The forthcoming iPhone Fold is positioned to advance foldable smartphone technology further than any previous device, with reports suggesting Apple has achieved what Samsung has pursued for years—a genuinely crease-free display.
Yet beneath the engineering accomplishment lies a more formidable challenge that threatens the device's market viability: the intersection of its stratospheric price and the fundamental uncertainties surrounding long-term durability.
While the visible crease has dominated industry discourse about foldables, the actual problem facing the iPhone Fold represents a deeper economic equation. Apple's anticipated price point of $2,400 to $2,500 positions the device as the most expensive smartphone the company has ever manufactured.
This price targets early adopters willing to pay a premium for cutting-edge technology, but it simultaneously establishes an expectation of reliability and longevity that foldable devices have historically struggled to deliver.
The underlying issue stems from how smartphone users actually behave. The average smartphone replacement cycle has shortened to 2.4 years globally, with American consumers replacing devices even more frequently at 2.1 years. More significantly, modern iPhone owners follow distinct patterns: many keep devices for 3 to 4 years or longer, yet among more frequent upgraders, the typical cycle runs 1 to 2 years.
The difficulty intensifies when considering first-generation devices. History demonstrates that early iterations of revolutionary product categories frequently suffer from hidden vulnerabilities that emerge only during extended real-world use.
Foldable phones face demonstrable durability challenges that extend beyond theoretical limits. Flexible screens remain inherently vulnerable to permanent damage—dust particles trapped during folding can cause scratches, and the repeated bending stress creates deformation points over time.
The hinge mechanism, while tested to withstand approximately 200,000 folds, begins to show degradation in practical settings, sometimes failing before the display itself. Screen protectors on foldables offer limited protection and deteriorate quickly with regular folding cycles.
The financial burden of repairs amplifies the problem considerably. Galaxy Z Fold repair costs demonstrate the troubling economics: replacing the inner display costs approximately $499, while outer display replacement runs $129.
Samsung's own pricing reveals the severity—repairing a Galaxy Z Fold 7 display costs roughly 760,000 won (approximately $600), compared to just 180,000 won for a standard Galaxy S25 display replacement. These repair costs often approach or exceed the cost of purchasing a standard smartphone entirely, rendering repairs economically irrational for most consumers.
This economic trap becomes particularly acute with the iPhone Fold. A device costing $2,400 to $2,500 carries implicitly higher durability expectations than its cheaper competitors.
When a screen crease begins appearing, when the hinge develops resistance, or when the display accumulates scratches—all common occurrences in foldable phones—consumers face a stark choice: invest hundreds or thousands in repairs for a device already several years old, or abandon a significant investment and purchase a replacement.
The second-hand market reflects this reality. Used Galaxy Z Fold phones depreciate significantly faster than comparable Galaxy S models, dropping below their standard-phone counterparts in resale value.
Buyback prices remain depressed due to durability concerns and the substantial repair costs that deter potential buyers. An iPhone Fold purchased at $2,400 would likely suffer similar devaluation, particularly if signs of wear emerge within the first two years.youtube
Apple's historical strength in customer retention depends on delivering value across the device's lifespan. The company built its ecosystem around users keeping iPhones for extended periods, with robust software support spanning five years or more.
Battery replacement programs and relatively affordable repairs on standard iPhones created a sustainable upgrade cycle. Foldables disrupt this model fundamentally.
The crease issue, while solved according to the latest reports, represents merely the visible symptom of a broader problem: folding phones sacrifice the durability consistency that traditional iPhone buyers expect in exchange for novelty.
Engineering an invisible crease required years of development, but engineering a foldable that maintains pristine functionality for five years—matching the service life expectations set by decades of iPhone reliability—remains unachieved across the entire industry.youtube
For the iPhone Fold to succeed, Apple must overcome a problem that transcends design and manufacturing. The device must prove that premium construction and engineering can deliver longevity comparable to standard iPhones while accepting the inherent fragility of flexible screens and complex hinges.
That gap—between expectation and material reality—represents the genuine vulnerability of Apple's entry into foldables, one far more consequential than any visible crease.
