Folding phones have a pricing problem — but Apple may answer that with a new leasing program. CNET’s Bridget Carey explains how challenges around Apple’s folding iPhone remind her of the criticism of Apple’s first iPhone 19 years ago.
Read more about it on CNET.com
Here’s How Apple Gets Folks to Pay More for a Folding iPhone
0:40 How much could a folding iPhone cost?
1:27 Samsung’s selling points for a wide folding phone
1:36 BTS member with Galaxy Z Fold 8
2:05 Apple’s new device leasing program
3:41 A folding phone you can use with one hand
4:05 How could Apple market a folding iPhone?
4:31 How the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 could help iPhone users
Video Credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Videographer/Editor: Carly Marsh
Additional Videography: Andrew Lanxon
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#apple #foldingphone #subscribtion #news
@ddw6523
July 24, 2026 at 3:14 pm
What no pink??
@mikeevirgo
July 24, 2026 at 3:17 pm
The script writer who can make an obsolete stuff look and sound like it’s the top tier, definitely deserves a raise.
@DJ_Darkstar
July 24, 2026 at 3:28 pm
I’m seeing a lot of people with folding phones. I was in Vegas and saw an entire family with Z Fold 7. I’m on my second folding phone (4th if you consider the LGG8X and LGV60 ThinQ dual screen phones I had prior). I still have my OnePlus Open and I imported the Oppo Find N6 which is STILL the folding phone to beat especially on the lack of a crease. I’m not into this thought of wide folds though. I do way too much multitasking plus I have the active stylus pen and case and neither Galaxy has active pens. Doubtful that Apple will have pen support as well as there’s no mention of it.
I stopped carrying around my 12 inch tablet along with the phone because the larger form factor was just as useful.
Plus, power users need the larger non passport format screen.
@DavidTch
July 24, 2026 at 3:31 pm
As an app developer one only downside with foldable iPhone I see is prepare new images for AppStore for your apps.and I guess multitasking app experience would be something close to iPad
@eastender74
July 24, 2026 at 3:35 pm
My iPhone 17 Pro is going to last me at least three years especially since I dropped it and the frame has a few scuffs. Thankfully no glass was damaged. But when it comes to Apple trade in value it might as well have.
@karma9471
July 24, 2026 at 4:02 pm
finally something new from Apple…. oh wait
@ModAE99
July 24, 2026 at 4:24 pm
“It’s Apple”
To answer your question.
@fayzzz96
July 24, 2026 at 4:26 pm
This will be fail too like Apple vision pro 😂
@sambonkowski
July 24, 2026 at 4:48 pm
who the demographic that look at her videos? 2 years old?
@mattashman4040
July 24, 2026 at 4:55 pm
Only in the US
@NeilLewin
July 24, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Nope, hard pass. $2k+? That’s MacBook Pro territory. Makes no sense.
@royalmale2412
July 24, 2026 at 5:11 pm
Let celebrities have a go at it first and the influencer bourgeoisie just to show us mortals how rich they are lol in 4 years that foldable would be worth less that 500k and nearly zero down payments for the rest of us 😂
@gr8bkset-524
July 24, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Watching your video on my S22+ connected to a pair of $130 refurbished display glass that gives me a 145 inch display. With the S22+ DeX and the display glass, I’ve given up my tablet, laptop and desktop.
@ATXJA
July 24, 2026 at 5:35 pm
Give me another Mini Apple 😂
@plove552
July 24, 2026 at 5:36 pm
As a Samsung phone user I would have to say that using the phone is great because if you’re replacing a tablet and a phone it is not that expensive that’s the way you have to look at it it is 2 + 1
@Kingdomflowpodcast25
July 24, 2026 at 5:48 pm
The fact that both companies are shipping 256 gb on a 2000 device is wild crazy and it should be ashamed 😳 enough is enough
@marinangelov
July 24, 2026 at 5:58 pm
I had the Verizon version of the Motorola RAZR when Steve Jobs announced the original iPhone.
@CharliMarli
July 24, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Samsung bosses leaning back in their chairs saying, “your move Apple, your move”
@hurleyfrancois4060
July 24, 2026 at 6:49 pm
yup… I’m looking very carefully at the fold 8.
@TerrySheffield-s4h
July 24, 2026 at 7:00 pm
what an obnoxious voice
@Xolition
July 24, 2026 at 7:59 pm
One UI 8.5 ruined my Fold. Not buying Samsung any more. May go back to Pixel.
@perhapsme988
July 24, 2026 at 8:29 pm
If the more stubby shape of the phone side of the Foldable iPhone is popular, don’t be surprised that some future iPhone models go back to the more stubby form factor that iPhone had started in the red first place. (I personally would prefer this.)
If the unfolded screen uses iPadOS, lots of iPad apps would automatically be useful. iPad dominate tablet sales so this foldable iPhone with iPadOS would be popular enough.
One more thing.
Would iPad 11 inch models be turned into foldable devices? Might not need an iPhone side but another smaller iPad screen? How about the 13 inch that’s double sided?
Why this? Portability.
I guess it all depends on the longevity of the crease in the foldable screen.
The pricing might be an issue especially given iPhone 17 series are mighty popular.
@SuperPerfectMan
July 24, 2026 at 8:35 pm
How can it be worth it to spend 2500 dollars or more on a on a phone if your not making 3x that in gain
@sgmcmlxxx
July 24, 2026 at 8:43 pm
Jesus this woman is so annoying
@jayc00ler
July 24, 2026 at 8:45 pm
Fold 8 for the win
@InfamousHp
July 25, 2026 at 10:40 am
I miss the days of turning the iPhone sideways (landscape) & scrolling thru my music seeing the album art
@noyu8
July 25, 2026 at 10:50 am
Hold up I could’ve been walking around filming myself this entire time with my phone. I didn’t need to wait and save up to buy a folding phone. I’m doing it today.
@fran3iii519
July 25, 2026 at 10:53 am
It’s always great knowing that companies out there are coming up with new ways to keep their customers broke.
@Teromi
July 25, 2026 at 11:05 am
I refuse to get a 2k plus phone.
@Osteady-now
July 25, 2026 at 11:17 am
crapple’s still years behind everyone else. They are so desperate, they keep copying Android where ever and when ever they can 😂😂😂😂
@MW-nb7yy
July 25, 2026 at 11:24 am
1. Will I upgrade to a folding iPhone, I’m sure eventually. 2. Will I upgrade from my iPad Pro to a folding iPad almost certainly. I won’t do either until the line has a few models to work out the bugs.
@shaft1971
July 25, 2026 at 11:48 am
Not adding up for me. Still a camera junkie at heart, so looking at the 18 pro or pro max
@briengakaplan-b1550
July 25, 2026 at 12:01 pm
Love how samsung knows what apple is building next (because they make their displays) and creates it first 😂
@txmoney
July 25, 2026 at 12:09 pm
If I wanted a larger screen id own an iPad. Oh wait…I do! 😂
@CreditBuko
July 25, 2026 at 12:59 pm
Apple is copying Android now. OK.
@harlanct
July 25, 2026 at 1:13 pm
I had that same phone OMG I loved it!!
@acefan2trekninja
July 25, 2026 at 1:18 pm
You will own nothing and be happy.
@I999-g2s
July 25, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Why the hijab wearing woman at 1m08s?
She’s not very representative.
Both my wife and daughter wear hijab and are concerned about random attacks. In our locale, hijab wearing girls have been slapped, spat upon and terrorized on public transport, mostly by young white males. This sort of skewed representation isn’t helping, it’s causing real harm.
@CornOnDaCob3000
July 25, 2026 at 1:45 pm
I liked the Samsung foldables I had, but once they dropped the S Pen, they went from expensive but useful to overpriced novelty. And no way I’m paying MORE for an iPhone, foldable or not, than I would pay for my MacBook Pro M5 laptop.
@gwenaellepage
July 25, 2026 at 1:51 pm
I never buy first-year models of phones and tablets, that’s why I didn’t get the iPhone 17 pro max and will buy the 18 . That’s why I won’t buy the iPhone next year and will wait another year or two
@TheMayorOfSteelhead
July 25, 2026 at 2:02 pm
all these companies have peaked, as consumers we are trapped in a cycle of mediocre improvements with large price hikes. It’s not just phones, cars are similar these days.
@zaharizahariev
July 25, 2026 at 3:29 pm
We are approaching very fast multi generational mortgages for iPhones.
@ubermenschen3636
July 25, 2026 at 3:43 pm
Over $2k for Apple foldable iPhone with financing is a scam at worst, exploitation at best. Apple is going down the same destructive path that ultimately destroyed GM. GM charged ever higher prices by offering financing. GM became a financial company that incidentally makes cars. GM’s demise moved at a slow pace courtesy of government tariff against imports, but eventually the cows left the barn. Today, Apple is enjoying US government ban against Huawei, Xiamei, and other brands, hence, Apple is able to raise prices for mediocre technology. Once bent over the American consumer has a long memory. Apple’s fate is sealed.
@raisinmancereal
July 25, 2026 at 5:01 pm
I wish I could afford it. I also wish the fold 8 didn’t have 2 selfie cameras. I’d rather not see the hole punch in the inner screen while multitasking.
@MichaelSpatola-g8w
July 25, 2026 at 5:38 pm
how many 666 hand gestures can one person make? another freemason controlled opposition. Evil
@philip5899
July 25, 2026 at 6:25 pm
There’s another fool who said the thing wouldn’t sell because it didn’t have a keyboard 🙄🙄🙄
@deepfieldphoto
July 25, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Still think apple will , or should, market it as an iPad mini / iPhone combination, which would justify the higher cost and lend a good use case . I’d almost be tempted as looking at mini upgrade soon, but I need the camera and smaller size of the pro cue to video work.
@pauldannelachica2388
July 25, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Buying your next iphone will cause your car your house your kidney. And it cost 999.999% then owning a cruise ship
@MediaBaronYT
July 25, 2026 at 7:32 pm
I had a Palm Treo 650 instead of the first iPhone. The first iPhone didn’t even have copy/paste which was a deal killer for me.
@amitakabari2281
July 25, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Please let apple make iphone worth it for me first 😅
@old-wise-one4473
July 26, 2026 at 6:24 am
Nope, no folding phone for me!
I have a iPad mini which replaced my iPod Touch when I travel and bike and I have a 13″ iPad Air to watch vids and draw on working on my Mac, and a iPhone 17 for a phone. I prefer things that way.
Smaller screens don’t do well with multiple App windows side by side or even on top of each other. The fact I can’t copy an image or even text as nicely as I can on my Mac without having to go through a bunch of hoops makes any iOS based system very useless! I was hoping they would address that first in the next updates, sadly I doubt it will happen.
@bentorrey12
July 26, 2026 at 6:31 am
Apples will suck
@WilanderMascrenhas
July 26, 2026 at 7:52 am
Lord no. Monthly payments for a phone. If that is the case. Just opt for something cheaper. Can understand monthly payments for a car or a home, but let’s not normalize this for a phone
@barbnd1512
July 26, 2026 at 7:54 am
Unsubscribed because of your snide political remarks. Don’t trust your information because of it.
@BPT-h3g
July 26, 2026 at 9:23 am
Not sure what you are referring to. Got a link to share?
@BPT-h3g
July 26, 2026 at 9:34 am
Thanks for the info, but yeah, no, I’ve given up on financing anything a very long time ago since it was a way to dig a deep hole of debt and not actually own anything.
Nowadays, and for at least the past decade, if I cannot save to buy it outright, I do without. I am way happier, and make do with used or refurb devices, which are fine for my needs and also way cheaper than buying new.
Also, I do NOT want a larger phone, not even if it folds. I have a 13 Mini, and will use it until it either falls apart or no longer gets security updates, while I wait for a phone that runs Linux well enough to be a real daily driver (nope to Android/Lineage/Graphene/Calyx – don’t care/hate Android) and the current offerings of Sailfish/UBPorts/etc. all have software functionality parts broken in different ways that make then more a hack than a daily driver with too many compromises.
Late-stage capitalism and obsessive consumerism will kill us all, but it has been happening so slowly, that it’s like boiling a frog. Get out while you still can!
@dotamaze
July 26, 2026 at 10:16 am
Never buying a folding phone, no matter who makes it !
@JointComedy
July 26, 2026 at 10:40 am
Can’t wait for the iPhone fold!!!
@ichuck7
July 26, 2026 at 10:53 am
I was in college when the original iPhone launched. Random strangers would come up to me and were like, “Is that the iPhone?” That screen is HUUUGE! They also called it the “Jesus phone.” My aunt said she would never be able to figure out a phone like that.
@talalztube
July 26, 2026 at 11:12 am
And The fools are still buying it including me
@talalztube
July 26, 2026 at 11:17 am
I remember the iPhone 5 add where they made fun of large screen phones, human thumb goes from here to here
@swancakes
July 26, 2026 at 12:51 pm
at work, i take notes on a dedicated ipad mini. please don’t make me do that on my phone.
@enigmagnetic
July 26, 2026 at 1:02 pm
Folding phones are stoooopid.
@Phoenix_Tny
July 26, 2026 at 2:23 pm
I miss simple slip phones
@scottalan4655
July 26, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Apples isnt worth it they are total garbage not worth more than even the samsung cheapest just a status symbol kind of funny people are proud of their acceptance of slaves making their trash
@jgomezsti
July 26, 2026 at 2:42 pm
I had the LG Ku990
@faba6753
July 26, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Can’t believe you would advocate for this leasing scheme on a depreciating asset while giving Apple a pass for jacking up their prices.
@TheRobkob
July 26, 2026 at 2:59 pm
$2500 would do much better in your 401K 👀
@lucastanzani12
July 26, 2026 at 3:50 pm
iphone user here..I am so bored by the device market that i consider a foldable phone just to “feel something”..but than again: what is a phone for anyway? watching ads on social media? OMG there is nothing interesting to buy anymore..is it only me?
@Breez013
July 26, 2026 at 3:50 pm
Woah! The LG Envy 1! By far my favorite phone. Texting on that keyboard was always so quick and satisfying.
@Arcilios
July 26, 2026 at 5:00 pm
Fold 8 is perfect. $2,480 after tax though? Ehhhh idk. I might wait a couple years until fold 8 is like 500 brand new lol
@Errcyco
July 26, 2026 at 6:04 pm
The only normal people that will get these is simple, people on a plan where they don’t pay all at once. I buy direct.. I got like a 16e budget and that’s almost impossible. This thing is so far out of reach for me I haven’t even studied it much.
@nacholibre7313
July 26, 2026 at 7:35 pm
At this point, just take all the money. Just don’t take away our oxygen.
@HeyMavDak
July 26, 2026 at 7:37 pm
The first 3 iPhone models were not worth buying.
@JSmith-nu4bl
July 26, 2026 at 8:28 pm
She looks like one of those crazy anti-ICE karens that runs in front of moving cars
@diegovr86
July 26, 2026 at 8:29 pm
Inflation. US, welcome to the rest of the world…
@cb-br2tp
July 26, 2026 at 10:28 pm
Any apple product is lame and you should not buy any of their products. Its just dumb, if your dumb, buy apple products
@Mr_ToR
July 27, 2026 at 12:08 am
The high price can’t be justified by anything other than Apple simply wanting to earn more and trying to take advantage of the people. After all, a price is always cost plus profit. So what do you think a fair profit should be? Many people feel 10~15% is fair. However Apple is obviously asking for 40%~70%. Why? I don’t think there is any justification. This is very uncool. Also, a flip phone? For multitasking what? So we can scroll more and watch ads more efficiently? Give me a break. Very uncool.
@addsfour3499
July 27, 2026 at 1:29 am
The biggest sell feature for the Apple i fold for me is that i can get rid of my ipad, so you need to factor that into the value proposition.
@mitschiewaldmann9450
July 27, 2026 at 2:09 am
I am definitely intrigued but as you pointed out it depends on the price.
@KeyOwOKey
July 27, 2026 at 2:58 am
When someone creates a folding tab without cameras. That’s all i want.
@Sparky5869
July 27, 2026 at 3:35 am
“make buying a phone more like buying a car” 💀
@Andyhandle
July 27, 2026 at 3:40 am
Ibwejtbfor a lightish phone (190g) with battery life into 3 days. And a 7.2″ phone that’s optimised for reading and writing and a camera tyaysbfiod enough. Total cost for the two phones £800.
I like the new Samsung Fold 8, and what I’ve seen of the Apple fold. However, I can’t justify the cost. Though an updated iPad (which fits another need that my 2 phones don’t) could be tempting:)
I try to remind myself”do I need this or do I want this, and why “.
@davidleeashkenazi8992
July 27, 2026 at 4:28 am
Marry me
@vortex-h3d
July 27, 2026 at 4:39 am
govittdeoJatt
@knightone57
July 27, 2026 at 6:35 am
No way I am spending $2000 for a phone…
@andyrayna4303
July 27, 2026 at 7:53 am
I’m one of those who thinks they look cool, but honestly don’t want one and wish Apple would’ve came up with something better, maybe a little more original
@pimurdock9553
July 27, 2026 at 8:07 am
Seriously, who plays video games, searches the web and watches a video all at the same time. On a phone. Focus people. Jack down.
@sgtamu9459
July 27, 2026 at 9:16 am
No you don’t need THAT expensive folding phone. Just buy a phone u like & a tablet! Way more worth a deal no matter which way you look at it unless you are into a SHOWING OFF kinda thing. Thanks!
@ryanduffy5887
July 27, 2026 at 9:38 am
Ive the 17pm and m4 13” ipad pro so no way im spending silly money to get a lesser version of both my devices
@rayso
July 27, 2026 at 9:52 am
Greedy
@CNET
July 27, 2026 at 10:12 am
Read more about it on CNET.com
Here’s How Apple Gets Folks to Pay More for a Folding iPhone
@IncomeOtaku
July 27, 2026 at 11:41 am
With RAM going like this, very soon phones will cost more than a car….in Singapore…. used.
@ErwinNacino
July 27, 2026 at 12:20 pm
Even with a new Galaxy phone the talking point is still about Apple
@sidshri6080
July 27, 2026 at 12:32 pm
Hijab girl was a cool touch 😅
@SagarSharma-ub8ol
July 27, 2026 at 12:53 pm
Why do you keep showing the Hijab woman, seems like some agenda here! Will unsubscribe CNET if it continues!
@JasonJrake
July 27, 2026 at 12:59 pm
0:16
First couple iPhones (and first several androids, till the Galaxy S4 at least) were trash compared to Windows Mobile “feature” phones….
But their obvious-in-hindsight feature of grouping texts as “conversations” instead of sharing a chronological email inbox, that was a game changer and convinced me to buy.
That alone must have saved millions of man hours of frustration and miscommunication for workers and loved ones.
@manolom6698
July 27, 2026 at 3:19 pm
It’s the eyes Chico… they never lie. 😅
@Hof79905
July 27, 2026 at 9:20 pm
Apple doesn’t make anything worth it to me anymore.
@M1971jones
July 28, 2026 at 4:33 am
You know there’s something wrong with the world when you compare buying a phone to a car
@NoNameForAnAlias
July 28, 2026 at 4:53 am
I remember the first iPhone, I won one on launch day of all things. Never looked back, even though I often have Androids as backups (usually a foldable). The biggest trade off is the camera though with foldables, which ironically has been Apple’s strong point the past many years. Prob sticking to an Android fold with desktop mode and a Pro Max iPhone to have the absolute best camera/video setup.
@SniperMayer
July 28, 2026 at 6:23 am
what a nothingburger video
@NolureDoure
July 28, 2026 at 8:40 am
Just go and buy an iPad mini if you’re rich, or a Samsung small tablet. It’s like $100.
@Rehsan_Riyadh
July 28, 2026 at 9:20 am
boring price talk only…
@ZemiVoid
July 28, 2026 at 11:18 am
I had a T-Mobile Wing, MDA, and an HP iPaq that I had to buy on eBay because they were only sold on the West Coast before I bought the iPhone 3G. I didn’t even want it. I wanted a Sidekick 3 but was on a one-day pass during basic training at Fort Benning, and AT&T didn’t sell it. I bought the greatest phone and didn’t even want it lmfao!
@PepeHands-k4f8b
July 28, 2026 at 11:24 am
Can we stop showing in ads people belonging to religion designed to exterminate womens right and gays?
@King_arthurs_69
July 28, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Yall got money for a new phone
@Naviss
July 28, 2026 at 2:04 pm
As a person who upgraded yearly with the IUP (iPhone Upgrade Program), I’m happy to see the new program drop included AppleCare. Why? Because I would rather have AppleCare+. Paying yearly for AppleCare on my iPhone & Macbook, was as much as if I just paid for AppleCare+, but I’d also be able to add an extra device for coverage with that.
I’ve read that some people could work through Apple to get rid of AppleCare in the loan program for IUP, but it didn’t always work and a hassle to try and do.
@cobyabbygayle
July 28, 2026 at 4:02 pm
Great info. Love you and your channel. I have a Z fold 7 and enjoy it. Z8 look like it would hold better in my hand. We will see. Thanks again
@hankmiller990
July 28, 2026 at 4:24 pm
Apple AGAIN is copying Samsung with the Fold formfactor! Normally it takes Apple a year or 4 to copy Samsung’s innovation but with the Fold it took them EIGHT years.
Apple is dead!
@TheBoomerPlace
July 28, 2026 at 4:37 pm
I miss my 32gb 3GS 😍
@HirotoYoto-t8n
July 28, 2026 at 4:43 pm
remember when iphone was $199 with a 2 yr contract? i wish they would bring that back.
@jaredking31
July 28, 2026 at 4:52 pm
I’m just gonna hold on to my iPhone 12 mini until they stop the security updates. I can’t understand how people like walking around with gigantic screens all day.
@trexpeditiongotravel
July 28, 2026 at 5:28 pm
I’ll skip the folding phone because of cost! Hopefully the other phones will drop in price!😄
@AtrithaAntibas-y1k
July 28, 2026 at 8:32 pm
Ke na ke ilo kio in tan etal nan jabor?