Apple’s first foldable phone, the IPhone Ultra, is rumored to be announced as early as September! Get a first look at the design and specifications

According to a report from Macworld, Apple may launch its first foldable smartphone under its own lineup this year, which will be one of the most significant upgrades to the iPhone product line in its history. According to the latest information, the company will name this new flagship device “iPhone Ultra,” further expanding its top-tier lineup and dropping a major shock to the high-end smartphone market.

iPhone Ultra is positioned above Pro

The report cites sources as saying that Apple will position this new device as a higher-tier product than the Pro series, and will name it “iPhone Ultra,” rather than “iPhone Fold,” which the outside world generally expects.

This move suggests Apple intends to broaden the scope of the “Ultra” brand, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra and the M1 Ultra chip released earlier. “Ultra” signifies the highest-spec, most expensive flagship option in Apple’s product lineup.

In addition, the naming of iPhone Ultra will not include the number “18,” which is similar to last year’s iPhone Air naming strategy, to highlight its distinct product positioning.

iPhone Ultra is expected to debut as early as September 2026

The report says Apple plans to unveil the iPhone Ultra as the closing highlight at this year’s September fall keynote, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Bloomberg also revealed that although development progress is still on track, initial supplies may be quite limited.

Unlike previous product update cycles, Apple this year will not update the base-model iPhone and iPhone Air. These models are expected to be delayed to the first half of 2027, launching together with the budget iPhone 18e.

iPhone Ultra’s possible exterior iPhone Ultra may remove Face ID and the telephoto lens

It’s rumored that the “Ultra” model will adopt a book-like vertical folding design, aiming to create a hybrid of iPhone and iPad. However, because the device is extremely thin and constrained by its hinge mechanical structure, iPhone Ultra will not be able to use an all-in-one unibody design, and the absence of a traditional glass back cover may also affect the full functionality of MagSafe or wireless charging.

Due to limited internal space, the model is expected to drop the Face ID feature and instead integrate Touch ID into the side power button. At the same time, it may also remove the telephoto lens that provides optical zoom, which will be a key consideration for consumers when it comes to an expensive flagship device. In terms of software, it will run a customized version of iOS rather than adopting iPadOS directly.

Apple expands its high-end product lineup: OLED touchscreens; MacBook Ultra in development

In addition to smartphones, Apple’s “Ultra” brand will also extend to its personal computer lineup. The report indicates that Apple is developing a new laptop equipped with an OLED touchscreen and will name it “MacBook Ultra.” This new machine will offer a set of entirely new features that are markedly different from the existing MacBook Pro, and its price will be significantly higher—creating a clear product separation so that MacBook Pro can continue to maintain a relatively accessible high-end option.

However, due to the recent shortage of memory (RAM) supplies, the MacBook Ultra originally planned to launch this year is expected to have its release pushed back to the first half of 2027.

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