Vodafone Egypt’s pricing glimpse
A recent Instagram post by Egyptian tech‑watcher Yousif Ayman, later shared on Vodafone Egypt’s website, displayed three new Apple devices with local prices. The most eye‑catching figure was EGP 155,750 for what the post calls the iPhone Ultra – widely believed to be Apple’s first foldable smartphone. The same source listed the iPhone 18 Pro at EGP 98,000 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at EGP 105,000.
"The iPhone Ultra is priced at EGP 155,750," – Yousif Ayman (machine‑translated post)
The page was quickly removed, but screenshots have been circulating, giving us the only concrete price hint ahead of Apple’s September 9 event.
Translating Egyptian pounds to UK‑relevant figures
Converting Egyptian pounds directly to pounds sterling is unreliable because of differing tax structures, but the leak still offers a useful percentage‑based comparison. The iPhone 17 Pro Max launched locally at EGP 94,400, so the Ultra’s price is about 65 % higher.
Applying that same uplift to the known launch price of the iPhone 17 Pro Max in major markets – $1,200 / £1,200 / €1,450 – yields an estimated $1,980 / £1,980 / €2,395 for the Ultra. In the UK, that translates to roughly £1,950‑£2,000 once rounding and VAT are considered.
For the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the Egyptian figures represent a 10‑11 % increase over the 2025 models (EGP 88,800 for the 17 Pro and EGP 94,400 for the 17 Pro Max). Using the same percentage on the 2025 launch prices in the UK (£1,100 for the Pro, £1,200 for the Pro Max) suggests a new price band of £1,210‑£1,320.
How the Ultra stacks up against the competition
The only other high‑end foldable on the market is Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, which debuted at $1,900 / £1,700 / €2,000. The leaked Ultra price is remarkably close to Samsung’s figure in the US, but the UK market typically sees Apple devices priced a touch higher than Samsung’s equivalents. If Apple follows its historic premium‑pricing strategy, the Ultra could end up £1,800‑£2,000, edging out the Fold 8 by a few hundred pounds.
What the numbers mean for UK contract shoppers
- Higher upfront cost – Even the modest 10 % bump on the Pro line pushes the entry‑level 256 GB model above the £1,300 mark, a level that many contract‑deal calculators still treat as “premium”.
- Potential shift to larger storage – With the Ultra likely starting at 256 GB and topping out at 1 TB, UK buyers may be tempted to opt for the 512 GB variant, which could add another £150‑£200.
- Impact on carrier subsidies – Carriers such as EE, Vodafone UK and Three typically cap their subsidies at around £1,000 for flagship phones. A £2,000 Ultra would force many customers to either accept a higher monthly instalment or pay a larger upfront lump sum.
- VAT considerations – Apple’s UK pricing already includes the 20 % VAT. The leaked percentages suggest Apple will keep the same margin structure, meaning the final retail price will be the quoted figure plus VAT‑inclusive adjustments.
Caveats and reliability of the leak
The information originates from a single social‑media post and was quickly taken down, so it should be treated as a best‑guess rather than a confirmed price list. Apple has a history of adjusting launch prices in different regions based on local taxes, import duties and currency fluctuations. Moreover, the iPhone 18 series could see a staggered rollout, with the foldable possibly arriving later in the year, which might affect final pricing.
Bottom line for UK buyers
If the Vodafone Egypt leak holds true, Apple’s next‑generation Pro models will be roughly 10 % pricier than the 2025 lineup, while the inaugural foldable iPhone Ultra could break the £2,000 barrier. For contract‑hungry shoppers, that means budgeting for higher monthly payments or larger upfront contributions, especially if you want the larger storage options that the Ultra will likely demand.
Keep an eye on Apple’s September 9 keynote for official numbers – until then, treat these figures as a useful guide rather than a definitive price tag.
