The smartphone that is supposed to enable Apple to get into the foldable phone industry is the iPhone Ultra. Apple has been patient to deal with the behemoths of Samsung, Google and other companies dominating the foldable segment, having been ticking off the current foldable phones for two major issues: visible (or not) screen crease and hinge durability. According to several reliable sources and analyst reports, the iPhone Ultra is poised to become one of Apple’s most iconic iPhone releases ever.
What is iPhone Ultra?
With the debut of the iPhone Ultra, Apple has unveiled its first-ever foldable phone. In the beginning it was dubbed the “iPhone Fold”, but later on others like Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pointed out that Apple is more inclined towards the “iPhone Ultra” name. The device will likely have a massive foldable inwards screen, a smaller cover display, Apple’s own new and potent chipset, and Apple’s trademark emphasis on build quality and ecosystem integration.
The iPhone Ultra will feature a book-style design (like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold series), rather than a flip-style design, and the phone will unfold to become something similar to a small tablet.
Expected Release Date
Meanwhile, it is believed that iPhone Ultra will be announced along with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at the September 2026 event, and the most probable date for the event is expected to be September 9, 2026. But it’s not likely to be widely available until October 2026 or even early 2027 because of the complexity of manufacturing and component yield limitations. Supply is said to be limited in the first few weeks and it doesn’t matter if it is sold out immediately.
It should be noted that it’s not just the iPhone 18 and 18 Plus that have reportedly been delayed to spring 2027, but the standard iPhone 18 and 18 Plus as well, so the fall 2026 event will be almost entirely about the Ultra and Pro.
Foldable Type: Book Style Foldable – Liquid Metal Hinge
The iPhone Ultra will have a book-like foldable design. The cover display is about 5.49 inches in size with a 4:3 aspect ratio when closed. With the inner display fully open, it should reach dimensions of 7.6-7.8 inches, which should be near tabletop for multitasking, gaming and media.
As for the thickness, the iPhone Ultra will likely be 4.5 mm thick when unfolded which is not even as thick as the iPhone Air. The out-of-the-box size is about 9-9.5mm which is competitive with the other flagship foldables.
A hinge using liquid metal.
One of the most discussed characteristics is the fluid metal hinge. According to several sources, Apple has been using a proprietary liquid metal alloy which is engineered to hold up thousands of folds without changing structure. Apple has been working and patenting liquid metal technology for more than 10 years, and the iPhone Ultra is where it seems to be coming to fruition. The hinge itself is also 3D-printed and together with the structural glass mid-frame creates a flawless look. We can also expect the frame to be made of titanium, as Apple has done with the iPhone 15 Pro series.
Display: Near-Creaseless Technology
One thing that is common to all the present foldable smartphones is the crease. Apple has been actively trying to rectify this issue, and it’s said that they’ve taken almost all the way to fixing the issue. The sources of the leak state that Apple was determined to eliminate the crease at all costs, and managed to achieve a crease of less than 0.15 mm and a crease angle of less than 2.5 degrees – which would lead to a flatter and more even display surface than anything currently available.
Included in the technology upgrades is the redesigned liquid metal hinge, optically clear adhesive, ultra-thin glass layers and a new material which is temporarily stiffened when subjected to sudden pressure to better protect the display.
It’s also something that iOS 27 beta code is supporting — developers have spotted “fold state” and “angle degrees”, indicating that iOS is being developed with real-time hinge angle detection, and to respond to it. Moreover, the mention of “batteries” (plural) in the code indicates that the iPhone Ultra might feature two battery cells, one for each side of the smartphone.
Rumored Display Specs:
- Inner Display: ~7.76 inches, 2,713 x 1,920 pixels
- Cover Display: ~5.49 inches, 2,088 x 1,422 pixels, 4:3 aspect ratio
- Type of Panel: OLED with crease minimizing technology
- Both displays are expected to have high refresh rate.
Dual 48MP Set Up: Camera System
An iPhone Ultra with triple cameras is not anticipated to compare with the triple camera setup on the iPhone 18 Pro. Rather, leaks have always been indicative of a dual rear camera setup, with both of the sensors clocked in at 48 megapixels, one of which is wide-angle and the other is ultrawide. A design compromise for maintaining the minimum thickness of the device is that a periscope telephoto lens would be much thicker as it is added at this fold.
Front camera is said to feature two selfie cameras one on the cover screen and another on the inner display, which could be under the screen.
A20 Pro Chip & Performance
The iPhone Ultra will feature Apple’s A20 Pro chip, a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, among the most advanced mobile chips on the market when the phone launches. The 2nm process offers advancements in transistor density which lead to enhanced performance, energy efficiency and AI processing capabilities.
The device is also rumored to come with 12 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which is quite a lot for the previous iPhones and is apt for multiple app operations on screen sizes.
Performance Highlights:
Chip: Apple A20 Pro (2nm)
RAM: 12 GB LPDDR5
If you’re not certain about the storage capacity you need, you can start with 256 GB of storage and upgrade to 512 GB and 1 TB.
App Adaptability, iOS 27
The iPhone Ultra will debut with iOS 27, which has been developed from scratch with foldable in mind. App adaptability” is a new policy announced by Apple at WWDC 2026 that guarantees apps adopt a smart size and reformat themselves to fit the screen they’re displayed on.
This is a direct response to one of the primary issues people have had with Android foldables: apps that are just stretched out versions of a phone-sized UI on the larger screen. The inner screen is used properly with Apple’s framework, with more content on display, split-view and even a true tablet experience when unfolded. Dynamic UI changes according to the hinge angle of the device based on real-time “fold state” detection in iOS 27.
Interestingly, the iPhone Ultra is said to feature a return of Touch ID, which will be embedded within the side button of the iPhone. Apple has seemingly reverted to fingerprint unlocking for this generation as Face ID is not as easy to incorporate cleanly in relation to a thin foldable display, having a notch or Dynamic Island is necessary. It’s the biggest compromise that buyers should know about if they’re used to Face ID.
Price: How much will it cost?
The iPhone Ultra will be the most expensive iPhone to-date. Based on analyst reports and leaks:
256 GB: ~$1,999
512 GB: ~$2,325–$2,645
1 TB: ~$2,500–$2,900
The earlier estimates were $2,000 to $2,500, rumors initially predicting this price range and subsequent estimates for the base model placing it closer to $1,999 — still high, but a bit more attainable.
The iPhone Ultra is likely to be priced at ₹2 lakh and above in India, and there is a possibility that the price could soar above ₹2.5 lakh once import taxes and local levies are added.
Meanwhile, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the closest rival to the iPhone Ultra at this price. Apple’s benefits are that it’s part of the ecosystem, that it has software support for years to come and that it apparently offers crease-free display technology.
There is no denying that the iPhone Ultra will be a success. The iPhone Ultra is undoubtedly a winner.
iPhone Ultra advantages:
- Increased level of crease reduction technology.
- A20 Pro chip is in terms of raw performance outperforming Snapdragon.
- iCloud, Air Drop, Handoff and more.
- The built-in app adaptability framework of iOS 27
- The device will receive software updates for 5–6 years.
Who Should Buy It?
If you’re interested in Apple’s top features and require a big screen for work or entertainment, and don’t mind paying a bit more for a first-generation model, the iPhone Ultra might be the right choice for you. But there are some warnings to be heeded – Apple has yet to produce a foldable device and its durability and software refinement are yet to be tested after the launch. A 2nd-generation iPhone Ultra is anticipated for 2027, and it could provide a more refined experience. For most people, the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max will still be a more practical option.
Final Thoughts
The iPhone Ultra is Apple’s biggest hardware gamble in years, featuring Apple’s closest-to-creaseless 7.8-inch foldable screen, the liquid metal hinge, dual 48MP cameras, the A20 Pro chip, 12 GB of RAM and full iOS 27 support for foldables, all of which contained in a phone that’s thinner than the iPhone Air when unfolded. As the leaks are indicating, this could become one of the most significant iPhones launch yet, if Apple fulfils its promise.
Apple is expected to confirm it at its September event.
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