Rumors have been swirling, and the wait is finally over – Apple's first foldable iPhone has been leaked! As we eagerly await the official release, one thing is certain: this game-changing device is going to change the way we interact with our iPhones. But with a rumored price tag that's steep enough to make even the most dedicated Apple fans wince, you'll want to make sure you've got the best iPhone cases and Latest iPhone cases to protect your investment. And let's not forget about the essentials: a top-notch iPhone screen protector and a wireless charger to keep your new device juiced up and ready to go. So, is the most expensive iPhone ever worth the splurge?
Is Apple releasing a folding phone?
Yes - this has moved past speculation. Multiple supply chain sources are describing a book-style foldable — open it up like a hardcover and you get a tablet-sized inner display, with a separate, smaller outer screen for everyday use when it's closed.
Apple didn't rush this. Six or seven years is a long time to wait while your biggest rival ships four generations of the same product. Some of that delay was Apple being Apple. Some of it, based on what's leaking now, looks like Apple watching everyone else's hinge failures and screen creases and deciding not to repeat them.
How Much Will the iPhone Ultra Cost?
Around $2,000 to start. Some configurations could push past $2,500.
That puts it well above the iPhone 18 Pro Max — not really competing with it so much as sitting in its own tier above it, the way the Apple Watch Ultra exists alongside the regular Apple Watch rather than replacing anything. And the Pro Max itself isn't staying put either: the iPhone 18 Pro is reportedly jumping from $1,099 to around $1,399. The Ultra is the headline, but the whole top of the lineup is getting more expensive this year.
iPhone Ultra: Expected Specifications
| Feature | Expected Spec |
|---|---|
| Inner Display | 7.8-inch OLED |
| Outer Display | 5.5-inch |
| Chip | A20 (same chip expected in the iPhone 18 Pro) |
| Thickness (Unfolded) | ~4.5 mm |
| Battery | ~5,000 mAh |
| Charging | ~40W Fast Charging |
| Rear Cameras | 48MP Main + 48MP Ultra Wide (No Telephoto) |
| Front Camera | 18MP on Both Inner and Outer Displays |
| Biometrics | Under-display Face ID |
| Multitasking | Split-screen Support for Running Two Apps Side by Side |
| Software | iOS 27 |
A couple of these numbers stand out. 4.5mm unfolded would put the Ultra roughly in line with Samsung's rumored Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is said to land around 4.2mm — so Apple showing up late to foldables doesn't mean showing up thick. And 5,000mAh, if it holds, would be the biggest battery Apple has ever put in an iPhone.
Split-screen multitasking is the one worth watching closest, honestly. iOS has been criticized for years over how little it does with extra screen space compared to Android tablets and foldables. If the Ultra actually ships with real split-screen support, that says as much about where Apple's software team has been working as it does about the hardware.
Design: What Will the iPhone Ultra Look Like?
In terms of the design of Apple's first foldable iPhone, we aren’t expecting anything short of a sleek and compact design. Over the years, Apple has managed to keep up to standards of wowing us with sleek and compact design and I don’t think they intend to back down now. Talking about shape and size it's going to come with a book-style foldable design and when folded, thickness could be anywhere from 9mm to 9.5mm, and when unfolded, thickness could reduce to around 4.5mm to 4.8mm. In terms of materials and build quality, we’re looking forward to a stainless steel and titanium alloy hinge with a casing that could also be made of titanium, similar to Apple's Pro iPhone models.
For design features, Apple is working hard to give us a creaseless design in order to eliminate the visible line that appears on foldable devices. The iPhone Fold is rumored to feature a unique aspect ratio which will make it slightly wider and more compact than other foldable phones on the market. In addition, the upcoming iPhone Ultra could feature under-display Face ID instead of Touch ID, marking a major shift in Apple's biometric authentication system if the rumors prove accurate.
For color options, there's no information on what colors to expect for the foldable iPhone. As you would expect for software, there will be a seamless integration into Apple's ecosystem which will give room for easy and smooth communication/pairing with other Apple devices and services. And from the look of things, the foldable iPhone may support MagSafe accessories with even faster wireless charging.
Get ready for what is coming–a powerhouse of a phone! The rumored iPhone Fold could feature Apple's latest A-series processor, which implies blazing-fast speeds to juggle multiple apps, play your favorite games, or handle demanding tasks.
Leaks/Prototypes: Images showing prototypes or early testing stages.
When Will the iPhone Ultra Launch?
Pay attention to this part if you're trying to plan around a date.
September gets you the announcement, not the phone. Apple's expected to unveil the Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but sources say the Ultra won't ship the same day as the rest of the lineup. The Pro models are already in mass production; the Ultra is reportedly still being tested. Apple did the exact same thing with the iPhone X back in 2017 — announced alongside the 8 and 8 Plus in September, didn't actually reach stores until almost two months later.
There's a better sign buried in that same reporting, though: the hinge issues that had reportedly been slowing things down are said to be mostly resolved now, with mass production of the foldable itself expected to start in late July 2026. Given how much can go wrong on a first-generation product like this, that's a decent sign.
Separately, the standard iPhone 18 and a rumored iPhone Air 2 aren't part of the September event at all — those are reportedly pushed to around April 2027.
People also ask
The leak of the upcoming foldable iPhone has led to a lot of questions about foldable phones. Fortunately, for you, we have the answers that you seek.
What is the disadvantage of a foldable phone?
Across the category — not just Apple — the usual complaints are a visible crease down the middle of the screen, more thickness and weight than a regular phone, and repair costs that climb fast if the hinge or inner display gets damaged. Battery life used to be a weak point too, though that's improved with each generation.
What is the difference between a foldable phone and a flip phone?
People use "flip phone" now mostly for foldables that close vertically, like Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip — small outer screen, full phone-sized display inside. A book-style foldable does the opposite: it opens sideways into something closer to a small tablet. That's the category the iPhone Ultra falls into.
Why Foldable Smartphones Are Worth Considering
Take the iPhone Ultra out of the picture for a second. The whole appeal of a foldable is pretty simple: it's a phone in your pocket and a tablet when you actually need one, without carrying two devices. Reading, multitasking, video — extra screen real estate helps with all of it. The tradeoff has always been durability and price, and that's kept foldables from really going mainstream.
Whether the Ultra changes that math is still up in the air. If you're weighing whether it's worth being one of the first people to own one, or whether it makes more sense to wait for whatever Apple ships next, we go through that decision in more detail here.
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Foldable Phones: User Pain Points, Market Analysis, and How Apple’s Entry Changes Everything
