IDC predicts that Apple will deliver 10 million foldable iPhones in the first year, priced at $2,500 each.

      IDC forecasts that Apple's debut foldable iPhone will sell over 10 million units in its first year, priced at $2,500, helping to revive a category that was on track for a double-digit decline. In the EU, the device will need to display an energy label that rates its repairability and performance after multiple drops.

      According to IDC, the first foldable iPhone is expected to ship more than 10 million units in its inaugural year. The research firm believes this phone will rejuvenate a category that was projected to decline significantly this year.

      The launch of the device is anticipated in September. IDC's senior research director Nabila Popal expressed optimism that “the passport-style Apple foldable will achieve considerable success despite its $2,500 price point,” targeting “a very elite group of consumers.”

      The forecast for the foldable category has changed as well. IDC now predicts that foldables will see a growth of 12.6% this year and 18% next year, with Apple capturing 40% of all foldable shipments by 2027.

      Conversely, the rest of the smartphone market is trending downward. IDC has downgraded its overall smartphone market forecast to a historic 16.7% decline this year, driven by a memory shortage causing component costs to be reflected in retail prices.

      “The components that enable AI are the same ones currently in short supply, and their increased costs are directly impacting retail prices,” stated Francisco Jeronimo from IDC. “The era of the affordable smartphone is over.”

      Samsung has dominated this foldable category for seven years. Its Z Fold8 Ultra starts at $2,099 in the United States, placing Apple's anticipated price about $400 higher.

      In Europe, the phone will arrive with a required label. Since June 2025, all smartphones sold in the EU must display an energy label indicating a repairability rating, battery endurance, and a durability score against repeated drops.

      Apple's current ratings are average. The iPhone 17 Pro Max holds a class C rating for repairability, class B for withstanding 180 free falls, and 1,000 battery charge cycles.

      Samsung's folding phone currently outperforms Apple on two of those three metrics. The Galaxy Z Fold 7 received a class A rating for free fall and 2,000 battery cycles, matching Apple only on repairability with a class C rating.

      The regulations apply to foldables as well. Regulation 2023/1670 does not exempt phones that fold, only those that roll, meaning a hinge must still meet the 800-cycle battery minimum requirement and seven years of spare parts availability.

      As a result, Europe is the only market where the fold crease will be assessed. Apple will announce a durability rating for its most expensive phone to date on the same day it reveals the device's price.