The concept looks amazing, but will that be enough? | Image by fpt.
The iPhone Ultra/Fold is Apple's next 'big thing.' As the brand's debut effort into the foldable scene, it has big shoes to fill. Leaks have been wild for months, telling us what to expect from the form factor and hardware.
In April 2026, supply chain rumors indicated that the Cupertino tech giant might have run into technical issues during the test phase. Logically, that could lead to announcement delays. But this may not actually happen.
The iPhone Ultra won't be late?
One of the most renowned X leakers, Ice Universe, has just shared that the iPhone Ultra might debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, as initially expected.
The post reads simply that there's a new product scheduled in autumn 2026. Well, duh, that's when iPhones are usually released. The curious element stems from the attached image, which shows the new CEO announcing the foldable device.
Of course, this image isn't taken from a real keynote event, but it does suggest the iPhone Ultra might be the new CEO's first groundbreaking announcement.
What makes a good foldable great?
Assuming Ice Universe isn't wrong (the leaker has a mostly flawless track record), then Apple might have solved its test phase issues quicker than expected. I would argue that the tech giant may have been 'forced' to fix the problems just to keep its competitive edge.
A fresh render of the iPhone Ultra has just surfaced. | Image by Majin, posted on X
After all, the iPhone Ultra won't be the world's first foldable with a 'passport' design. In fact, another brand already beat Apple to the curb — and Samsung is expected to do the same in just a few months.
Competition is strong
On April 20, 2026, Huawei effectively "threw the glove" at Apple, showing how the wide-style foldable design is done. The Huawei Pura X Max debuted with a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.7-inch main panel, featuring an extremely slim design, a custom Kirin 9030 Pro chipset and a 5,300mAh battery.
Pure perfection. | Image by Huawei
Sure, the Huawei foldable likely won't be a global bestseller, likely due to its limited market availability and lack of Google services. But it does drive the competition up for Apple, giving users several months to estimate whether this specific form factor is the future.
Will Samsung be able to compete?
Another wide-style foldable is coming up in 2026, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. While it hasn't received the same amount of hype as the iPhone Ultra, this device is also expected to beat Apple on the release date front.
It's currently estimated to debut alongside the 'standard' Z Fold/Z Flip lineup in July. And yet, I doubt it'll be a global bestseller.
Dethronement incoming... or not? | Image by PhoneArena
We live in a world where the East is providing groundbreaking foldable innovations year after year (Oppo already launched the first creaseless foldable). Apple has also gathered massive momentum for its debut in the West. Where does Samsung sit in this landscape?
Hardcore fans will likely remain loyal to the Galaxy Z Fold experience regardless of the Apple hype. But for those without such devoted allegiance, picking a Samsung foldable may no longer be a 'no-brainer.'
At the end of the day, with the Motorola Razr Fold debuting in the US very soon, it won't even be only Apple making Galaxy foldables feel... old.
Should you wait for the iPhone Ultra?
I'm not necessarily saying Apple will immediately dethrone Samsung as the world's top foldable seller, though it's certainly possible. But I do think the iPhone Ultra is worth waiting for.
This render shows us what the device might look like. | Image by fpt.
The reason isn't groundbreaking hardware or a revolutionary design. It's about the choice. For years, Samsung has only given us incremental upgrades, slowly making its foldables feel obsolete. And since you can't just walk into a Western store and buy an Oppo Find N6 or a Huawei Pura X Max, the Apple iPhone Ultra becomes the logical alternative.
The West is hungry for variety, and Apple needs no 'cutting-edge' approach. It just needs to be there.
MacBook Pro M1 flash sale! Limited time offer!
Save $50 on MacBook Pro M1 from Back Market. Discount automatically applied at checkout. Offer ends 26 April, 2026 at 23:59.
Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: