According to the rumors, Apple is set to launch the iPhone Fold in 2026, but are our expectations set a bit too high? It is understandable that many are excited and hyped to see how Apple would do a foldable phone. However, not everyone feels the same . According to brokerage firm, Jefferies, it has downgraded Apple’s stock to “Underperform” from “Hold” due to “excessive expectations on 18 Fold.”
iPhone Fold expectations set too high
The foldable iPhone, expected to arrive in 2026 as part of the iPhone 18 lineup, is estimated to cost somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500. That’s a lot of money, even for Apple fans who are used to the “Apple tax.” Jefferies analyst Edison Lee is warning that consumer demand at that price point might not match the market’s optimistic projections. Especially when Samsung already has foldable devices on the market at similar or even lower prices.
At $2,000 or more, the Apple foldable iPhone risks being a luxury niche product rather than the mass-market device. The analyst also believes the market has already priced in unrealistic expectations for the foldable’s success. Plus, if demand falls short, the stock could take a serious hit. Lee is warning of a potential 20% decline or more if the iPhone Fold doesn’t meet the high expectations from customers.
It’s true that many of us are hyped to see the iPhone Fold. After all, Apple took its sweet time getting the device to market. Samsung was essentially given a “free pass” of sorts to corner the market, which they have. We’re also seeing a lot of competitors from Chinese OEMs, such as Huawei, Honor, Vivo, and Oppo, just to name a few. Even Google tossed their hat into the ring with its foldable Pixels.
But not everyone’s a pessimist
That being said, while we can understand Jefferies’ advice to remain cautious, there are others who are optimistic. Jim Cramer has told investors to ignore the Jefferies downgrade. He points to strong demand for current iPhone models and Apple’s track record of innovation in both hardware and software. Cramer’s argument is that Apple has consistently proven skeptics wrong, and betting against the company has historically been a losing strategy.
In any case, only time will tell if Apple’s foldable iPhone is a smashing success or an expensive failure. In the meantime, Samsung might have actually “confirmed” the launch of the device for 2026 . The company is expected to supply Apple with the necessarily flexible displays. We’re also hearing reports that the design could essentially look like two iPhone Airs combined .
