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In this week’s episode of the MacRumors Show, we discuss all the rumors surrounding Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone, now called the “iPhone Ultra,” which is shaping up to be a complete redesign unlike anything the company has shipped before.<\/p>\n
The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, although reports suggest it will ship after the Pro models, possibly in late December. Pricing is expected to start above $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.<\/p>\n
The device will have a book-style, passport-shaped design with an aspect ratio of 4:3, wider than it is tall and unlike any foldable currently on the market. When closed, it will have a 5.5-inch external display; when open, the internal 7.8-inch OLED panel takes over, making it slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. According to a design leak from Instant Digital, the device will measure just 4.5mm thick when unveiled, making it Apple’s smallest iPhone to date. The outer frame is said to be made of titanium for strength in that thinness, while the inner frame uses aluminum. The back features a glass finish with a short, iPhone Air-style camera platform with horizontally arranged rear cameras.<\/p>\n
The same leak reveals that the volume buttons are moved to the top edge of the device, aligned to the right. The internal display features a single punch hole cutout leading to a small Dynamic Island, while the Touch ID power button and Camera Control reside on the right edge. Reports indicate that the iPhone Ultra will support iPad-style multitasking and side-by-side app-launching architectures when unveiled, thanks to its smaller iPad-sized internal display. Bloomberg<\/em>Mark Gurman described it as “the most important overhaul in the history of the iPhone.”<\/p>\n Achieving that ultra-slim form factor comes with trade-offs, and the iPhone Ultra will be missing a few features iPhone users have come to expect, somewhat echoing the compromises Apple made with the iPhone Air. The iPhone Air went without stereo speakers, a SIM card slot, and multiple rear cameras to achieve its 5.6mm frame; The iPhone Ultra faces similar issues with the much-needed 4.5mm. The ultra-slim chassis leaves no room for a triple-lens camera setup, so the telephoto lens found on iPhone Pro models is missing, leaving behind a dual 48-megapixel rear system. More importantly, there’s no room for a TrueDepth sensor needed for Face ID, meaning the iPhone Ultra will rely on the side button’s Touch ID module instead.<\/p>\n Under the hood, the iPhone Ultra is expected to feature an Apple A20 chip paired with 12GB of RAM. Storage options are said to include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, while the color options are black and white. The battery capacity is reported to be in the range of 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh, which would place it among the 100 largest ever in an iPhone despite its small size.<\/p>\n The level of Apple’s production ambitions for the iPhone Ultra has already been limited by the realities of production. Kuo initially indicated that Apple had placed orders for 15 to 20 million foldable iPhones, although he noted that demand would be limited by the cost of the device. In December, Kuo warned that first-stage and ramp-up challenges could mean smooth shipments may not occur until 2027, with potential shortages lasting at least until the end of 2026.<\/p>\n The high asking price is expected to be another obstacle to volume: IDC projects the device will take more than 22% of the foldable market unit in its first year, but that market remains part of the overall niche. The poor sales performance of the iPhone Air, for which Kuo suppliers reported cutting production capacity by more than 80 percent after demand fell short of expectations, may be a warning for testing the premium iPhone form-factor.<\/p>\n The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe to keep up with new episodes and clips.<\/p>\n You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly to your player.<\/p>\n