Apple’s iPhone Ultra is officially on its way — and it may be the most important iPhone ever made. Expected to launch in autumn 2026, the iPhone Ultra will be Apple’s first foldable smartphone, combining the power of an iPhone with the screen real estate of an iPad mini into a single pocket-sized device. After years of rumours and delays, here is everything we know about the iPhone Ultra, from its design and specs to its price and release date.
What Is the iPhone Ultra?
The iPhone Ultra is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, and it represents the biggest design shift the company has made since the iPhone X in 2017. Unlike a standard smartphone, the iPhone Ultra features a large folding display inside and a second screen on the outside, allowing it to function both as a compact phone and a tablet-sized productivity device.
Crucially, the iPhone Ultra will not be positioned as part of the standard iPhone 18 lineup. According to MacRumors, it will sit entirely above the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, becoming the most premium iPhone Apple has ever sold.
iPhone Ultra Design: Wider, Thinner, and Unlike Any iPhone Before It
A “Passport-Style” Form Factor
The iPhone Ultra takes a book-style fold rather than a clamshell design. When closed, it looks noticeably squarer and shorter than a traditional iPhone. When open, the internal display resembles an iPad mini — giving it a passport-like appearance that is wider than it is tall.
According to 9to5Mac, the outer screen measures approximately 5.4 inches with a wide aspect ratio, while the inner foldable display comes in at around 7.8 inches. Both screens are expected to feature OLED panels sourced exclusively from Samsung Display under a three-year supply agreement.
Ultra-Thin Build
At just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, the iPhone Ultra is set to become Apple’s thinnest iPhone ever. The device draws design inspiration from the iPhone Air, featuring a titanium frame and an aluminium chassis. Colour options are expected to be limited to black and white at launch.
The Hinge: Apple’s Biggest Engineering Challenge
The hinge is the defining feature of any foldable phone — and Apple has reportedly invested heavily in getting it right. Most foldable devices on the market today suffer from a visible crease down the centre of the display. Apple is attempting to eliminate that entirely.
According to Macworld, Apple is using a proprietary laser-drilling metal plate technology to create a more precise microstructure at the fold point, helping distribute bending stress more evenly. The hinge is also expected to incorporate LiquidMetal — an amorphous alloy nearly as tough as titanium — for long-term durability.
The inner display itself uses a dual-layer Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) and Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass (UFG) sandwich structure, which places the display layer between two glass panels to further reduce crease visibility.
iPhone Ultra Display Specs
| Display | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outer (cover) screen | ~5.4 inches | Wide aspect ratio, OLED |
| Inner (foldable) screen | ~7.8 inches | iPad mini-like, near crease-free |
Both displays are sourced from Samsung Display under an exclusive deal running to 2029–2030.
iPhone Ultra Chip & Performance
The iPhone Ultra will be powered by Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. According to 9to5Mac, the A20 Pro is expected to be a larger performance leap than usual, packing 12GB of faster LPDDR5 RAM and significant improvements in graphics and AI processing.
Alongside it, the iPhone Ultra will feature Apple’s C2 modem — the company’s second-generation in-house cellular chip, succeeding the C1 modem introduced with the iPhone 17e. The C2 brings support for mmWave 5G and eliminates the remaining reliance on Qualcomm components.
iPhone Ultra Cameras
The iPhone Ultra’s camera system is one area where it makes compromises compared to the Pro lineup:
- Rear cameras: Two 48MP sensors — a Wide and an Ultra Wide
- Front cameras: Two cameras (one per display), expected to use an 18MP Centre Stage sensor
- No telephoto lens — a notable omission for a flagship-tier device
Despite the dual-camera setup, leakers have suggested the physical camera sensors may be larger than those found on the iPhone 17 Pro, which could offset some of the disadvantage of losing a third lens.
The camera module is expected to sit on a long horizontal “plateau” on the rear, finished in black rather than colour-matched to the device body.
Authentication: Touch ID Returns
The iPhone Ultra will not have Face ID. Because the device is too thin to fit Apple’s TrueDepth camera array — which powers Face ID and sits inside the Dynamic Island — Apple has opted to revert to Touch ID, integrated into the power button, similar to how it works on current iPad Air and iPad mini models.
As noted by MacRumors, the last iPhone flagship to use Touch ID was the iPhone 7 in 2016, making this an unusual move for Apple’s most expensive device.
Battery Life
The iPhone Ultra is expected to pack a battery between 5,500 mAh and 5,800 mAh — easily the largest ever fitted into an iPhone. Charging support will include both MagSafe wireless charging and USB-C wired charging, though MagSafe integration remains uncertain given the device’s extreme thinness.
What’s Missing on the iPhone Ultra?
Despite its premium price, the iPhone Ultra is expected to leave out several features found on the iPhone 18 Pro:
- ❌ Face ID
- ❌ Telephoto camera
- ❌ Action Button (based on dummy model leaks)
- ❌ MagSafe (unconfirmed, but speculated due to thinness)
- ❌ LiDAR Scanner (per JP Morgan report)
These omissions are likely driven by the physical constraints of fitting so much technology into such a thin, folding device.
iPhone Ultra Price
The iPhone Ultra is expected to be the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Here is what analysts and leakers have suggested:
- Ming-Chi Kuo (March 2025): $2,000–$2,500
- April 2025 leaker: $2,100–$2,300
- Most consistent estimate: Starting at $1,999 for 256GB, rising to $2,399 for 1TB
For context, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 — making the iPhone Ultra nearly double the price of Apple’s current flagship.
iPhone Ultra Release Date
The iPhone Ultra is widely expected to be announced at Apple’s September 2026 event, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Availability may follow shortly after the announcement or slip to October 2026 depending on production readiness.
According to AppleInsider, the device is reportedly nearing mass production with its design largely finalised.
Part of Apple’s Wider “Ultra” Strategy
The iPhone Ultra is not the only “Ultra” product Apple is planning for 2026. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and confirmed by MacRumors, Apple intends to launch at least three Ultra-branded products this year:
- iPhone Ultra — Foldable iPhone with a large inner display, ~$2,000 starting price
- AirPods Ultra — New flagship AirPods with computer-vision cameras for Visual Intelligence
- MacBook Ultra — Touch-enabled OLED MacBook, sitting above the MacBook Pro in the lineup
This signals a deliberate push by Apple to establish “Ultra” as its top-tier tier across all product categories, similar to how “Pro” and “Max” have become established suffixes.
Should You Buy the iPhone Ultra?
The iPhone Ultra is ideal for users who:
- Want the absolute best iPhone hardware available
- Would benefit from a larger screen without carrying a separate iPad
- Are early adopters comfortable with first-generation foldable technology
It may not be the right choice if you:
- Rely heavily on telephoto zoom photography
- Prefer Face ID authentication
- Are happy with the iPhone 18 Pro at nearly half the price
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the iPhone Ultra coming out? The iPhone Ultra is expected to be announced in September 2026, with availability potentially extending into October 2026.
How much will the iPhone Ultra cost? Most reports put the starting price at $1,999 for the 256GB model, rising to around $2,399 for 1TB storage.
Is the iPhone Ultra the same as the iPhone Fold? Yes. The device has been referred to as the “iPhone Fold” throughout the rumour cycle, but multiple credible sources now indicate Apple will market it as the “iPhone Ultra.”
Will the iPhone Ultra have Face ID? No. The iPhone Ultra is expected to use Touch ID via the power button instead, as the device is too thin to accommodate Apple’s TrueDepth camera array.
What chip will the iPhone Ultra use? The iPhone Ultra will be powered by the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process with 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM.
Does the iPhone Ultra have a telephoto camera? No. The iPhone Ultra features two 48MP cameras — a Wide and an Ultra Wide — but no dedicated telephoto lens.
Sources & Further Reading
- 9to5Mac — iPhone Ultra: Six New Features to Expect
- MacRumors — Apple Planning Two New Ultra Products in 2026
- MacRumors — Five Features Missing From iPhone Ultra
- Macworld — iPhone Ultra: Design, Display, Specs & Rumors
- AppleInsider — iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra: What to Expect
- The Shortcut — 10 iPhone Ultra Rumors
- Beebom — iPhone Fold Ultra: Everything We Know
Last updated: May 2026. This article will be updated as new information becomes available ahead of Apple’s September 2026 event.
