Apple is already making plans for its third-generation foldable iPhone, with launch expected as early as 2028, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said the first foldable iPhone is about to get what he called the device's first "truly revolutionary design change" this year, and that Apple already has a roadmap extending two generations beyond it. A second-generation model is planned for 2027, Gurman says, with a third version following as early as 2028.
The third-generation foldable will apparently feature slightly larger displays on both the inside and the outside compared to its predecessors, though he did not provide specific screen sizes. The first foldable iPhone is expected to launch with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, so any increase would build on those dimensions. This is the first report to lay out plans for a third-generation model, extending Apple's foldable roadmap a year beyond where it previously stood.
The first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive this year with an ultra-thin design, Touch ID instead of Face ID, the A20 chip, C2 modem, and the moniker "iPhone Ultra," at a price around or above $2,000. The second-generation foldable, meanwhile, is reported to have already received the go-ahead for development, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Digital Chat Station," who said the "iPhone Ultra 2" project has been formally approved and will likely reuse the first-generation model's display. That model is expected to launch in fall 2027 alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
New images of camera protector accessories for the "iPhone Ultra" suggest Apple's first foldable iPhone will launch in silver and dark blue finishes.
Leaker Sonny Dickson yesterday shared images of two third-party camera protectors designed to fit over the iPhone Ultra's camera bump, with one in silver and one in a dark blue finish. Dickson has a track record of accurate accessory and dummy model leaks, including his early look at this year's iPhone 18 Pro colors.
The images back up a May report that cited a Macworld supply chain source describing a classic silver and white model alongside an indigo option similar to the iPhone 17 Pro's Deep Blue finish. A silver finish was separately described as the first "confirmed" color in June, and a report the same week suggested the darker option might not be black. Dickson's accessories now offer the clearest visual confirmation yet of that silver and dark blue offering.
These iPhone Fold camera protectors give us a look at two of the colors planned for the device: silver and dark blue. pic.twitter.com/KMaMu4JyZE
The restrained approach stands in contrast to the iPhone 18 Pro, which is rumored to add a Dark Cherry finish and a Light Blue option alongside Silver this year. A black option for the Pro models was also rumored initially, though a subsequent report suggested Apple decided not to include it this year.
The leaked accessories also clearly show the widely rumored design of the camera plateau on the back of the foldable iPhone, featuring two horizontally arranged lenses alongside a pill-shaped flash and a LiDAR scanner. The foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next month.
3D render claiming to depict Apple’s first foldable iPhone (image: Jon Prosser)
Apple and its suppliers are scrambling to secure enough DRAM (mobile memory chips) ahead of the expected September 2026 launches of the iPhone 18 series and the foldable iPhone Ultra, according to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan’s exclusive reporting for Culpium.
With under six weeks to the anticipated debut, assemblers are rushing shipments of DRAM. Apple primarily sources from Micron, with additional supply from SK Hynix and Samsung. Severe shortages due to RAMageddon have left processor wafers sitting idle, awaiting packaging—creating pressure to avoid launch shortages.
The issue stems from Apple’s A20 Pro chips (built on TSMC’s 2nm process), which use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging that integrates the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. This means DRAM must be available for packaging; unfinished dies cannot simply be stockpiled and completed later. Reports indicate TSMC is holding roughly $1 billion worth of unpackaged Apple processors delayed by the missing memory.
DRAM has been tight for months, driven in large part by memory makers prioritizing higher-margin chips for AI data centers over consumer devices. This has already affected other Apple products (such as certain Macs) with longer wait times. Apple and its partners (including assemblers like Foxconn) expect to meet initial launch demand, but retail stock could deplete quickly and online preorder wait times may stretch afterward. The foldable iPhone Ultra, with its more complex design and lower planned volumes (historically projected in the low millions for the second half of the year in related analyst notes), is viewed as particularly vulnerable to limited availability.
Culpan’s sources indicate Apple plans roughly 200 million combined units across the iPhone 18, 18 Pro, and Ultra over the product cycle, with the Ultra representing under 10%.
This memory constraint adds to broader industry dynamics of rising memory costs and competing demand from AI infrastructure, which have already influenced pricing discussions and production priorities for Apple hardware.
MacDailyNews Take: Buyers interested in the new Pro models or the Ultra at launch would be advised to pre-order very, very promptly!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable "iPhone Ultra" could be in short supply this year, leading to long wait times and an initial sellout during preorders.
Semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan says Apple is having trouble getting enough DRAM to finish production of the new iPhone models, and chip supplier TSMC has $1 billion worth of unpackaged processors waiting on memory chips.
Apple's new A20 Pro chips are built on TSMC's 2nm process and use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module packaging to integrate the processor and DRAM at the wafer level. Unfortunately, that means TSMC needs to have the DRAM on hand for assembly, and it can't be added at a later step. Apple is not able to stockpile finished dies and then add DRAM when it becomes available.
Apple and its assemblers think they can meet initial demand, but retail inventory could sell quickly, leading to prolonged delivery estimates. The chip backlog will delay main logic board assembly and final device assembly, which could impact production at Foxconn and other assemblers.
DRAM has been in short supply for months and has led to long wait times for the Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. Companies that make memory are prioritizing chips for AI data centers because those chips are more profitable, leaving little capacity available for manufacturing chips for consumer devices.
We've had ongoing rumors about manufacturing issues with the iPhone Ultra due to the complexity of the design, and supplies of the new foldable could be the most limited of the three iPhone models. Some reports suggest the foldable iPhone could be introduced in September and then launch later, in October or November, but others say it will be available at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.
The iPhone Ultra is going to cost as much as $2,500, but the novel form factor and Apple's new Apple Upgrade pricing option could lead to more people being willing to shell out for the device. Apple is also expected to raise prices for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, and analysts believe the devices could be up to $300 more expensive because Apple is paying more for RAM.
Last year, the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max sold out during the preorder period, and shipping times extended into October. Along with potential production delays impacting supply, there will be no lower-cost iPhone 18 for people to choose this year, putting more pressure on iPhone 18 Pro supplies. Apple is not planning to launch the standard iPhone 18 until early 2027.
If you're looking to get one of the new iPhone models in September, it's a good idea to preorder right when the devices become available for purchase to have the best chance of getting one on launch day.
The iPhone Ultra price could establish an entirely new tier within Apple’s smartphone range. Current estimates place the company’s first foldable iPhone above $2,000, with some industry forecasts suggesting an average selling price near $2,500 and higher-storage configurations approaching $3,000.
Apple has not confirmed the device, its name, or its retail price. The iPhone Ultra branding also remains unofficial, although it has appeared repeatedly in reports concerning Apple’s planned expansion beyond the Pro and Pro Max levels.
The foldable is expected to join the iPhone 18 Pro family during Apple’s fall hardware cycle. Rather than replacing the iPhone Pro Max, it would sit above it as a separate model built around a book-style design and a display that expands to approximately the size of a small tablet.
A price beyond $2,000 would make it the most expensive iPhone Apple has released. The current iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199 in the United States, leaving a difference of at least $800 between Apple’s established flagship and the lowest estimates for the foldable.
Recent projections have pushed that gap even wider. Reports citing analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have discussed a possible range between $2,300 and $2,500, while an IDC estimate cited in supply-chain coverage placed the average selling price at approximately $2,500. Storage upgrades could take selected configurations closer to $3,000.
iPhone Ultra Price Creates a New Flagship Tier
Apple has spent years arranging the iPhone range around a price ladder. Standard models serve the center of the market, while Air and Pro devices address different preferences involving weight, cameras, materials, performance, and display size.
A foldable iPhone would require another level. Its internal display, hinge, structural materials, battery arrangement, and manufacturing tolerances introduce costs that do not exist in a conventional iPhone.
The rumored hardware points to a device intended to combine phone and tablet functions. Reports describe an outer screen measuring about 5.5 inches and an internal display of approximately 7.8 inches. When closed, the product would operate as a compact iPhone. Opening it would provide enough space for larger applications, side-by-side content, expanded video, and an iPad-style software interface.
Apple is reportedly developing interface changes that would let applications take greater advantage of the internal display instead of simply enlarging an iPhone layout. That software work may become one of the main distinctions between the device and existing foldables, particularly if Apple can connect it closely with iPad multitasking conventions.
The hinge is expected to use liquid metal, an amorphous alloy chosen for strength and resistance to deformation. Apple has also reportedly focused on reducing the visible display crease, one of the most recognizable compromises found on current folding phones.
Those elements help explain a premium price without guaranteeing that customers will accept it. A $2,000-plus phone would compete for spending that could otherwise purchase an iPhone and an iPad, a high-end Mac, or several years of conventional smartphone upgrades.
The device would therefore need to offer more than the novelty of a folding screen. Durability, battery life, camera performance, application behavior, repair costs, and long-term display reliability will influence whether buyers view the iPhone Ultra as a versatile computer or an unusually expensive phone.
Costly Engineering Behind the Fold
Rumors suggest Apple may use Touch ID in the side button instead of Face ID. The change would not necessarily represent a retreat from facial authentication across the rest of the iPhone range. A foldable chassis has limited internal space, and eliminating the TrueDepth camera hardware could help Apple manage thickness around the outer and inner displays.
The reported design includes two rear cameras and front-facing cameras accessible in both folded and unfolded positions. That arrangement may leave the iPhone 18 Pro Max with the more extensive photography system, despite the foldable carrying a much higher price.
Such a decision would position the iPhone Ultra around form factor and productivity rather than making it the automatic leader in every specification. Apple has used similar distinctions elsewhere, allowing one product to command a premium for its design while another retains advantages in cameras, battery endurance, or sustained performance.
Display production is another source of expense. Folding OLED panels require flexible materials, protective layers, specialized hinges, and tighter assembly controls. Apple’s reported pursuit of a nearly crease-free screen may increase component costs and reduce early manufacturing yields.
The company is also entering the category after competitors have spent several generations addressing hinge failures, screen damage, dust protection, and application scaling. Arriving later gives Apple access to a more mature supply chain, but its design standards may create additional production challenges.
Industry estimates suggest Apple’s arrival could help raise the average selling price of book-style foldables throughout 2026. Competitors already sell premium folding phones, yet a model priced near $2,500 would push the category further away from mainstream flagship pricing.
Image Credit: AppleMagazine
Apple Upgrade Softens the Monthly Number
Apple Upgrade could make the iPhone Ultra price appear less intimidating at checkout. The Klarna-backed program lets eligible US customers lease selected Apple devices through fixed monthly payments rather than covering the entire retail price upfront.
Current iPhones can be leased for 12 or 24 months. At the end of the term, customers may return the device, move into another eligible Apple product, or pay the remaining amount required to keep it.
That structure can produce lower monthly payments than traditional financing because the customer is not necessarily paying the entire purchase price during the lease. Part of the product’s value remains in the device at the end of the agreement.
A future iPhone Ultra could fit naturally into this model. Its high retail price and expected resale value would give Apple and Klarna room to separate the cost of using the phone for two years from the cost of owning it permanently.
No monthly figure has been announced for the foldable. Apple cannot price an Apple Upgrade lease until it establishes the phone’s retail cost, residual value, eligible term, and trade-in conditions. A simple calculation that divides $2,000 or $2,500 by 24 months would therefore be misleading.
The monthly charge may be considerably lower than a standard purchase installment, but the customer does not automatically own the iPhone after making the scheduled lease payments. Keeping it requires an additional payment based on the remaining value specified by the agreement.
AppleCare+ is also separate from the current Apple Upgrade lease price. That differs from the former iPhone Upgrade Program, which bundled AppleCare+ coverage into its monthly payments. Protection could be particularly relevant for an expensive first-generation foldable containing a flexible display and complex hinge.
Trade-in credit may reduce the monthly charge, while storage selection would push it higher. Sales tax, cellular service, accessories, and optional protection would remain additional costs. Apple Upgrade changes when and how customers pay, but it does not turn a $2,000-plus product into a lower-priced iPhone.
Limited Supply Could Intensify Early Demand
Apple is reportedly preparing millions of foldable units, but production may be heavily weighted toward the final months of 2026 and 2027. Supply-chain estimates have ranged from 7 million to 10 million devices, with different reports using different production periods and assumptions.
The foldable may be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max but reach customers later. That would resemble the 2017 launch of the iPhone X, which was introduced with the iPhone 8 family in September and released in November.
A delayed retail date would give Apple more time to accumulate inventory while preserving the device’s place in its fall presentation. It could also place the iPhone Ultra into the holiday quarter with considerable demand concentrated around a relatively small supply.
High pricing does not necessarily prevent shortages during the first weeks of an Apple product launch. Early adopters, developers, collectors, and customers waiting specifically for an Apple foldable represent a smaller audience than the conventional iPhone market, but they may still outnumber the units available at release.
Apple Upgrade could add another source of demand by replacing the full retail figure with a monthly lease price inside the Apple Store. That presentation may make the phone accessible to customers who would reject a $2,500 purchase while accepting a recurring payment and returning the device later.
Kuo expects only 500,000 to 1 million foldable iPhones to ship during the third quarter, a supply level that could push some deliveries four to six weeks beyond the opening preorder window.
3D render claiming to depict Apple’s first foldable iPhone (image: Jon Prosser)
Apple is poised to make one of the most impressive debuts in recent smartphone history. According to Counterpoint Research’s latest forecast, the company’s first foldable iPhone is expected to capture a remarkable 25% share of global foldable smartphone shipments in 2026 — its very first year (really, quarter) in the category — while helping propel the overall market to robust 21% year-over-year growth.
This is no ordinary product launch. In a segment long dominated by a handful of Android players, Apple is projected to debut in a clear second place, ahead of Huawei (24%) and closing the gap dramatically on market leader Samsung, whose share is forecast to decline from 40% in 2025 to 32%. Motorola and HONOR are expected to see further erosion of their positions, underscoring how Apple’s entry is poised to reshape the competitive landscape overnight.
Global Foldable Smartphone Shipment Share by OEM, 2025 vs 2026F Source: Counterpoint Foldable Smartphone Market Forecast
What makes this projection especially powerful is the nature of the demand Apple is expected to unlock. Counterpoint notes that Apple’s arrival will intensify competition specifically in the premium book-type foldable segment—the form factor that prioritizes productivity, multitasking, and expansive screen real estate over pure novelty. As AI features evolve beyond simple chat into everyday workflows such as document summarization, content editing, schedule management, and seamless cross-app information movement, a wider, more flexible canvas becomes essential. Apple’s anticipated design approach aligns perfectly with this shift, positioning the foldable iPhone as a natural extension of the company’s longstanding focus on refined user experience, seamless ecosystem integration, and premium craftsmanship.
Samsung is set to retain the overall lead for now, but the narrowing of its advantage to just seven percentage points over Apple highlights the disruptive force of Cupertino’s entry. Other brands that once held meaningful shares are projected to lose ground, illustrating how a single, highly anticipated Apple product can redefine market dynamics and accelerate category maturation.
The 21% growth forecast for the global foldable market in 2026 is itself a vote of confidence in the category’s future, and Counterpoint explicitly ties much of that expansion to Apple’s influence. By bringing its massive, loyal customer base, rigorous attention to durability and software optimization, and unmatched brand prestige into the foldable arena, Apple is expected to expand the total addressable market rather than merely redistribute existing demand. Premium book-style devices stand to benefit most, moving foldables further from experimental gadgets toward mainstream productivity tools.
For years, observers have waited for Apple’s carefully timed move into foldables. The Counterpoint numbers suggest that timing was deliberate and strategic. Rather than rushing to market, Apple appears positioned to enter with a product that not only claims a quarter of all foldable shipments in its first quarter, but also elevates the entire segment—raising expectations for design excellence, software polish, and real-world utility.
In short, 2026 is shaping up as the year the foldable smartphone market comes of age, and Apple is set to be one of its primary architects. Capturing 25% share on debut is more than a strong start; it is a clear signal that when Apple decides a category is ready, the industry—and consumers — take notice.
MacDailyNews Take: And, in 2027, if they don’t actually exceed Counterpoint’s projection and claim the crown straight off in Q226, after a mere three months on the market, Apple’s iPhone will be No.1 in foldable smartphones. Apple’s well-heeled customer base guarantees it.
As with fingerprint and facial recognition, when Apple debuts a foldable iPhone, then foldable smartphones will have been done right. – MacDailyNews, January 17, 2019
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
3D render claiming to depict Apple’s first foldable iPhone (image: Jon Prosser)
Apple is poised to enter the foldable smartphone market with its first folding iPhone, widely rumored to be branded as the iPhone Ultra (or simply “iPhone Fold”). Expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September 2026, the device marks a major milestone in Apple’s mobile strategy after years of development focused on solving the durability issues that plagued early market rivals.
Design: Passport Profile, Titanium Frame, and Liquidmetal Hinge
• Form Factor: The device adopts a book-style horizontal fold (opening like a book) rather than a vertical flip form factor. When closed, it features a wider “passport-style” profile—more similar to the original Google Pixel Fold than Samsung’s narrower Z Fold series.
• Dimensions: Rumored chassis measurements point to an ultrathin design: roughly 4.5–4.8 mm unfolded and 9.0–9.5 mm folded.
• Liquidmetal & Hinge Tech: Apple is widely reported to be using Liquidmetal (bulk metallic glass) for key internal hinge components. Unlike standard crystalline metals, this alloy has an amorphous, glass-like atomic structure that offers exceptional elasticity, high yield strength, and superior wear resistance. This design choice allows the hinge to withstand hundreds of thousands of folds without loosening or deforming, while working alongside 3D-printed titanium support plates and chemically treated ultra-thin glass (UTG) to minimize screen creasing.
• Biometrics & Hardware: Due to the ultra-slim profile when unfolded, Face ID hardware may be replaced by a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button. Wireless charging and MagSafe compatibility are expected to remain, supported by a specialized back plate structure.
Display: Dual Screens Built for Multitasking
• Inner Display: A 7.7–7.8-inch flexible OLED panel with a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio, giving users an iPad mini-like workspace when unfolded.
• Outer Display: A 5.3–5.5-inch cover screen optimized for quick single-handed tasks when folded.
• Software Experience: The foldable runs a customized version of iOS with adaptive multitasking features designed for multi-window layouts and intermediate angle positions.
Performance and Hardware Specs
• Processor: Powered by Apple’s next-generation A20 chip (built on a 2nm process) and paired with Apple’s custom C-series cellular modem.
• Memory & Storage: Equipped with 12GB of RAM to handle heavy multitasking and Apple Intelligence on-device AI features.
• Battery: Features a split dual-battery design with a combined capacity of around 5,000–5,500 mAh—making it one of the largest battery systems ever put into an iPhone.
• Camera System: Expected to feature a premium multi-camera array engineered specifically for thin housings, utilizing advanced folded optics (periscope layout).
Pricing and Release Timeline
• Launch Window: Target release is September 2026 alongside the flagship iPhone 18 Pro lineup, though initial supply may be constrained.
• Price Point: Positioned as an ultra-premium flagship, pricing is expected to start between $2,000 and $2,500, placing it well above the Pro Max tier.
MacDailyNews Take: Those who want to get their foldable iPhones before Christmas: Order in the first minute of pre-orders!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max feature a thermal management system that includes an Apple-designed vapor chamber, delivering exceptional performance.
Apple has significantly boosted its orders for vapor chamber cooling systems, primarily to support production of its highly anticipated first foldable iPhone, according to a Chinese supply chain leaker. The move also points to advanced thermal management in the company’s upcoming Twentieth Anniversary iPhone slated for 2027.
The information comes from the Weibo account “Fixed Focus Digital,” a source that has previously shared details about Apple’s foldable device. The increased orders will first go toward manufacturing the book-style foldable iPhone, internally referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” which is on track for a September 2026 debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
Apple has reportedly instructed suppliers to prepare around 10 million units of the foldable iPhone for 2026, an increase from earlier projections of 7–8 million. This ramp-up signals strong confidence in the device’s production readiness despite the complexities of its folding mechanism.
Advanced Cooling for a Challenging Form Factor
Fixed Focus Digital previously indicated that the foldable iPhone would feature “impressive” vapor chamber cooling, with Apple “going all out” on its thermal design. This makes sense given the device’s expected thin profile when unfolded (rumored around 4.5–5mm) and the space constraints of a foldable chassis, which could limit traditional heat dissipation options.
Apple first introduced vapor chamber technology in the iPhone 17 Pro models last year. The system uses a small amount of deionized water to efficiently transfer heat away from the powerful A-series chip and spread it across the device’s aluminum frame, helping sustain high performance without thermal throttling.
The same cooling approach is now expected to extend to the foldable iPhone Ultra and potentially the 2027 anniversary iPhones, which are rumored to feature dramatic edge-to-edge displays with glass curving around all four sides for a nearly borderless look.
Broader Context and Timeline
The foldable iPhone is expected to include a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, an A20 chip, and a Touch ID power button, with pricing likely starting near $2,000. Recent reports confirm that mass production is underway, with key components like OLED panels already in production at Samsung Display.
Meanwhile, Apple’s 20th-anniversary iPhones are planned for two sizes similar to the iPhone 18 Pro models. These devices could mark a major redesign, potentially returning to an all-glass enclosure.
MacDailyNews Take: This latest leak aligns with Apple’s aggressive push into new form factors while maintaining the performance and reliability standards users expect from its flagship devices. As the September launch approaches, more details on the iPhone Ultra’s final specifications are likely to emerge from the supply chain.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
3D render claiming to depict Apple’s first foldable iPhone (image: Jon Prosser)
Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone Ultra — the company’s first foldable smartphone — is generating significant buzz as its expected September launch approaches. A fresh leak shared today provides new details on the device’s battery specifications, offering a clearer picture of how Apple plans to power its ambitious foldable design.
According to a Weibo post from well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple’s battery supplier has submitted regulatory filings for two battery cells rated at 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh. Combined, these cells deliver a total capacity of 4,883mAh. This dual-cell configuration aligns with common designs in existing foldable phones, where separate batteries are typically placed in the two halves of the device to optimize weight distribution and space.
For context, this capacity positions the iPhone Ultra competitively against current foldables:
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: 4,400mAh total
• Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold: 5,015mAh
• Previous-generation Pixel 9 Pro Fold: 4,650mAh
While the iPhone Ultra’s total capacity falls between the Galaxy Z Fold7 and the latest Pixel Fold, real-world battery life will depend on numerous factors beyond raw mAh ratings. These include the efficiency of Apple’s custom silicon, the power demands of the foldable display (both when folded and unfolded), software optimizations in iOS, and overall device thickness and weight.
How It Compares to the Rest of the iPhone 18 Lineup
The same leak ecosystem has also revealed projected battery sizes for the standard iPhone 18 models, giving a broader view of Apple’s 2026 iPhone strategy:
• iPhone 18 Pro: ~4,288mAh (eSIM) or 4,056mAh (physical SIM) — modest gains over the iPhone 17 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: ~5,567mAh (eSIM) or 5,391mAh (physical SIM) — significantly larger than previous Pro Max models
• iPhone Ultra: 4,883mAh
The iPhone Ultra’s battery is notably smaller than the Pro Max’s, which makes sense given the engineering constraints of a foldable chassis. Apple is expected to prioritize thinness, durability of the hinge, and balanced weight over maximizing capacity.
Battery capacity represents just one piece of the puzzle. The iPhone Ultra’s unique form factor — featuring a large unfolded display — could introduce new power-management challenges and opportunities. Apple has a strong track record of delivering excellent battery life through tight hardware-software integration, so the final endurance figures may outperform what the raw numbers suggest.
MacDailyNews Take: The iPhone Ultra is rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 18 series in September 2026. While leaks continue to provide tantalizing details, official confirmation of specs, pricing, and real-world performance will only come from Apple itself at the launch event. Until then, the iPhone Ultra remains one of the most exciting product developments in Apple’s recent history!
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Leaks have revealed plenty about the iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone, but Apple’s biggest announcements may still be waiting for its September event.