iPhone Ultra rumors: the most credible leaks, price and expected release date

Reports of an iPhone Ultra have been circulating for years, but momentum is building that 2026 will be the year the company launches a foldable iPhone with that name. While we’ve already rounded up everything we know about the iPhone Fold rumor, the idea that the Ultra is more likely to be the name of Apple’s first foldable phone has recently been gaining ground. Additionally, iOS 27 developer beta code details have all but confirmed that the company is preparing to roll out software for a device with different folding state and angles.

The highly anticipated handset could be a major win for power users and multitaskers by packing the capabilities of an iPad Mini into something that still fits in a pocket or clutch. As we continue to wait for an official announcement from Apple, here’s a roundup of the latest and most reliable rumors and information we’ve heard so far about the iPhone Ultra.

Like most new iPhone models, we expect Apple to give us a full look at the product this fall, during its annual hardware launch. Historically, the company holds this event during the first two weeks of September. If we look back at the last two years, the launch of the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 16 took place on September 9. This is consistent with information from Bloomberg Apple analyst Mark Gurman said in a recent newsletter that “the most likely date for the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone launch is September 8, with September 9 being a close second.”

As for the actual sale date, it could come a little later. According to a recent article from NikkeiApple is currently ramping up production of the iPhone Ultra, and typically the company begins selling new devices one to two weeks after they are announced. However, the increased complexity of the iPhone Ultra combined with the global RAM shortage could push its official release date to the end of the year.

It’s possible that there will be a small iPhone Ultra shipment in mid-fall before the device becomes more widely available in November, December, or early 2027. The good news is that the Nikkei claims that Apple has asked its suppliers to prepare to make around 10 million iPhone Ultras, which is up from previous forecasts of around 8 million. So even if you don’t buy one of the early models, there should be enough for everyone, assuming you can stomach its price.

While we wait for official pricing, even this early, it’s clear that the iPhone Ultra won’t be cheap. The general consensus among analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo and Gurman is that Apple’s next flexible phone will cost at least $2,000, with some researchers saying it could cost closer to $2,399. This would be even more expensive than its existing competitors like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold ($1,799) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 ($2,000). That said, considering Apple’s typical markups and rising material costs due to the global memory shortage, these estimates seem entirely plausible.

One of the iPhone Ultra’s main changes compared to other book-style foldables is that rumors suggest it will have a much wider chassis, closer to the original Pixel Fold (pictured above) than the slimmer design Samsung is using on the Galaxy Z Fold line. One benefit of this would be that, when opened, the iPhone Ultra would support a wider landscape orientation that would make watching shows and movies more enjoyable compared to the Z Fold 7, which features a squarer aspect ratio that results in a sizable letterbox. (That said, Samsung has announced that its next foldable will be much wider than before, making it a popular form factor for 2026.)

Kuo claims that the foldable iPhone will have a flexible main screen approximately 7.8 inches in diameter as well as a 5.5-inch outer display. It should also measure 4.5-4.8mm thick unfolded – which would be even thinner than an iPhone Air – or around 9-9.5mm when closed. The iPhone Ultra is also expected to feature dual rear cameras (with wide and ultra-wide lenses) and a new 3D printed hinge. Initially, some reports raised concerns about the durability of the hinge, but these issues were apparently resolved when the phone began production testing.

As for the screen itself, Bloomberg reported that Apple has opted for “a new display technology that reduces creasing without eliminating it completely.” This would match existing devices that have significantly reduced the appearance of a crease or crease, but still exhibit faint lines when viewed from certain angles.

Notably, it appears that Face ID won’t be part of the iPhone Ultra, as Apple instead chooses to rely on Touch ID via a fingerprint sensor built into the phone’s lock button. The main reason seems to be that Face ID would potentially increase the thickness of the Ultra and reduce the overall screen area in order to accommodate things like infrared face scanners.

A potential major upgrade on the iPhone Ultra could be a tweaked version of iOS that would offer a more iPad-like layout when the phone’s main screen is open. According to Bloombergthis includes support for side-by-side apps and more optimized app resolutions and aspect ratios. Additionally, it appears Apple is working on new layouts for existing iOS apps that include sidebars on the left side of the screen, similar to what you see on iPads. That said, the Ultra reportedly doesn’t support iPadOS, so it may not benefit from the same multitasking features found on Apple’s traditional tablets.

Based on supply chain reports, Apple is testing high-capacity batteries ranging from 5,400 to 5,800 mAh. Not only would this be significantly larger than what’s available in phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 (4,400 mAh), but it would potentially be the highest capacity battery in any iPhone ever.

Regardless of the exact specs, the iPhone Ultra is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated new iPhones in recent history. And as Apple catches up to rivals like Samsung and Google, thanks to the company’s absolute control over iOS and its ecosystem, the arrival of the iPhone Ultra could finally bring foldable phones to a massive audience of new buyers.