 2024, UK and Europe from July 2024). No price has been confirmed by Apple for any market.
