Apple's Foldable iPhone: release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Render of the foldable iPhone | Image by Fpt.
Rumored upgrades:
- May be branded as the iPhone Ultra rather than the iPhone Fold
- A book-style folding design similar to the Pixel Fold and Galaxy Fold lineup
- Displays: a 7.8-inch internal folding screen paired with a 5.5-inch external cover display
- Expected to use Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) to keep the center crease as minimal as possible
- Side-mounted Touch ID, with no Face ID expected
- Battery: around 4,800-5,000mAh – earlier 5,500mAh+ rumors appear to have been walked back
- 12 GB of RAM with storage tiers up to 1 TB
- Dual-camera system (main and ultra-wide, no telephoto)
- iOS 27, optimized for foldables featuring the new Siri AI
- Folded dimensions of 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.6 mm and a weight of around 255 grams
- A recent macOS beta update lets iPhone Mirroring windows resize to iPad-style aspect ratios – a strong hint at the foldable's development
Expected release timeline:
- Anticipated a fall 2026 (likely September) launch, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Pro.
- Despite minor rumors of a delay to December, top analysts maintain it is on track for September.
- Most recent reports point to a $1,999 starting price, down from earlier 2025 estimates of $2,399.
Jump to:
Foldable iPhone release date
Apple is planning to release its first foldable iPhone in 2026, potentially branded as the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series this September. The phone is reportedly set to enter mass production in July.
| Foldable | Release date |
|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone (iPhone Ultra) | September 2026* |
| Samsung Galaxy Fold | February 2019 |
| Huawei Mate X2 | February 2021 |
| Honor Magic V | January 2022 |
| Xiaomi Mix Fold | March 2021 |
| Oppo Find N | December 2021 |
| Vivo X Fold | April 2022 |
*Expected date
A few supply chain rumors pointed to hinge engineering hurdles that could push the launch to December. However, reputable Apple analyst Mark Gurman and other established leakers insist the September timeline is still on track, and have pushed back on the rumors about the delay.
Despite these conflicting reports, it is widely believed Apple has planned an annual release cycle for its foldable lineup once it debuts.
More recent reports add more details to the announcement and release: while a September announcement still looks likely, availability may be a different story. Highly reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is drawing parallels to the 2017 iPhone X launch – unveiled in September but not available to buy until late October due to production constraints – citing low Q3 display yields as the reason for a potential slip to late October or early November.
Barclays analyst Tim Long and separate supply chain sources go further, flagging surface-mount technology component shortages that could push shipments to December. DigiTimes reported on July 23 that Foxconn is currently carrying out "final mass-production adjustments" on the device. The current consensus leans toward a short delay of one to two months rather than a longer slip, but timing remains uncertain.
Apple's pre-production timelines have reportedly progressed smoothly so far. Display manufacturing for the foldable iPhone is expected to enter mass production in July, following successful trial production that reportedly began back in April.
Apple has also reportedly raised its initial orders for foldable displays from Samsung to 20 million units, up from an earlier estimate of 13-15 million – a figure that, if accurate, points to strong confidence in early demand.
Even so, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman notes the first foldable iPhone may be hard to find at launch due to limited initial stock. The production adjustment reports and display yield concerns flagged in more recent leaks make that warning look increasingly well-founded.
Foldable iPhone price
Some analysts expect Apple to open at around the $2,000 mark, broadly in line with where Samsung prices its book-style foldables. The most recent reports put the starting price at $1,999.
| Model | Starting price |
|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone (iPhone Ultra) | $1,999* |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 (wide model) | $1,899 |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (Z Fold 7 direct successor) | $2,099 |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | $1,999 |
| Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold | $1,799 |
* - expected
Storage upgrades are likely to add $200 per tier, putting the 512GB version at $2,199 and the 1TB version at $2,399.
Earlier rumors from 2025 mentioned a much steeper starting price of $2,399, which now looks less likely.
Foldable iPhone design
The foldable iPhone might be smaller and wider than other foldable phones on the market. It might look a lot like the Pixel Fold on the right. | Image by PhoneArena
Apple's first foldable – likely called the iPhone Ultra – is expected to arrive in a wide book-style form factor, similar to Samsung's wider Galaxy Z Fold 8. Analyst Jeff Pu expects a hybrid titanium-and-aluminum frame, which contradicts earlier reports of stainless steel and titanium construction.
Wide book-style design and leaked renders
The iPhone Ultra is expected to feature a clean, modern design with slim bezels and flat sides, sporting a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display. That makes both screens smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 7's 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover displays – and smaller than the older Pixel 9 Pro Fold and the OnePlus Open as well.
The upside is pocketability: a more compact size would give the foldable iPhone a real edge for anyone who wants a foldable that still fits comfortably in a pocket or small bag – a sizable chunk of the foldable market Apple would be tapping into.
Renders of what the foldable iPhone may potentially look like were shared by reputable tipster Ice Universe, backing up earlier rumors about its compact design.
Render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by Ice Universe
A separate set of leaked renders of the device has also surfaced, showing a device that looks more like a mini iPad, with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Leaked renders of what could be the foldable iPhone. | Image by Sonny Dickson
Another render of the foldable iPhone. | Image by Ice Universe
Dummy units of the foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have also leaked, showing how the three phones might look together as a lineup.
Dummy units of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, foldable iPhone, and iPhone 18 Pro. | Images by Images by Sonny Dickson
The foldable dummy features a camera plateau similar to the iPhone Air's, and a front section that could house either an under-display camera or a Dynamic Island-style cutout. These are early units – the final retail design will be more refined – but the core direction is already coming through.
Newly leaked mockups include a screen, giving us a clearer picture of what to expect.
iPhone Ultra leaked dummy unit. | Images by Images by Sonny Dickson
The mockup shows an edge-to-edge cover screen with a centered, circular front camera cutout – which would be a first for Apple. On the back, two camera lenses sit in a horizontal bar.
The tipster also suggests the phone may launch exclusively in white. A faint crease is visible on the internal display in the mockup, though judging final crease quality from early units is difficult.
Leaked images from an accessory maker hint that the foldable iPhone may skip built-in MagSafe magnets, relying instead on specialized cases to provide that functionality:
Alleged cases for the foldable iPhone. | Images by Images by Letem světem Applem
Front Page Tech's Jon Prosser has released renders of the 'iPhone Ultra', claiming they closely match what Apple will ship:
Renders of the iPhone Ultra, or the first foldable iPhone. | Images by Images by Fpt.
Prosser has since shared additional renders, this time reportedly backed by iOS 27 code:
More renders of the foldable iPhone, backed by iOS 27 code. | Images by Images by Fpt.
Foldable iPhone dimensions and weight
According to Prosser, the foldable iPhone may measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded – thinner than the iPhone Air's 5.6mm, which currently holds the title of Apple's slimmest iPhone.
A separate schematics leak suggests a folded thickness of 9.3mm, slightly slimmer than the 9.5mm folded thickness Prosser has cited separately. A more recent leak puts both figures slightly higher, at 9.6mm folded and 4.8mm unfolded, so treat the numbers in the table below as a range rather than certainties.
Potential schematics of the iPhone Ultra. | Image by Naver
Ice Universe – the same tipster who shared renders earlier – has also posted an image of what appears to be an iPhone Ultra dummy unit, suggesting the device will feel bulkier than the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8. Based on earlier leaks, the iPhone Ultra is expected to measure 120.6 x 83.8 x 9.6 mm when folded and 120.6 x 167.6 x 4.8 mm when open, with a weight of around 255 grams.
An iPhone Ultra dummy unit. | Image by Ice Universe
For comparison, the wide Galaxy Z Fold measures 123.9 mm tall, 81.9 mm wide when folded, and 161.4 mm when unfolded, with a folded thickness of 9.7 mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.5 mm – and a weight of just 201 grams.
The iPhone Ultra may be slightly shorter than the Fold 8, a little wider, marginally thicker, and notably heavier at 255 grams vs. 201 grams.
| Model | Thickness (Folded) | Thickness (Unfolded) |
|---|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone* | 9.3 - 9.6 mm* | 4.5 - 4.8mm* |
| Oppo Find N5 | 8.9 mm | 4.2 mm |
| Pixel 10 Pro Fold | 10.8 mm | 5.2 mm |
| Galaxy Z Fold 7 | 8.9 mm | 4.2 mm |
* - expected.
Hinge and crease
Apple is expected to use UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) for the foldable display, targeting a less visible crease at the cost of some durability compared to hybrid glass alternatives.
The crease is expected to measure under 0.15 mm deep with a fold angle of around 2.5 degrees – significantly better than the Galaxy Z Fold 7's 0.7mm-deep crease at 3-4 degrees. A Weibo report also claims the crease could approach near-invisible in real-world conditions.
Apple is also said to be using a 3D-printed titanium hinge with a filler material to seal the small gaps that 3D printing leaves behind – a more cost-effective approach than precision machining.
Early supply chain rumors pointed to a minor hinge rattling issue that reportedly caused some internal concern at Apple. More recent testing, however, suggests those early mechanical issues are being worked out ahead of mass production.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes Apple's final hinge design came in at $70–$80 per unit – around 20% cheaper than the $100–$120 figure that earlier rumors suggested.
Colors
Apple's final color lineup for the foldable iPhone is reportedly still being finalized, according to trusted tipsters. The current consensus points to a minimalist lineup of White, Classic Silver, and a deep Indigo Blue – with the usual Space Black option noticeably missing from recent leaks.
iPhone Ultra dummy in white. | Image by Ice Universe
Authentication with Touch ID
The foldable iPhone is expected to use a side-mounted Touch ID sensor built into the power button rather than Face ID – a more practical authentication solution for a device that opens and closes in different orientations.
Camera control button
The iPhone Ultra may also include a Camera Control button, similar to recent iPhone models (iPhone 16 and newer). Even with the device's slim profile, Apple reportedly insisted on keeping the button so the phone stays easy to use and shoot photos with one hand.
Expect the same Camera Control functionality found on other iPhones – quickly launching the camera, snapping a photo, or sliding to zoom.
MagSafe support
According to tipster MajinBuOfficial, the foldable iPhone may handle MagSafe a bit differently than standard iPhones. The tipster has shared transparent cases for the device featuring built-in MagSafe magnetic rings.
Reportedly, foldable iPhone cases. | Images by Images by MajinBuOfficial
These accessories suggest the phone itself may lack internal magnets, depending entirely on specialized cases for magnetic accessory support – unlike recent iPhones, which feature built-in magnets.
Foldable iPhone display
Foldable iPhone displays rumored sizes:
- 7.8-inch inner screen
- 5.5-inch outer screen
The foldable display is primarily expected to be produced by Samsung, with LG Display as a secondary supplier. Apple is said to remain responsible for the proprietary structure, material processing, and laminated pressing method.
Crease or no crease
Apple's approach to the crease has evolved significantly through the development process. Early reports suggested Apple held off on entering the foldable market specifically to solve the crease problem, with expensive advanced hinge solutions in the mix.
A slight crease is still expected to remain, but current estimates put it well below what competing foldables produce.
UTG display
Apple is said to have settled on ultra-thin-glass tech (UTG) for the display, at under 30 micrometers thick. If accurate, that would trade off some durability in exchange for a less visible crease.
UTG is more flexible but less impact-resistant than standard glass, which is what allows for a less visible crease in the first place.
The display may also use CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) technology – a manufacturing approach that integrates the color filter directly into the display panel rather than adding it as a separate layer, resulting in a noticeably thinner, more power-efficient panel.
Foldable iPhone camera
We expect a dual-camera system on board with the first foldable iPhone: a 48MP main camera and a 48MP ultra-wide.
There is no telephoto lens in the current rumor picture – a notable omission that means the iPhone Ultra won't match the zoom reach of competing foldables like the Pixel 10pi Pro Fold, which offers 5x optical zoom.
Under-display selfie camera?
An under-display selfie camera now appears unlikely for the foldable iPhone, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise. Samsung used under-display cameras on the Fold 4 through Fold 6 before dropping the tech with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 – Apple may have reached the same conclusion about image quality.
A Dynamic Island is also not expected, though notifications and apps may expand from the front camera's punch-hole cutout in a similar fashion.
Foldable iPhone storage
The foldable iPhone is expected to start at 256 GB of storage and also offer 512 GB and 1 TB tiers.
iPhone Ultra expected storage options:
- 12 GB RAM + 256 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 512 GB storage
- 12 GB RAM + 1 TB storage
Foldable iPhone battery
A battery supplier for Apple recently filed registrations for two cells: one rated at 1,921mAh and another at 2,962mAh – a combined total of 4,883mAh.
| Foldable phone | Battery size |
|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone Ultra | 4,800 - 5,000 mAh* |
| Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 | ~4,400 mAh |
| Oppo Find N5 | 5,600 mAh |
| Honor Magic V5 | 6,100 mAh |
* - expected
A quick note: Apple never publicly discloses battery capacities. All figures that surface before launch – including these supplier registrations – come from third-party sources and supply chain leaks rather than Apple directly. Treat them as informed estimates, not confirmed specs.
This is significantly below the 5,000–5,800mAh range that earlier rumors had suggested. Based on the dual-cell configuration and its similarity to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide's 4,800mAh cell, the most realistic expectation is a battery in the 4,800-5,000mAh range.
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 carries a 4,400mAh battery, while the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold comes in at 5,015mAh – which would put Apple's foldable comfortably in the middle of the current foldable pack, not ahead of it.
Apple is reportedly leaning on the A20 Pro chip's efficiency gains rather than raw capacity to maximize real-world runtime.
Foldable iPhone features and software
Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is likely to run iOS 27, an iteration of the operating system built specifically for foldable form factors.
The overall app layout would draw from iPadOS, unlocking new sidebar options within standard iPhone apps on the larger internal display – though full iPad app support isn't expected.
Multitasking is expected to work similarly to the iPad experience but in a more limited form, most likely restricted to two apps side by side.
A separate multitasking feature may be in the works for iOS 27, focused specifically on landscape orientation. It's reportedly similar to Huawei's Parallel View, which lets a single app display in two parallel windows at once on tablets and foldables.
Apple unveiled iOS 27 during WWDC 2026. Liquid Glass is sticking around, now with a system-wide slider to adjust how transparent you want it.
The long-awaited Siri overhaul is also here, in the form of Siri AI. The assistant gains personal context awareness, natural language processing, customizable voice expressiveness, and the ability to handle complex tasks across apps on your behalf.
Siri AI can also read what's currently on your screen and respond based on what it sees. It also gets its own dedicated app, letting you revisit past conversations or dive into more in-depth discussions.
Apple Intelligence is getting deeply integrated into iOS 27 across nearly every app. Photos is getting new AI-powered Reframe and Extend tools, while Home, Shortcuts, Mail, Phone, Messages, and other Apple apps are all picking up advanced Apple Intelligence features.
Write with Siri is rolling out system-wide, and Image Playground can now handle more complex scenes and generate custom wallpapers for your lock screen, contact posters, and Messages.
A recent macOS beta version hints at a feature specifically designed with the foldable iPhone in mind. The update allows iPhone Mirroring on Mac windows to be resized to look like an iPad display. Some see this as further evidence the foldable iPhone is real.
This would mark the first time the app's window can be resized into a horizontal layout. It could be intended for iPads, but it also lines up neatly with a foldable iPhone.
iOS 27 developer beta code has also surfaced references to "foldState" and "angleDegrees" – clear foldable-device indicators – along with a check for the total number of built-in displays, something no current iPhone would need.
Foldable iPhone hardware and specs
Foldable iPhone's rumored specs:
- CPU: Apple's A20 Pro (2nm)
- RAM: 12 GB
- Battery: ~4,800-5,000mAh (estimated – Apple does not disclose battery sizes officially)
- Charging: around 25 W
- Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, potentially 1TB
- Camera setup: 48 MP main, 48 MP ultra-wide
The foldable iPhone is expected to run on Apple's 2nm-built A20 Pro chipset, said to be up to 15% faster and 30% more power-efficient than the A19 in the iPhone 17 lineup.
Apple may also use WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging, which places RAM directly on the main processor package rather than separately – helping the iPhone Ultra handle heavy workloads and on-device AI processing faster and more efficiently.
A separate leak from Fixed Focus Digital points to a more advanced vapor chamber cooling system inside the iPhone Ultra – one that goes beyond what's expected in the iPhone 18 Pro.
The iPhone 17 Pro was Apple's first iPhone to use vapor chamber cooling, circulating deionized water to move heat away from the chip and prevent performance throttling under sustained load.
According to Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone Ultra will use an evolved version of this system – with Apple reportedly already ramping up component orders – before it eventually makes its way to the 20th-anniversary iPhone. If accurate, the iPhone Ultra could deliver better sustained performance than the iPhone 18 Pro despite sharing the same A20 Pro chip.
Foldable iPhone preliminary comparisons
- Apple iPhone Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8: Here's how the newly-announced Galaxy Z Fold 8 compares to what's expected from the foldable iPhone.
Should I wait for the iPhone Ultra?
- You should wait for the iPhone Ultra if you're deep in the Apple ecosystem and have been eager to try out a foldable phone. The same goes if you'd prefer a shorter, more pocketable foldable over a tall, narrow cover screen – as long as you're willing to stay within Apple's platform.
- You should not wait for the iPhone Ultra ifyou prefer the open nature of Android. iOS is a great platform, but plenty of people simply prefer Android's file management and multitasking, and that's a perfectly valid reason to skip it. The battery situation is also worth keeping in mind – at ~4,800–5,000mAh, the iPhone Ultra won't be leading the foldable pack on battery, and at $1,999+, that's worth factoring into your decision. The weight is another factor worth considering – at a rumored 255 grams, it would be noticeably heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8's expected 201 grams. The same goes if you're already happy with the current crop of foldables – there's no shortage of solid options for #TeamAndroid already.
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