Apple's Foldable iPhone: release date expectations, price estimates and upgrades
Render of the foldable iPhone | Image by Fpt.
Rumored upgrades:
- Likely launching as the iPhone Ultra rather than the iPhone Fold
- Wide book-style form factor, similar to the Galaxy Fold and Pixel Fold lineups
- 7.8-inch internal folding screen paired with a 5.5-inch external cover display
- Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) aimed at minimizing the display crease
- Side-mounted Touch ID in the power button – no Face ID
- Battery estimated at 4,800-5,000mAh – earlier 5,500mAh+ figures 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 9.6mm, weighing 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
- A September 8 or 9, 2026 announcement alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max still looks likely, though availability at launch is expected to be severely limited.
- The most recent reports point to a $1,999 starting price – well below the $2,399 figure that circulated in 2025.
Jump to:
Foldable iPhone release date
Apple is expected to unveil 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, though reputable Apple analyst Mark Gurman and other established leakers insist the September timeline is still on track, and have pushed back on the delay rumors.
The name itself remains contested. Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station sparked the "iPhone Ultra" consensus back in April, but fellow leaker Instant Digital has since pushed back, arguing the Ultra designation is being reserved for the 20th anniversary iPhone and its successors.
Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach has made a similar case, arguing the foldable will slot below the iPhone Pro in the spec hierarchy – it trades Face ID for Touch ID, skips the telephoto camera, leaves out the Action Button, and may not even have built-in MagSafe. Gurman has maintained it's internally called the iPhone Ultra, but whether that internal name makes it to the box is still an open question.
On availability, the picture has grown steadily more complicated. Ming-Chi Kuo draws parallels to the 2017 iPhone X – announced in September, unavailable until late October – citing low Q3 display yields. Barclays analyst Tim Long and supply chain sources flag component shortages that could push shipments to December, with DigiTimes reporting Foxconn was still working through final mass-production adjustments.
Apple has raised its foldable display orders from Samsung to 20 million units – up from 13-15 million – signaling demand confidence, but supply chain pressures are mounting from multiple directions. Tim Cook acknowledged supply constraints will "increase significantly" in the months ahead, and Mark Gurman had already warned the first foldable iPhone could be hard to find at launch.
The most recent report, from Australian outlet ChannelNews, paints the most difficult picture yet: unresolved hinge and display issues during production verification, with current engineering fixes falling short.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch in limited US quantities only, with a phased international rollout to follow – and Apple may not even confirm a price on announcement day.
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 the iPhone Ultra – is expected to take a wide book-style form.
Wide book-style design and leaked renders
The iPhone Ultra is expected to sport slim bezels, flat sides, a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external display. Both are smaller than the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's 8-inch main and 6.5-inch cover panels – and smaller than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and OnePlus Open too. The device's form factor is expected to be similar to the wider Galaxy Z Fold 8 Samsung unveiled not too long ago.
The upside of the compact form is pocketability: a more compact form factor gives the iPhone Ultra a genuine advantage for anyone who wants a foldable that actually fits in a pocket or bag without much effort.
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 shows a device that reads more like a miniature 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 dummy features a camera plateau similar to the iPhone Air's, with 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 polished – but the direction is already clear.
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 – a first for Apple. Two lenses sit in a horizontal bar on the back. A faint crease is visible on the internal display, though judging crease quality from early dummy units is unreliable.
Leaked images from an accessory maker suggest the foldable iPhone may skip built-in MagSafe magnets, relying on specialized cases instead:
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.
Asymmetrical front cover design
One quirk flagged by leaker Instant Digital is worth knowing before you buy: the iPhone Ultra's rounded corners may create a subtle asymmetry on the cover display when folded.
The alleged front display design. | Image by Instant Digital
Because the outer edges curve while the hinge side stays flat, the front screen ends up with a small strip of unused space on the left – giving the folded device a slightly uneven look. It can be hard to unsee once you notice it, though it may not bother everyone. The report also confirms the absence of Face ID and a telephoto camera – both worth factoring in at this price point.
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 reference, the wide Galaxy Z Fold 8 measures 123.9mm tall, 81.9mm wide when folded, and 161.4mm when open, with a 9.7mm folded thickness, 4.5mm open, and a weight of 201 grams. The iPhone Ultra would be slightly shorter, a little wider, marginally thicker, and notably heavier.
| Model | Thickness (Folded) | Thickness (Unfolded) |
|---|---|---|
| Foldable iPhone* | 9.3 - 9.6 mm* | 4.5 - 4.8mm* |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra | 8.9 mm | 4.1 mm |
| Galaxy Z Fold 8 | 9.7 mm | 4.5 mm |
| 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 — more flexible than standard glass but less impact-resistant, enabling a less visible crease at the cost of some durability.
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 flagged a minor hinge rattling issue, though more recent reports suggest those concerns are being resolved ahead of mass production. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo notes Apple's final hinge design came in at $70–$80 per unit, around 20% below the $100–$120 figure that earlier leaks had suggested.
Colors
Apple's final color lineup is reportedly still being finalized, according to trusted tipsters. Earlier reports pointed to a lineup of White, Classic Silver, and deep Indigo Blue, with the usual Space Black option noticeably missing.
iPhone Ultra dummy in white. | Image by Ice Universe
Leaked camera protector images shared by tipster Sonny Dickson point to two finishes: a dark variant that skews closer to deep blue than black, and a lighter option leaning toward silver rather than pure white. Because these are third-party accessories, the exact official finishes may differ slightly.
Leaked iPhone Ultra camera protectors. | Images by Sonny Dickson
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 solution for a device that opens and closes in different orientations throughout the day.
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 functionality as on other recent iPhones – 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 considerably through development. Early reports suggested the crease was one of the main reasons Apple held off on entering the foldable market for so long. A slight crease is still expected to remain, but current estimates put it well below anything a competing foldable currently produces.
UTG display
Apple is said to have settled on ultra-thin-glass tech (UTG) for the display, at under 30 micrometers thick. UTG is more flexible but less impact-resistant than standard glass – a trade-off that enables a less visible crease at the cost of some durability.
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
The iPhone Ultra is expected to ship with a dual rear camera system: a 48MP main and a 48MP ultra-wide. There is no telephoto lens in the current rumor picture – a notable gap that means the iPhone Ultra won't match the zoom reach of competing foldables like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold, which offers 5x optical zoom.
Under-display selfie camera?
An under-display selfie camera now looks unlikely, despite earlier reports. Samsung tried the technology across three consecutive generations – the Fold 4 through Fold 6 – before dropping it with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 due to image quality concerns.
Apple appears to have reached the same conclusion. A Dynamic Island isn't expected either, though notifications and apps may expand from the front camera's punch-hole cutout in a similar fashion.
Where exactly that punch-hole lands is now its own open question. A leaked third-party screen protector points to the outer display's selfie camera sitting in the top-right corner rather than the center – which would be unusual for any mainstream smartphone.
Alleged screen protectors for the iPhone Ultra. | Image by IceUniverse
Accessory makers typically work from leaked CAD schematics, which are notoriously unreliable for finer design details. Other renders have placed the outer camera in the center of the display – which is where every competing foldable positions it. Both possibilities remain on the table until Apple makes it official.
Foldable iPhone storage
The iPhone Ultra is expected to come in three configurations: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, with 256GB as the entry point.
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
Apple never discloses battery sizes – before launch or after. Every figure that surfaces, including supplier filings like these, comes from third-party sources. Treat them as informed estimates rather than confirmed specs.
That combined 4,883mAh figure 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 banking on the A20 Pro chip's efficiency gains rather than raw capacity to maximize real-world endurance.
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.
he app layout draws from iPadOS, unlocking new sidebar options within standard iPhone apps on the larger internal display – though full iPad app support isn't expected.
Multitasking will most likely be limited to two apps side by side, though a landscape-focused mode is also reportedly in the works – similar to Huawei's Parallel View, which lets a single app run in two parallel windows at once.
iOS 27's headline addition is Siri AI – rebuilt in collaboration with Google, gaining personal context awareness, the ability to read what's on your screen, and the capability to handle complex multi-step tasks across apps.
It gets its own standalone app with a persistent conversation history. Liquid Glass is sticking around, now with a system-wide transparency slider. Write with Siri rolls out system-wide, and Image Playground expands to generate wallpapers, contact posters, and Messages backgrounds.
Apple Intelligence is integrated into iOS 27 across nearly every core app. Photos gains Reframe and Extend AI editing tools, while Home, Shortcuts, Mail, Phone, and Messages all pick up new AI-driven capabilities.
A recent macOS beta lets iPhone Mirroring windows resize to an iPad-style aspect ratio – widely read as a hint at the foldable's development. iOS 27 developer beta code has also surfaced references to "foldState" and "angleDegrees," along with a check for the total number of built-in displays — none of which any 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, Apple's first chip on TSMC's 2nm process, delivering up to 18% faster performance and 30% better power efficiency than the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 lineup.
Apple may also use WMCM packaging, placing RAM directly on the processor package rather than separately, helping the chip run cooler and handle AI workloads more efficiently.
A 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 throttling under sustained load.
According to Fixed Focus Digital, the iPhone Ultra takes that system further, with Apple already ramping component orders. If accurate, the iPhone Ultra could outperform the iPhone 18 Pro on sustained tasks despite sharing the same 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 already in the Apple ecosystem and have been looking for a reason to try a foldable. The iPhone Ultra's more compact, pocketable proportions are also a genuine selling point if you've found other foldables too tall and narrow to be practical – as long as you're committed to staying on iOS.
- You should not wait for the iPhone Ultra if Android's openness matters to you – iOS handles file management and multitasking differently, and that's a legitimate reason to look elsewhere. The battery at ~4,800-5,000mAh won't lead the foldable pack, the weight at a rumored 255 grams is noticeably heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8's 201 grams, and at $1,999+ the value case requires real conviction about the Apple platform. If you're already happy with an Android foldable, there's no shortage of strong options already out there.
One longer-term consideration: according to Mark Gurman, Apple already has at least two successors to the iPhone Ultra in planning. The iPhone Ultra 2 is expected to bring only incremental hardware changes, while the iPhone Ultra 3 – anticipated for 2028 – is planned to feature larger displays on both the inner and outer screens. If the 5.5-inch cover and 7.8-inch inner display feel too compact for your needs, waiting for the third generation may make more sense than buying in now.
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