CNET Finds 75% of US Adults Couldn’t Care Less About a Foldable iPhone

A new CNET survey of 2,605 US adults finds that 75 percent are not interested in buying a foldable Apple device, a figure that comes just ahead of the company’s expected September event where a rumored foldable iPhone could debut. The device, which analysts say might be called the iPhone Ultra, is anticipated to be a small iPad that folds into a standard-sized iPhone. The survey indicates that disinterest spans all age groups, with 83 percent of Boomers and 77 percent of Gen X adults not interested, while 69 percent of Gen Z and 68 percent of millennials share that view.

The same CNET survey found that US adults who might consider a foldable iPhone are not willing to pay a premium for it. On average, respondents said they would spend $781 on such a device, which is less than the $799 starting price of the base iPhone 17 model. Gen Z showed the highest willingness to pay at an average of $919, followed by millennials at $859, Gen X at $690, and Boomers at $572. Patrick Holland, CNET’s director of content, said it was surprising that only 75 percent were uninterested, noting that foldable phones are niche products and that a 25 percent interest rate would represent a strong product launch.

Holland also suggested that a foldable iPhone is not meant to replace the baseline model but to expand Apple’s lineup, potentially creating a price range with models at every $100 increment between $600 and $2,000. He noted that foldable phone prices have fluctuated over time, with the Motorola Razr line dropping from $1,400 at launch to half that price last year, before rising again due to a memory chip shortage. The rumored $2,000 to $2,500 price for the iPhone Ultra would be several hundred dollars more than foldable phones cost a few years ago, a direct result of rising RAM costs.

The memory chip shortage, driven by demand from AI and data centers, has already led Apple to raise prices on many devices in June, and it is now affecting consumer upgrade plans. According to the survey, 41 percent of US adults are rethinking their decision to upgrade to a new iPhone because of the RAM shortage and higher device prices. Holland said the companies investing in AI and building data centers are passing the higher cost of chips onto consumers, a situation he described as a corporate version of the Gift of the Magi.

Among those reconsidering an upgrade, the survey found that 10 percent plan to delay their purchase and keep their current phone longer, while 9 percent are holding onto their phone longer than originally planned. An additional 22 percent of US adults say they have no plans to upgrade anytime soon, with Gen X at 19 percent, Boomers at 27 percent, millennials at 16 percent, and Gen Z at 21 percent. Some consumers are considering cheaper alternatives, such as older models, refurbished devices, or switching to another brand, while 9 percent said they would only upgrade if a trade-in or carrier promotion covered the cost.

Holland advised that if a phone’s battery is the only problem, replacing it can add two to three years of life and avoid a costly upgrade. He also said the best phone deals typically appear at new model launches or holiday sales, and that consumers should compare trade-in offers from third-party resellers, which may pay more than carriers or phone makers. He cautioned against accepting a free phone from a carrier, as such deals often require multiyear commitments and are paid out as account credits, meaning customers who switch carriers early must pay the remaining balance.

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