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iPhone Ultra 2 Gets Green Light for Development, Says Leaker

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Apple's second-generation foldable iPhone has officially been given the go-ahead for development, a prominent Chinese leaker claimed today.

3D-Printed-iPhone-Fold-Thumb-2.jpg

In a post on Weibo, the account known as Digital Chat Station said that the "iPhone Ultra 2 project" has been formally approved, and that the second book-style device will likely use the same display as the first-generation model expected later this year.

The first foldable iPhone will use a foldable 7.8-inch OLED panel supplied by Samsung, based on reports. The display uses a newer design that eliminates one of the traditional screen layers and instead builds the color-filtering layer directly into the display stack, making the screen thinner, lighter, and more power-efficient.

Last weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is planning to launch a second-generation foldable iPhone in fall 2027 alongside two 20th-anniversary iPhone models, which could take the names iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max.

Digital Chat Station's post on Weibo also said that the iPhone Air 3 has not entered the prototype stage yet, and that its emergence may depend on how sales hold up for the iPhone Air 2, which is expected to be released in the spring of 2027. That model is set to introduce a second camera and will likely offer battery life improvements, per Gurman's report.

Digital Chat Station was the originator of the claim that Apple will call its first foldable the "iPhone Ultra." The leaker has more than three million followers on Weibo, and has a track record of accurately leaking Apple-related information. Still, as with all such reports, the details remain unconfirmed.

Article Link: iPhone Ultra 2 Gets Green Light for Development, Says Leaker
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/25/iphone-ultra-2-development-approved-by-apple/
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Reactions: Z-4195
Ahh yess…. That makes sense. I’m enjoying my original iPhone “bend” that also can only be held correctly with an Apple “bumper” case so that I can make a simple voice call…. And the same one that I can charge on that mythical “AirPower” device on my mythical Apple Car…. Ohhh, let’s not forget about Apple Maps and also Phil Schiller’s cringy line: “Can’t innovate anymore, my ass!” 🙄. And now they’re apparently going to increase prices on iPhones that have already been released? Okay…. Remind me again how many Apple Vision Pros have been sold? The only good thing right now for Apple are their services like Apple TV+, streaming Music, and like the MacBook Neo


Obviously Apple is doing really well, and I’m speaking out of frustration because I really want them to step it up a bit…
 
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In 2025, ~20 million foldable smartphones were shipped. That's about 1.6% of all smartphone sales, and about the same as the previous year. Apple sold ~247 million iPhones in 2025. I just don't see the math adding up to a huge market penetration and impressive sales numbers, especially given the price increases due to display and memory costs and the shrinking disposable income of people in this economy. Spin it all they want with tech hyperbole, a foldable phone amounts to either a dinky tablet with compromises, or a bulkier phone in the pocket, neither of which seems to solve a substantial market want or need that justifies the cost.
 
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There are already many foldable devices in the market. I hardly see anyone using it, but the standard single screen phones. The iPhone fold or whatever they call it, must carry be a real novelty or difference to sell well. Otherwise it will join the AppleVision path perhaps.
 
Curious what will happen to the weight of the Air 2. The first Air’s light weight is the whole reason why I bought the phone.. I wouldn’t want the weight to go up by a noticeable amount in exchange for an Ultrawide camera (not that interested) and thicker battery.

I actually don’t have any complaints about the battery life on my Air. Video editing definitely kills it fast but the overall battery performance has completely met my expectations. I do charge it more often but that’s very casual with a few wired and wireless chargers sprinkled throughout my life.
 
Stevez67 said:
In 2025, ~20 million foldable smartphones were shipped. That's about 1.6% of all smartphone sales, and about the same as the previous year. Apple sold ~247 million iPhones in 2025. I just don't see the math adding up to a huge market penetration and impressive sales numbers, especially given the price increases due to display and memory costs and the shrinking disposable income of people in this economy. Spin it all they want with tech hyperbole, a foldable phone amounts to either a dinky tablet with compromises, or a bulkier phone in the pocket, neither of which seems to solve a substantial market want or need that justifies the cost.
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I don’t think the folding iPhone is meant to solve a substantial market want or need. It’s meant to serve as an aspirational halo product and generate profit. If it generates profit and recouped the R&D cost, it’s a win for Apple.

As someone who owned two foldable (Samsung Z Fold 2 and Fold 4) the devices were a game changer for me. It largely replaced a laptop for me and certainly replaced a tablet. I plan on getting one when the prices come down since they tend to lose a lot of resale value.
 
Zwhaler said:
I don’t think the folding iPhone is meant to solve a substantial market want or need. It’s meant to serve as an aspirational halo product and generate profit. If it generates profit and recouped the R&D cost, it’s a win for Apple.

the devices were a game changer for me. It largely replaced a laptop for me and certainly replaced a tablet.
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You are as niche as that foldable.
 
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gleepskip said:
Of course Apple are working on Ultra 2 and 3. Why put all of the features in v1 when you can drag them out over a half decade or longer?
Click to expand...
or, and hear me out, technology actually progresses and faster chips, better batteries, better camera's etc actually get developed so even if you put all the features in v1 a v2 made a year later would actually be better?
 
Contact_Feanor said:
or, and hear me out, technology actually progresses and faster chips, better batteries, better camera's etc actually get developed so even if you put all the features in v1 a v2 made a year later would actually be better?
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Same batteries unless by better you mean bigger capacity.
 
gleepskip said:
Of course Apple are working on Ultra 2 and 3. Why put all of the features in v1 when you can drag them out over a half decade or longer?
Click to expand...
A lot more goes into product development than just thinking of a new feature and slapping it on the phone. The prototyping stage alone can take a year, then they need to sign contracts for suppliers to make all the new parts, then they need to do real world testing, then trial production, etc.

Oh and don’t forget about regulatory approvals. That can be complicated because so many countries have different laws.
 
M-5 said:
Ahh yess…. That makes sense. I’m enjoying my original iPhone “bend” that also can only be held correctly with an Apple “bumper” case so that I can make a simple voice call…. And the same one that I can charge on that mythical “AirPower” device on my mythical Apple Car…. Ohhh, let’s not forget about Apple Maps and also Phil Schiller’s cringy line: “Can’t innovate anymore, my ass!” 🙄. And now they’re apparently going to increase prices on iPhones that have already been released? Okay…. Remind me again how many Apple Vision Pros have been sold? The only good thing right now for Apple are their services like Apple TV+, streaming Music, and like the MacBook Neo


Obviously Apple is doing really well, and I’m speaking out of frustration because I really want them to step it up a bit…
Click to expand...
Your post definitely gives off iPod vibes before the iPod was released.
 
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dannyyankou said:
A lot more goes into product development than just thinking of a new feature and slapping it on the phone. The prototyping stage alone can take a year, then they need to sign contracts for suppliers to make all the new parts, then they need to do real world testing, then trial production, etc.

Oh and don’t forget about regulatory approvals. That can be complicated because so many countries have different laws.
Click to expand...

More than one thing can be true at the same time.
 
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