Will Apple's Foldable iPhone Flourish or Flop?
Key Points
Apple debuted its first foldable phone at its "Surprise and Shine" keynote event on Wednesday.
Apple's stock has risen 15% year to date.
John Ternus took over as CEO on Sept. 1, marking the end of Tim Cook's 15-year tenure.
- 10 stocks we like better than Apple ›
Apple's (NASDAQ: AAPL) new CEO, John Ternus, stepped into the spotlight for the first time this week as he unveiled the company's first-ever foldable iPhone. It's been a long time coming for the device, and it will surely be one of the most closely watched product launches in recent history.
Whether this latest iPhone flourishes or flops will have repercussions for investors. The stakes are high, and there are a few key metrics shareholders should watch.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Image source: Apple.
First, the price of the new foldable iPhone is set at a premium even for Apple. Priced above $2,000, the foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Ultra, will set a new standard for both unit sales and demand. Every sale helps Apple grow its margins and reset consumer expectations regarding fairly priced technology.
Secondly, investors should monitor Apple's supply chain situation. The company may ship only a few hundred thousand units early on. A slow launch may dampen initial revenue numbers even if demand is high.
Lastly, competition is intense in the foldable phone space. Companies like Samsung and Huawei have offered similar products for a couple of years; if there are any problems with Apple's foldable design, that will be a huge boost for competition.
On the flip side, a successful rollout of the foldable iPhone paired with high demand and no pushback on the elevated price could mean Apple is poised to dominate a new high-margin category.
This is Ternus's first big test, and whether the phone flops or flourishes among consumers will have real impacts on the company's revenue and stock. Fortunately for shareholders, Apple still has real staying power as the preeminent phone of choice in the United States.
We don't yet know how consumers will receive the phone in the long term, but it won't make or break the company overall.
Should you buy stock in Apple right now?
Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Apple wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $414,015!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,385,459!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 960% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 213% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of September 10, 2026.
Catie Hogan has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Recommended Articles
