Apple's iPhone Ultra (Fold) is one of the most anticipated smartphones of 2026. That's because this will be the first folding phone from the company, and obviously there is a lot of hype around it. But since Apple has not revealed any details on the upcoming device, we have gathered leaks and rumours from credible sources to discuss expected specifications, pricing and release date of the iPhone Ultra.
What Will Be the Name of the Foldable iPhone?
It was expected that Apple's first foldable would be called the iPhone Fold, inspired by Samsung's Z Fold series.
However, in March, Mark Gurman, one of the most credible Apple insiders, reported that the device could be named iPhone Ultra instead.
He reasoned that this would tie in with other high-end products that Apple is planning to release by the end of 2026, all carrying the "Ultra" title.
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Apple iPhone Ultra: Design and Build Quality
The iPhone Ultra will be a book-style foldable, like Samsung's Z Fold series. However, it will boast a compact cover screen, almost the size of the iPhone 13 mini. But with a wider, passport-like shape.
It will open up to a 4:3 aspect ratio display. Similar to the recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 8. The overall design would be "the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history", according to Bloomberg.
The iPhone Ultra is rumoured to sport a titanium-plus-aluminium chassis. Titanium will provide structural rigidity to weak areas. Meanwhile, aluminium could keep the weight to a minimum.
This is why Mark Gurman suggested that it would be like two iPhone Air units stuck together.
Another well-known Apple leaker, Sonny Dickson (@SonnyDickson), shared 3D iPhone Ultra renders. It confirms that the phone will be shorter and wider than the current Apple iPhones.
Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, another Apple pundit, shared that the iPhone Ultra could be 9.5mm when folded and 4.5mm when open. If true, this will make the iPhone Ultra thinner than the iPhone Air, which measures 5.6mm.
However, it is still going to be thicker than Samsung's newly launched Z Fold 8 Ultra, which measures 4.1mm when open.
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iPhone Ultra: Face ID or Touch ID?
For the first time in a decade, Apple could be moving away from Face ID in exchange for Touch ID on the iPhone Ultra. The reason behind this is the lack of space for the TrueDepth camera under the display.
So, Apple could incorporate a Touch ID sensor in the Side button itself, with volume buttons sitting on top, like an iPad. This rumour is further backed by the recently surfaced iPhone Ultra dummy units.
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Apple iPhone Ultra: Display and Crease
The crease is the most crucial aspect of any foldable phone. This is why Apple is aiming for a creaseless display for the iPhone Ultra. But the exact specs for the hinge are not clear.
Industry analyst Ming Chi Kuo reported that Apple plans to use liquid metal for the iPhone Ultra hinge. This could further minimise the crease in the design and also improve the durability of the hinge.
Apple's reason behind this could be that it has a structure that is more resistant towards deformation than other traditional metals.
Another report from March 2026 suggests that Apple could borrow Samsung's new crease-free panel, which was showcased at CES 2026. It could be similar to the Flex Titanium technology that debuted with the Z Flip 8, Fold 8 and the Fold 8 Ultra devices.
This could provide a crease depth of 0.15mm, but it is still more than the 0.05mm of the Oppo Find N6. Mark Gurman also pointed out that the foldable iPhone's hinge will be of a higher quality compared to other folding phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold.
As for the display, the iPhone Ultra could feature a 5.5-inch cover display and a 7.6-inch main display.
The rumoured resolution for the cover screen is 2,088 x 1,422 and a 4:3 aspect ratio, while the folding display will have a higher 2,713 x 1,920 resolution.
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Apple iPhone Ultra Processor and Storage
In June 2025, Apple analyst Jeff Pu noted in a research paper that the iPhone Ultra, along with the rest of the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, will feature the Apple A20 Pro processor.
It will be based on TSMC's 2-nanometre architecture and use WMCM (Wafer-level Multi-Chip Module), which allows the RAM to be integrated with the SoC, boosting performance and thermal management.
The iPhone Ultra is also expected to arrive with 12 GB of RAM onboard. But it is not certain, given the ongoing RAM and storage shortage in the industry, which has led to Apple's price hike for several of its products.
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Modem and SIM Slot
In terms of connectivity, Apple is expected to use its second-generation C2 modem on the iPhone Fold. This is the successor to the C1X modem, seen on the iPhone 17e. It allows mmWave 5G support.
Moreover, the iPhone Ultra could be E-SIM only, just like the iPhone Air, and support regional carriers like Jio, Airtel and Vi in India.
iPhone Ultra Cameras
The iPhone Ultra might feature dual 48MP cameras, placed horizontally. This includes a wide-angle and an ultra-wide lens, like the base iPhone 17. However, it might skip out on the telephoto lens.
Other reports suggest that it might have an 18 MP under-display camera for the main display and the cover screen. This brings the total camera count of the iPhone Ultra to 4.
Apple iPhone Ultra Battery and Charging
Prominent leaker Digital Chat Station shared that the iPhone Ultra could boast a 4,883mAh battery capacity. It will be split into two batteries given the foldable form factor.
The primary cell could be a 1,921mAh, whereas the secondary cell seems to be of 2,962mAh capacity.
This is considerably lower than the previously rumoured 5,400mAh unit suggested by a Korean blog.
So, it is still going to be less than the current capacity of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
iOS Implementation on iPhone Ultra
The iPhone Fold as it will come out of the box with the iOS 27 update. This means it will feature the new Siri AI and all the other Apple Intelligence features that are coming with the update.
But it could be a modified version, allowing for split-screen and multi-window support to make the most of the larger folding screen. Basically, a simplified version of multitasking features seen on iPadOS.
Apple iPhone Ultra Expected Price
The iPhone Ultra could start at $2,500 (~ Rs 2,36,000). Higher storage variants push the price to a staggering $3,000 (~ Rs 2,83,500).
There is no shadow of a doubt that Apple's iPhone Ultra will be its most expensive iPhone yet. That's thanks to the expensive components and quadrupled memory and RAM prices.
Weibo leaker Instant Digital suggests the following expected iPhone Ultra storage options:
- 256GB
- 512GB
- 1TB
iPhone Ultra Release Date
Apple analyst Mark Gurman recently confirmed that the iPhone Ultra is launching on 8th September, 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
It was speculated that Apple could delay its plan to release the iPhone Fold this year, given the rising production cost. But another report suggests the company has ordered over 10 million units of the phone, and we are almost sure that the device will launch in just two months.
With more leaks coming out for the device every other day, we'll keep updating the post as new details emerge till the official launch.
