iPhone Ultra: All rumors, specs & release at a glance Apfelpatient

Rumors about a foldable iPhone have been circulating for years, but for a long time the topic remained in the realm of speculation. That's changing now. Reliable analysts, leakers, and supply chain sources are providing increasingly concrete details that paint a coherent overall picture: Apple is working on the iPhone Ultra, a foldable smartphone in a book-like format. The market launch is expected in the fall of 2026, possibly alongside the iPhone 18 series. We've summarized below what is currently known about the device, what it's supposed to look like, how much it will cost, and when it will be released.

Foldable smartphones have been around for several years. Samsung, Huawei, and other manufacturers have established the form factor, with varying degrees of success. Apple has so far watched from the sidelines. This isn't a sign of backwardness, but rather reflects typical Apple strategy: wait until the technology is mature enough, and then enter the market with a product that redefines the category.

That's precisely what makes the iPhone Ultra so interesting. Apple isn't entering the market as a pioneer, but as a perfectionist. Initial reports suggest that Apple intends to address some of the biggest weaknesses of foldable smartphones, including the visible crease in the display, hinge durability, and battery life. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman calls the device "the most significant overhaul in iPhone history" and places it on a par with milestones like the iPhone 4, iPhone 6, and iPhone X. Whether Apple will live up to this claim remains to be seen. The technical details known so far certainly sound promising.

Name: iPhone Ultra instead of iPhone Fold

Why Apple avoids the name "Fold"

Apple's foldable iPhone has long been referred to in media reports as the "iPhone Fold," but that doesn't seem to be Apple's plan. The Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims the device will be released under the name "iPhone Ultra." Shortly afterward, the equally reliable leaker Instant Digital confirmed this assessment and listed the fall lineup as iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra.

The decision to use the Ultra name fits into Apple's existing brand strategy. The term is already used for the Apple Watch Ultra, the M1 Ultra and M3 Ultra chips, as well as CarPlay Ultra. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman had previously reported that Apple could extend the Ultra designation to additional product lines, including an OLED MacBook and future AirPods with cameras. With the iPhone Ultra, the foldable iPhone would not be positioned as a niche product, but as the premium pinnacle of the entire iPhone line.

Overall Design: book format, not clamshell

Form factor and dimensions

The iPhone Ultra is expected to operate on a book-like principle, featuring a large inner screen that unfolds like a book. This has been confirmed by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, considered one of the most reliable sources for Apple internal information. This makes the device similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and fundamentally different from the compact clamshell design of the Galaxy Z Flip. According to leaker Instant Digital, Apple initially considered a flip design but abandoned these plans because the form factor would not have offered compelling new uses.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has provided specific figures regarding the dimensions. When folded, the device is expected to be between 9 and 9.5 mm thick, and only 4.5 to 4.8 mm thick when unfolded. Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital recently specified that the minimum thickness when unfolded will be 4.8 mm – making the device at least 1.1 mm thinner than the iPhone Air. Leaked dimensions indicate a height of approximately 120.6 mm and a width of around 83.8 mm when closed, making the device significantly more compact but wider than current iPhones.

Dummy models confirm Design

In early April 2026, well-known leaker Sonny Dickson published the first photos of dummy models of the iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. These non-functional prototypes confirmed the wider, almost square format when closed and matched previous CAD drawings. A subsequent video from another leaker showed the devices in motion, confirming the wide aspect ratio, reminiscent of a miniature tablet.

iPhone Fold Apple — Image: Sonny Dickson / X

Button layout and camera cutout

The iPhone Ultra's button placement differs from current iPhone models. According to Instant Digital, the volume buttons will be located on the top right of the device, similar to the iPad mini. The power button will remain on the right side, as with other current iPhones. A camera cutout, similar to the iPhone Air, is also expected on the left side of the back of the device.

Camera Control remains available

A design decision that comes as a surprise despite its extremely thin construction: According to Instant Digital, the iPhone Ultra will be equipped with a camera control button – even though the device is at least 1.1 mm thinner than the iPhone Air when unfolded. Apple sees a practical problem with existing foldable devices: Due to the device's size, many users find adjusting camera settings and taking photos cumbersome. The camera control button is intended to solve this by making the device easy to operate with one hand.

Apple internally acknowledges that the reception of the camera control button on the flat iPhones was mixed. However, in the context of a foldable device, its practical benefit is significantly greater – which is why the team consciously decided to integrate the function into the first generation of the foldable iPhone, even at the expense of valuable internal space.

Display: Two screens for two usage modes

Outdoor and indoor screen

The iPhone Ultra will be equipped with two displays that function depending on the usage situation. When folded, an outer screen is available, similar to a classic iPhone display, designed to easily handle everyday tasks. When unfolded, a large inner screen, similar to an iPad, opens.

There are slightly differing reports regarding the exact display sizes from various sources. A report from The Information cites 5.3 inches for the front screen and 7.7 inches for the inner screen. Other sources indicate a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch inner screen. It is currently impossible to definitively determine which figures are correct. However, the sources agree that the unfolded display will be roughly the size of an iPad mini.

According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone Ultra, when unfolded, will offer an iPad-like user interface, including multitasking with two apps side-by-side. iOS 27 is said to be specifically optimized for this form factor. However, it will not be a full-fledged iPadOS with a windowing system, but rather a modified iPhone version.

Resolution and screen protection

Rumors suggest the inner display will be roughly the size of an A6 sheet of paper and have a resolution of 2,713 × 1,920 pixels. The outer display is expected to have a resolution of 2,088 × 1,422 pixels. Apple is said to be using an improved film technology for the display protection: a transparent polyimide film will be applied as a protective layer to ultra-thin glass, making the display more durable than previous foldable devices.

According to leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple is using a dual-layer structure made of ultra-thin glass (UTG), in which the display is embedded between two layers of glass and thus does not come into direct contact with the hinge mechanism. This arrangement is intended to distribute the mechanical stress across multiple layers, improving both durability and minimizing the visible crease line.

Samsung supplies the foldable display exclusively

The display question has been resolved: According to a report by The Elec, Apple has signed an exclusive contract with Samsung Display for the supply of foldable OLED panels. The contract runs for three years and excludes other display suppliers. Apple reportedly accepted the terms because there are currently no comparable alternative providers.

Samsung will use the same M14 OLED materials for the iPhone Ultra that are already used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Apple is thus deliberately foregoing newer material generations in favor of reliability and lower costs. The panel also utilizes CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) technology: The polarizer is removed and the color filter layer is applied directly to the encapsulation – unproblematic in conventional displays, but standard practice in foldable devices because the polarizer can cause cracks at bending points.

Production of the foldable OLED panels is scheduled to start in the second quarter of 2026. The first shipment will comprise approximately three million units.

iOS 27 paves the way for the foldable format

Alongside the hardware, evidence is mounting that Apple is also specifically preparing the software for a foldable iPhone. While Apple didn't showcase a foldable device at WWDC on June 8, 2026, several signals from iOS 27 point in this direction.

Tell-tale strings in the code

Two strings have surfaced in the iOS 27 frameworks that directly reference foldable hardware: "foldState" and "angleDegrees" - that is, the folding state and the unfolding angle. They were discovered by X user @samhenrigold. A third finding, a new key for the total number of built-in displays in a device, suggests that Apple is preparing the software foundation for more than one integrated screen. 9to5Mac independently confirmed the existence of these references and noted that they were not present in iOS 26. Terms like folding state and unfolding angle only make sense for a device whose display can physically fold.

Apple's appeal to developers

At the Platforms State of the Union, the call to developers to move away from apps designed for fixed devices and orientations and instead aim for a dynamic range of sizes and aspect ratios was strikingly clear. Specifically, Apple introduced scalable iOS apps for iPhone mirroring and the iPad: anyone rebuilding their app against the latest SDK automatically activates scalability. In addition, there's a scalable iOS simulator and previews in Xcode that allow users to test layouts across different screen sizes and aspect ratios. This requirement would make particular sense if, in the future, an iPhone could be unfolded to create a significantly larger internal display – precisely the scenario for which side-by-side multitasking is expected with the iPhone Ultra.

Landscape format for significantly more apps

Another key element is the expanded landscape support. A whole range of pre-installed apps now also run in landscape mode under iOS 27, including Apple Music, Podcasts, Fitness, Health, Reminders, Home, Shortcuts, Find My, Weather, and Voice Memos. In Apple Music and Podcasts, landscape mode is currently limited to the audio player. Many of these apps display a left-aligned sidebar—precisely the iPad-like layout that would be used on the large inner display of the iPhone Ultra. Live activities in Dynamic Island also now support landscape mode, so timers, delivery status, and sports scores remain usable when the device is held sideways. None of these steps would be conclusive on their own, but together they paint a picture of a company that is adapting its software to the new form factor long before the hardware's debut.

Visibility of the crease: Apple's technical trick

Significantly reduced, but not completely eliminated

The visible crease in the middle of the inner screen is one of the most persistent problems with foldable smartphones. Apple has dedicated considerable effort to addressing this issue. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo initially reported that the iPhone Ultra would offer a virtually "crease-free" inner display. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg later qualified this statement, saying that Apple was using technology that significantly reduces the crease without eliminating it entirely.

More concrete figures come from production sources: The folding depth is to be controlled to less than 0.15 mm, and the folding angle to less than 2.5 degrees. This would be a significant improvement over the competition. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the solution consists of two components: First, a metal plate is used to distribute and control the stress generated during bending. Second, Apple uses liquid metal in the hinge, which is manufactured using a die-casting process and is intended to improve durability as well as minimize screen creases.

Gurman summarizes it as follows: Apple engineers believe they have solved the problems with screen quality and overall durability, two long-standing weaknesses of foldable devices.

Housing and hinge: Durable materials

Titanium, stainless steel, aluminum – or liquid metal.

According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the casing will be made of titanium, while the hinge will consist of a combination of titanium and stainless steel. The frame itself will be made of a titanium alloy to prevent deformation, a solution Apple has already used in the ultra-thin iPhone Air.

Analyst Jeff Pu has a slightly different view, assuming that Apple will combine aluminum and titanium, while Kuo favors a mix of stainless steel and titanium. The exact material combination that will ultimately be used is therefore not yet definitively settled among analysts.

Regarding the hinge itself, evidence is increasingly pointing to a specific material: A recent leak confirms liquid metal as the hinge material – an amorphous metal alloy whose atomic structure differs from conventional, crystalline metals. This material offers a higher strength-to-weight ratio than common alloys and is more resistant to corrosion and wear – crucial properties for a component that must open and close hundreds of thousands of times over the device's lifespan.

The question wasn't entirely clear at one point: As early as 2025, there was talk of liquid metal with Dongguan EonTec as the exclusive supplier, but in April, this was retracted, with Apple stating that it was still weighing the material against a 3D-printed titanium alloy. If the latest leak is accurate, this assessment would have tipped in favor of liquid metal. For Apple, this would be a remarkable step: The company has held a worldwide exclusive license for such alloys since 2010, but has so far only used the material in very small parts, such as the SIM card eject tool. A load-bearing hinge would be by far the most demanding application.

An interesting recent assessment of the hinge by Kuo is that it is expected to have an average selling price of around 70 to 80 US dollars in mass production, significantly below the original market expectations of 100 to 120 US dollars or more. Kuo attributes this cost reduction to the optimization of the assembly design and Foxconn's influence on production scaling.

Cameras: Four lenses without telephoto zoom

Rear cameras and interior camera

The iPhone Ultra is expected to have a total of four cameras, as confirmed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. On the back, there will be two lenses, each with a 48-megapixel resolution, according to Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station. These will be a wide-angle and an ultra-wide-angle camera – a telephoto lens is missing, meaning the setup is on par with the iPhone 17, not the Pro models. Dummy models from Sonny Dickson confirm the dual-camera setup on the back with a pill-shaped camera module. Additionally, there will be a front-facing camera on the outer screen and an under-screen camera (USC) beneath the inner screen.

Another leak suggests that Apple is systematically analyzing the competition: Apple's US imaging team reportedly recently traveled to Shenzhen to test the cameras of competing foldables, such as Huawei's models – with a particular focus on telephoto zoom capabilities. Rival foldables like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 typically offer three rear cameras, including a telephoto zoom. A telephoto camera in later Ultra generations is therefore conceivable – but not planned for the first generation.

Front camera placement

The front-facing camera of the outer screen is expected to be a punch-hole camera. According to a report by The Information, it will be located in the upper left corner of the outer screen. This arrangement allows for taking photos and making calls in both states of the device without a camera interrupting the valuable inner display.

MagSafe: May not be on board

Dummy models do not show a MagSafe ring

A striking observation in the leaked dummy models: The back of the iPhone Ultra lacks a MagSafe ring, while it's clearly visible on the dummy units of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. If the final device does indeed forgo MagSafe, that would be a surprising concession for a device in this price range. Even the less expensive iPhone 17e supports MagSafe. However, it's possible the feature will be added to the final product. Dummy models don't always reveal all the details of the finished device.

Authentication: Touch ID instead of Face ID

Side-mounted fingerprint sensor

One of the most surprising design decisions concerns the unlocking method. Both Ming-Chi Kuo and Mark Gurman have confirmed that the iPhone Ultra will forgo Face ID. Instead, it will use a side-mounted Touch ID button, a method Apple already employs in the iPad, iPad Air, and iPad mini. The reason is purely practical: space is extremely limited in the compact interior of a foldable device, and the sensors required for Face ID would take up too much of it.

Mobile communications: Apple's second-generation modem

C2 modem and globally only eSIM

According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone Ultra uses Apple's second-generation C2 modem for its cellular connection. Apple first used the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, followed by the C1X in the iPhone Air. The C2 is said to be faster overall and will be the first iPhone to support mmWave in the US.

The iPhone Ultra will not feature a SIM card tray in any region. According to Instant Digital, there is no indication in the supply chain of tooling or inventory for SIM card modules – the device will only support eSIM worldwide, including in China. This follows the example of the iPhone Air, which was the first iPhone to globally do without a SIM card tray. For German users, this isn't a major change, as eSIM support is available from all major mobile network operators.

Battery life: A record for an iPhone

High-density cells and slim components

The iPhone Ultra is expected to have the largest battery ever installed in an iPhone. Apple is achieving this not only through high-density battery cells but also by slimming down internal components. According to a Korean blog that has leaked detailed information about unreleased products in the past, the display driver, for example, will be made more compact to create more space for battery cells. Combined with the energy-efficient C2 modem and other efficiency improvements, this promises solid battery life on paper.

Cooling: Vapor chamber despite thin casing

Professional technology in a 4.5-millimeter housing

For the first time, a source claims that the iPhone Ultra will feature a vapor chamber for cooling, with impressive cooling performance. This technology is already familiar from the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, which were first equipped with it last year: A small amount of deionized water conducts heat away from the chip and distributes it across the frame. According to Apple, this enables approximately 40 percent higher sustained performance under demanding tasks compared to the previously used graphite solutions.

The solution is particularly remarkable because of its extremely slim design: When unfolded, the iPhone Ultra measures only about 4.5 millimeters, and even the similarly thin iPhone Air manages without a vapor chamber. Furthermore, titanium is being considered for the frame – a material that dissipates heat less efficiently than aluminum, making efficient cooling all the more crucial. The A20 chip, which is intended to power the device, should benefit most from this.

Repairability: Modular design as an industry standard

Minimal cabling, clear separation of components

Foldable devices have been considered a problem child in repair shops for years: nested ribbon cables, multi-layered adhesive connections, and hard-to-reach battery packs often make repairs complex or impossible. The iPhone Ultra is intended to take a different approach in this regard. Apple's first foldable device could become the most easily repairable foldable in the industry, according to a recent report from China. The internal design is said to be consistently geared towards modularity – an aspect that Apple has not previously promoted aggressively with foldable devices.

The focus is on the internal layered design. Apple's engineers are said to have stacked the main components in such a way that no long ribbon cable run across the display is necessary. The volume buttons are located at the top edge of the casing, the logic board sits on the right side, and the connection between the two runs directly upwards. In many current foldable devices, these cables run between the buttons on one side and the logic board on the other – a design detail that makes repairs particularly tricky.

Function follows interior

The unusual key layout had previously been discussed primarily from an aesthetic point of view. The current report now adds another advantage: more available interior space allows for a larger battery, less cabling, and a cleaner separation between the display and motherboard areas. This also explains why the left side of the case remains keyless – any cutout would complicate the clearly structured design.

Repairability in foldable devices depends not only on battery replacement, but primarily on the display and hinge. The report remains more reserved on these points. What is clear, however, is that Apple has significantly decoupled the internal components – this reduces the risk of damaging other parts when replacing a single component. The final proof will only come with the first teardowns after the sales launch. Should independent repair shops confirm the current findings, Apple would be setting a standard against which future generations of foldable devices will be measured.

iPhone Ultra: Storage options and RAM

Three configurations starting from 256 GB

According to leaker Instant Digital, the iPhone Ultra will be offered in three storage variants: 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. A 2 TB option, like the one available for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, will not be offered initially. The Korean tech website The Bell reports that the RAM will be 12 GB, the same as the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17 Pro models.

Color options: For now, only black and white

Limited selection at launch

According to Mark Gurman, Apple is currently testing only black and white as color options with suppliers. However, Gurman explicitly points out that these plans could change before launch. Those hoping for vibrant colors should therefore wait. Whether Apple will offer further options at launch is currently unknown.

Price: The most expensive iPhone ever

Price estimates range between $2,060 and $2,750

The iPhone Ultra will not be a cheap device. According to Instant Digital, the price is expected to be between 15,000 and 20,000 yuan – roughly equivalent to $2,060 to $2,750. This will make the iPhone Ultra by far the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released. For comparison, the current most expensive model, the 2TB iPhone 17 Pro Max, costs $1,999. Mark Gurman confirms that the device will exceed the $2,000 mark.

Kuo's current assessment of the hinge is interesting: its production costs, at $70 to $80, are significantly below the original market expectations of over $100. Whether Apple will pass these savings on in the form of a lower sales price or improve its own profit margins is currently unclear.

iPhone Ultra market launch: Fall 2026, but with limited availability

Production start postponed to August

iPhone Ultra production is under time pressure. According to a Digitimes report, mass production has been delayed from July to August. Normally, production of new iPhones begins in June so that Apple can build up sufficient inventory for the September launch. This leaves only about six weeks for the iPhone Ultra instead of the usual three months – an ambitious timeframe for a completely new product type with complex manufacturing.

The delay is related to the validation phases that every new Apple device must undergo. Engineering Validation Tests (EVT) have already been delayed, and Design Validation Tests (DVT) and Production Validation Tests (PVT) are still pending. However, supply chain sources emphasize that Apple is still committed to a 2026 launch – the delay is real, but not significant enough to scrap the September date.

However, sources disagree on the bottleneck. A recent leak attributes the difficulties to yield problems with SMT (Single-Mount Technology) assembly during pre-production, contradicting an earlier account that identified the hinge as the primary cause – which reportedly fails Apple's quality control due to frequent opening and closing. Despite these hurdles, recent reports consistently indicate that the issue will still occur with the September launch of the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Two camps on the start date

However, two camps are at odds regarding the exact launch date. On the one hand, the Chinese leaker Fixed Focus Digital firmly rejects the delay rumors, calling them simply false and the assumption of a 2027 launch far-fetched. A launch alongside the iPhone 18 series remains likely; even a delay, according to him, would amount to no more than about a month.

On the other hand, several voices anticipate a later release date. An investor note by Barclays analyst Tim Long in March suggested a market launch in December was possible – roughly three months after the Pro models. A report by Nikkei Asia went even further, citing technical development issues that could delay the launch until early 2027. A recurring sticking point is the hinge: Instant Digital reported in May that its long-term durability had not yet met Apple's standards, while the visible display crease is considered largely resolved.

Ultimately, the picture is still narrowing down to a presentation in September and a sales launch that is likely to be delayed by only a few weeks at most – a December or even 2027 forecast remains the outlier among the estimates.

Limited quantities available at launch

The practical consequence: Anyone wanting the iPhone Ultra at launch will have to act fast. With only one month of mass production before the sales launch, the available quantities are likely to be significantly lower than at a regular iPhone launch. Instant Digital estimates the first year's production at a conservative 10 million units – a fraction of what Apple typically sells at a regular iPhone launch. Long delivery times and configurations selling out quickly are likely, similar to the launch of the Apple Vision Pro.

Mark Gurman supports the September estimate, reporting that the iPhone Ultra is still slated for that timeframe. The device is expected to be available "around the same time" or "shortly after" the iPhone 18 Pro models. There is a precedent for a staggered launch: in 2017, the iPhone X was unveiled in September but didn't hit the market until November.

Another detail circulating in the rumor mill points to an imminent launch: Initial prototypes are said to have already been sent to network operators worldwide for testing. Devices typically only reach this stage once they are sufficiently complete to undergo network compatibility and mobile network certification – a step that immediately precedes the sales launch. While the September launch date isn't officially confirmed yet, the device's maturity level is likely to be advanced.

iPhone Fold: Why current leaks make technical sense

The iPhone Ultra: Apple's biggest gamble in years

On paper, the iPhone Ultra is Apple's most ambitious device in years. It combines two displays, four cameras, the largest iPhone battery to date, Apple's latest modem, and a host of technical innovations designed to address the classic weaknesses of foldable smartphones. For the first time, an iPhone offers true multitasking with two apps running side-by-side. The price will be high, and so will the expectations.

Whether Apple achieves its self-imposed goals and redefines the foldable smartphone market will likely become clear in the fall of 2026. Until then, the iPhone Ultra remains the most talked-about device in the industry, and every new detail generates attention. Rightly so.

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