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Apple's Foldable iPhone Ultra: A Slimmer Tri-Fold with Privacy Screen
Confirmed
In Short: Apple is set to unveil its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, at its September 9 event, though supply may be limited.
After years of rumors, Apple is finally expected to launch its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, at its September 9 event, according to reports from CNET and AppleInsider. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as reported by MacRumors, suggests that the device could debut alongside the iPhone 18 lineup but may not go on sale until later in the year, similar to the iPhone X launch in 2017.
The iPhone Ultra is rumored to feature a 7.8-inch display on the inside, making it comparable to a tablet in size, but with limited functionality. The device is expected to keep MagSafe, as mentioned by Gurman in an interview with Tom's Guide, indicating that Apple has managed to fit the magnet array into the iPhone Air.
Apple’s iPhone Ultra is expected to start at a price point above $2,000, with a potential price increase of $200 to $300 for the iPhone 18 Pro, according to MacRumors. The iPhone 17 Pro, which starts at $1,099, already features sharper cameras, a larger and smoother display, and a quicker chip with more storage than previous models, as reported by PCMag.
The iPhone Ultra is designed to provide both a larger display than the Pro models and a smaller one, making it a versatile choice for users. It could appeal to those who prefer a larger screen and to fans of small phones, like the discontinued iPhone mini, according to 9to5Mac. The sleek, Air-inspired design of the iPhone Ultra is expected to be more comfortable in the hand than Apple’s bulkier Pro models.
However, the iPhone Ultra may face some hardware drawbacks compared to the iPhone 18 Pro, as noted by 9to5Mac. The foldable screen, which is likely to be made of plastic, could result in excess glare and fingerprint grease, similar to other foldable phones. Despite these issues, the software experience is expected to be the key factor in earning its ‘Ultra’ branding, according to 9to5Mac.
According to a report from Nikkei Asia, the iPhone Ultra could be limited in supply at the start, as mentioned by 9to5Mac. This limited supply may be due to the complexity of producing a foldable device, which could make it challenging to meet high demand initially.
What's confirmed
- So, if you’re an Apple user and you’re buying into the iPhone Ultra hype, maybe keep reading before you pre-order it.
What's still developing
- Fri Sep 04 2026, 07:18 AM EDT · 1 minute read The expected iPhone Ultra is still believed to be announced at the September 9 event, but supplies may be extremely constrained.
- While the inside of the iPhone foldable will have a near tablet-sized 7.8-inch display, it may not have all the functionality of an iPad, Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman recently told Yahoo Tech.
- While the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16 might look mostly the same, Apple has made significant changes to the 17's specs and features, bringing it closer in capabilities to the iPhone Pro than ever before and leaving a larger gap between it and the iPhone 16.
- Apple’s foldable iPhone plans reportedly extend well beyond the first-generation model expected this year, with development of a second-generation iPhone Ultra already said to be well underway.
- The early testing suggests Apple is treating the foldable as the beginning of a long-term product line rather than a one-off addition to the iPhone family.
- With successive generations already appearing in Apple’s reported roadmap, the foldable iPhone could quickly develop into a permanent premium tier alongside the traditional iPhone Pro lineup.
- Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: Introduced in 2007 by Steve Jobs, iPhone is Appl… Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more.
- Apple has three new flagship iPhones launching next week: iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and iPhone Ultra.