iPhone 18 Pro Max Pre-Orders May Open Sept. 12 as Price Jumps $100-$200

Q: Could a secret $2,000 foldable device completely overshadow Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 18 Pro Max reveal tomorrow?

Yes—if Apple actually unveils a foldable “iPhone Ultra” around $2,000 or more, it could dominate headlines over the iPhone 18 Pro Max, even if the Pro Max is the main volume product. The reason is novelty. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, while expected to bring meaningful upgrades such as the A20 Pro 2nm chip, a larger battery, a smaller Dynamic Island and possible camera refinements, still looks like an iterative flagship. By contrast, Apple’s first foldable would be its biggest iPhone design shift in years. Reports describe a book-style device with a 5.5-inch outer display, a 7.7- to 7.8-inch inner screen, a liquid-metal hinge, minimal crease, and a starting price above $2,000. That kind of product would naturally seize attention. But “overshadow” does not necessarily mean “matter more commercially.” The iPhone 18 Pro Max is still likely to be Apple’s mainstream premium seller, with sales beginning around September 18 and pricing rumored near $1,399 for 256GB in the US. The foldable, if announced, is widely expected to be niche, expensive, and potentially supply-constrained, with some reports suggesting availability could come later than the Pro models. So the most likely outcome is split: the foldable could steal the spotlight in coverage and social media, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max remains the more important product for revenue and unit sales. Much depends on whether Apple shows the foldable as a real near-term launch, not just a teaser.

3 articles · Updated · esquireindia.co.in · Sep 8

Sept. 12 is the likely pre-order date for Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max, with the handset tipped to reach buyers on Sept. 18 after the Sept. 9 launch event.
$100 to $200 price increases are expected for the Pro Max, potentially lifting the base 256GB model to about $1,399 in the US.
Rising global RAM and storage costs are driving the increase, with analysts saying Apple has already pushed similar component inflation into other recent devices.
India pricing is estimated at Rs 154,900 to Rs 159,900 for the 256GB version, while the top storage variant could approach Rs 180,000.