Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to launch in the fall of 2026, and it will reportedly be called the iPhone Ultra. This new high-end model marks a significant departure from the traditional iPhone lineup, blending the portability of a smartphone with the screen real estate of a small tablet. According to leaks and rumors, the iPhone Ultra will introduce six major new features that set it apart from the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Here’s a comprehensive look at what to expect.
Design: Book-Style Fold with Titanium and a Crease-Free Display
The iPhone Ultra adopts a book-style folding mechanism, meaning it opens horizontally like a book rather than vertically like a clamshell. When unfolded, the device is wider than it is tall, offering a landscape-oriented inner display that approaches the dimensions of an iPad mini. This design choice is unusual among foldables, which typically prioritize a taller aspect ratio. The outer display is shorter and wider than any current iPhone, resembling a compact iPhone mini but with a more stretched aspect ratio.
One of the most anticipated innovations is the crease-free inner display. Unlike many existing foldable phones that show a visible crease along the fold line, Apple is reportedly using advanced materials and hinge engineering to eliminate this imperfection. The device’s chassis will be made of titanium, echoing the premium build of the iPhone Air, and when folded, the iPhone Ultra will be remarkably thin—similar to two iPhone Airs stacked together but even slimmer. Color options are rumored to be limited to black and white, reflecting Apple’s usual minimalist approach. If these design details hold, the iPhone Ultra could set a new aesthetic standard for foldable smartphones.
Displays: Unique Sizes and Orientation
The iPhone Ultra will feature two displays: an outer screen for quick tasks and an inner screen for immersive experiences. The outer display is expected to measure between 5.3 and 5.5 inches, slightly smaller than the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen but with a wider aspect ratio. This makes it practical for one-handed use, albeit with a squatter appearance. The inner display will range from 7.6 to 7.8 inches, offering a near-iPad Mini experience in terms of size and resolution. The larger canvas is ideal for reading, editing documents, watching movies, or running two apps side by side. Both displays are expected to support ProMotion technology with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsiveness, as well as HDR10 and Dolby Vision for outstanding color accuracy. Apple’s commitment to high-quality screens suggests the Ultra will appeal to professionals and content consumers alike.
Cameras: Dual 48MP Rear Lenses and Two Front-Facing Cameras
The camera system on the iPhone Ultra is a mix of compromises and innovations. On the rear, the device will have two lenses: a 48-megapixel Main sensor and a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide sensor. This means the Ultra lacks a Telephoto lens, so users will miss out on optical zoom capabilities found on the Pro models. However, the high-resolution sensors allow for digital zoom with impressive detail, and Apple may use computational photography to bridge the gap. On the front, the iPhone Ultra will feature two cameras—one on each display. This is necessary because the device can be used in both folded and unfolded states. The front-facing cameras are expected to be 18-megapixel units with Center Stage functionality, introduced with the iPhone 17, and they will be housed in hole-punch cutouts rather than notch designs. The dual front cameras ensure that video calls and selfies are equally convenient regardless of the device’s orientation.
Software: iOS 27 Exclusive Multitasking Features
iOS 27, expected to launch alongside the iPhone Ultra, will bring software optimizations tailored to the foldable form factor. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the operating system will introduce side-by-side app multitasking and iPad-like app layouts. These features allow users to run two apps simultaneously on the inner display, similar to iPadOS’s Split View, but optimized for the narrower portrait orientation of the unfolded iPhone Ultra. Apple is not planning to run iPadOS on the device, but iOS 27 will borrow many interface elements from its tablet counterpart. This software integration is crucial for the Ultra’s success, as it transforms the device into a genuine productivity tool. Developers will likely need to update their apps to take advantage of the new screen real estate, and Apple may provide guidelines to ensure a seamless experience across all apps.
Apple Silicon: A20 Pro Chip and C2 Cellular Modem
Under the hood, the iPhone Ultra will be powered by the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. This represents a major leap from the A19 Pro’s 3nm architecture, promising significant gains in performance and efficiency. The chip will use Wafer-level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology to improve heat dissipation and power management. It will also include 12GB of RAM, matching the A19 Pro, but with faster LPDDR5 memory for improved data transfer speeds. Complementing the A20 Pro is Apple’s second-generation in-house cellular modem, the C2. This replaces Qualcomm’s 5G modems with an Apple-designed solution that offers better integration with iOS, lower power consumption, and potentially faster 5G speeds. The combination of the A20 Pro and C2 modem should make the iPhone Ultra one of the most capable and efficient devices Apple has ever produced.
Touch ID Returns: Power Button Integration
In a surprising move, the iPhone Ultra will not include Face ID. Instead, Apple is bringing back Touch ID and embedding it into the power button, similar to the implementation on the iPad Air and iPad mini. The reason, sources say, is the device’s extreme thinness—Apple could not fit the necessary Face ID components (dot projector, infrared camera, flood illuminator) into two separate modules for each display without compromising structural integrity. While some may view the absence of Face ID as a downgrade, Touch ID offers a faster and more reliable authentication method in many scenarios, especially when wearing masks or sunglasses. It also aligns with the Ultra’s design philosophy of maximizing thinness. Future iterations could reintroduce Face ID once the components are miniaturized further, but for the first generation, users will rely on a fingerprint sensor.
Pricing and Market Position
The iPhone Ultra is expected to be the most expensive iPhone ever, with a starting price of around $1,999 for the base 256GB model. This price point puts it in direct competition with premium foldables from Samsung, Google, and others, as well as Apple’s own iPad mini and iPhone Pro lines. The high cost reflects the advanced engineering, dual displays, titanium build, and custom silicon. While some analysts predict a lower starting price to attract early adopters, most agree that $1,999 is a likely target. Whether consumers will justify spending nearly two thousand dollars on a single device remains to be seen, but the combination of a phone and a compact tablet in one pocketable device could appeal to power users and tech enthusiasts.
Source: 9to5Mac News