Replacing the iPhone Ultra display will cost $1155
Apple repair specialist Riky Panesar estimated the potential cost of replacing the internal flexible screen of the future iPhone Ultra at approximately £850, or $1155. This is significantly more expensive than similar repairs for Samsung foldable smartphones.
Screen replacement may cost more than $1100
The forecast was shared by Rikis Panesar, founder of the British service center iCorrect, specializing in Apple device repairs. According to his estimate, replacing the internal foldable display of the iPhone Ultra will cost approximately £850 or $1155, and the final cost could be even higher.
For comparison, replacing the internal screen of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in the UK costs £594, while for the previous Galaxy Z Fold 7 it is £569. Thus, repairing the main display of a foldable iPhone could potentially cost about 40% more than that of the current Samsung model.
At this point, it is still a matter of expert assessment. Apple has not yet unveiled a foldable iPhone and has not published official repair prices for it.
Why iPhone Ultra repair can be so expensive
One of the reasons cited is the device’s design. It is expected that Samsung Display will supply flexible OLED panels for the first foldable iPhone. Samsung, in this case, uses displays from its own division and has several generations of experience in manufacturing and servicing foldable smartphones.
Apple is also credited with its own complex hinge design. According to leaks, it may use so-called liquid metal, and one of the main tasks for engineers became the near-complete elimination of a noticeable crease in the center of the screen.
For independent service centers, this design will also be new for a while. The lack of available parts and repair experience can further increase the cost of servicing the device.
Panesar believes that the iPhone Ultra could receive some of the highest repair costs among all mobile devices released by Apple.
AppleCare+ may also become more expensive
Owners of the iPhone Ultra may face even more expensive AppleCare+ service. Currently, in the UK, repairing a damaged screen on certain iPhone models with AppleCare+ costs £29.
According to Panesara’s forecast, the cost of a single insurance repair for a foldable iPhone could approach £100. The expert also suggests that Apple may need to adjust the program terms for this model due to the high cost of flexible displays.
In this case, AppleCare+ will become an especially important purchase for device owners. Without additional coverage, damage to the internal screen could potentially cost more than half of the smartphone’s intended initial price.
Other components may also prove difficult to repair.
The problem may not be limited to the flexible screen. According to leaks, in order to reduce the thickness of the case, Apple decided to abandon Face ID and embed Touch ID into the side power button.
Panesar notes that replacing such a module may be more complex than a standard button repair due to the biometric sensor being tied to the device. The capabilities of independent services may be particularly limited in the first few months after the smartphone’s release.
An additional factor will be the hinge itself. For Apple, this will be the first mass-produced foldable device of this type, so its actual reliability and repairability will only become clear after the start of mass deployment.
What is known about the iPhone Ultra
The first foldable smartphone from Apple has not yet been officially unveiled. In leaks, the device is most often called iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold.
A book-style design is expected with an external screen of approximately 5.5 inches and an internal display of about 7.8 inches. One of the key features should be a practically invisible crease on the flexible panel.
The smartphone is also said to feature a new processor from the A20 family, 12 GB of RAM, two main cameras, side-mounted Touch ID, and special iOS 27 features for working with an enlarged screen and multiple apps simultaneously.
The estimated cost of the device ranges from $2000 to $2500. If the repair estimate is confirmed, just replacing the internal display will cost approximately as much as a full-fledged flagship smartphone.
When will the foldable iPhone be announced?
Apple will hold its next presentation on September 9. The event date has been officially confirmed by the company, however, the list of Apple devices has not yet been disclosed.
According to numerous leaks, the first foldable iPhone may debut at this presentation alongside iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
