Apple's foldable iPhone: seven years of Fast Follower strategy, priced up to $3,000
nikola_mr64990 · x · 2026-09-14
A thread argues Apple's 2026 foldable entry (vs Samsung's 2019 debut) is a deliberate Fast Follower play: Apple reportedly refused to ship until the crease was under 0.15mm, while Samsung's own engineers see a truly crease-free panel around 2028. The pattern repeats across iPod, iPhone, iPad, Watch and AirPods — late entry, most of the profit. Costs are real: Samsung's seven years of manufacturing expertise, patents, and mindshare, plus first-gen production limits. Pricing starts around $2,000, up to $3,000 — the most expensive iPhone ever.
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