iPhone Ultra: New name for Apple's foldable iPhone? Apfelpatient

Apple's foldable iPhone might not be called "iPhone Fold," but rather "iPhone Ultra." This is the claim made by the Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station, who also reports that other manufacturers are already planning to copy the name.

It was one of the most discussed open questions surrounding Apple's first foldable smartphone: What will it be called? While rumors have been circulating for months about the device being called the "iPhone Fold," a new leak now suggests that Apple internally favors a different name. According to Digital Chat Station, a leaker active on Weibo, the foldable is expected to launch as the iPhone Ultra – a designation Apple has so far used exclusively for the Apple Watch.

Apple's branding is rarely accidental. Product names signal their positioning within the lineup: "Air" stands for lightness and affordability, "Pro" for professional demands, and "Max" for maximum performance. Apple has previously used "Ultra" as a top-of-the-line designation for the Apple Watch and the M-series chips. Applying this name to an iPhone would send a clear message: the foldable device is to be positioned as the ultimate premium iPhone.

What the leaker claims

Digital Chat Station reports that Apple is internally referring to its widescreen foldable device as the "iPhone Ultra." Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Chinese manufacturers are reportedly already considering adopting the Ultra name for their own foldables in order to directly compete with Apple in terms of display size, specifications, and pricing.

It's not unusual in the industry for competitors to copy Apple's naming conventions even before the official launch. However, it suggests that the information originates from supplier or industry sources that are already working with specific product names.

iPhone Ultra: Does the name fit?

The "Ultra" designation is not without controversy. On the one hand, it fits the expected price – the device is estimated to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, making it the most expensive iPhone ever. On the other hand, the foldable iPhone forgoes Face ID and has one fewer camera than the Pro models. Positioning a device with fewer features than the iPhone 18 Pro as "Ultra" would be unusual.

However, Apple's naming conventions haven't always been consistent in the past. The iPhone Air, for example, is thinner but not more powerful than the regular iPhone. Apple could argue that the "Ultra" name refers less to individual specifications and more to the overall positioning as the most innovative and exclusive iPhone in the lineup.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman already hinted in March that Apple is planning several new Ultra products for 2026. This fits with a picture in which Apple consciously wants to strengthen the Ultra brand across various product categories.

What happens next

The name of an Apple product is one of those details that typically only leaks late in development. The fact that the first hints are now emerging fits the timeline: Test production is underway at Foxconn, dummy models are circulating in the accessory industry, and the announcement is expected in September. Whether Apple actually sticks with "iPhone Ultra" or opts for a different name should become clear at the latest during the launch. (Image: FrontPageTech x Asherdipps)