The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone 'Ultra'

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss all of the rumors surrounding Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, now said to be called the "iPhone Ultra," which is shaping up to be a comprehensive redesign unlike anything the company has shipped before.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, though reports suggest it will ship after the Pro models, potentially as late as December. Pricing is expected to start at over $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.

The device will have a book-style, passport-shaped design with a 4:3 aspect ratio, wider than it is tall and unlike any foldable currently on the market. When closed, it will have a 5.5-inch outer display; when open, a 7.8-inch inner OLED panel takes over, making it just slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. According to design leaks from Instant Digital, the device will measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, which would make it Apple's thinnest iPhone to date. The outer frame is said to be made of titanium for durability at that thinness, while the inner frame uses aluminum. The back features a glass finish with a shorter, iPhone Air-style camera plateau housing two horizontally arranged rear cameras.

The same leak revealed that volume buttons are relocated to the top edge of the device, aligned to the right. The inner display features a single punch-hole cutout resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island, while a Touch ID power button and Camera Control remain on the right edge. Reports indicate the iPhone Ultra will support iPad-style multitasking and layouts for running apps side by side when unfolded, befitting its iPad mini-sized inner display. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has described it as the "most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."

Achieving that ultra-thin form factor comes with tradeoffs, and the iPhone Ultra will be missing several features that iPhone users have come to expect, in some ways echoing the compromises Apple made with the iPhone Air. The iPhone Air went without stereo speakers, a SIM card slot, and multiple rear cameras to achieve its 5.6mm frame; the iPhone Ultra faces similar constraints at an even more demanding 4.5mm. The ultra-thin chassis leaves no room for a triple-lens camera setup, so the telephoto lens found on iPhone Pro models is absent, leaving just a dual 48-megapixel rear system. More significantly, there is no space for the TrueDepth sensor array required for Face ID, meaning the iPhone Ultra will rely on a side-button Touch ID module instead.

Under the hood, the iPhone Ultra is expected to feature Apple's A20 chip paired with 12GB of RAM. Storage options are said to include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, while color options could simply be black and white. Battery capacity is reportedly in the 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh range, which would put it among the largest ever in an iPhone despite its slim dimensions.

The scale of Apple's production ambitions for the iPhone Ultra has already been tempered by manufacturing realities. Kuo initially indicated Apple placed orders for 15 to 20 million total foldable iPhones, though he noted demand would likely be limited due to the device's cost. By December, Kuo warned that early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges could mean smooth shipments may not occur until 2027, with potential shortages lasting through at least the end of 2026.

The high asking price is expected to be a further constraint on volume: IDC projects the device will capture over 22% unit share of the foldables market in its first year, but that market remains a niche segment overall. The iPhone Air's underwhelming sales performance, with Kuo reporting suppliers cut production capacity by more than 80% after demand fell short of expectations, may serve as a cautionary tale for premium iPhone form-factor experiments.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.

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Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone 'Ultra'

 

[Torq]

Not that there's a chance I'm in on the first generation of these (not sure I want one at all) ...

But if it looks like the thumbnail, they can keep it.

 

[epox999]

Folding phones are like 1-2% of the total phone market, and competitors have had products out for 7-8 years at this point, what's the market they are chasing here?

 

[mr.steevo]

There is no way I’m spending over $2000 on a phone.

 

[goobot]

Folding phones are like 1-2% of the total phone market, and competitors have had products out for 7-8 years at this point, what's the market they are chasing here?

I mean to be fair how many phones were smart phones before iPhone made the category a standard

 

[Cwoods]

“Ultra” phone with only 2 cameras and no Face ID… doesn’t sound very Apple like.

 

[JeziLondon]

It’s a first so it’s not a redesign 🤷‍♂️

 

[klasma]

Folding phones are like 1-2% of the total phone market, and competitors have had products out for 7-8 years at this point, what's the market they are chasing here?

One that is larger than for the Vision Pro.

 

[switz]

Those who have holes in their pockets with smoke coming out the holes could afford this toy.....

Most folks know by now that a simple cheap phone does NOT exist in the Apple world.

One needs to be conscious of the fact that there is a hot reseller market for stolen Apple goods wherever life takes them.

Out of sight - out of mind is a good principle. If not actively making/receiving a call, keep the iPhone in a pocket or purse unless one is in safe place, if one actually exists today.

 

[sonicrobby]

As someone who has made the sacrifice of battery life and the cameras for the iPhone Air, Im extremely happy despite the sacrifices.And would buy it again tomorrow. I would agree that this phone would probably fall into that category. But as a person who much prefers using an iPad to an iPhone, I see this as an iPad mini that I can fold in half and put into my pocket. My job is out in the field and having that iPad mini sized screen will be amazing. Im just hoping it will have some version of iPadOS when unfolded.

I think trying to compare an iPhone Pro Max to this foldable iPhone is the wrong way to to go. Id try comparing this to the iPad mini instead.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

Folding phones are like 1-2% of the total phone market, and competitors have had products out for 7-8 years at this point, what's the market they are chasing here?

It is the market where consumers who like an iPhone operating systems or in Apple ecosystem and foldable phone serving as a mini tablet. Folding market phones exist for non Apple ecosystem phone which push Apple system users who like a folding phone to change to non Apple phone system. I trust there are some iPhone users who love to have a folding phone tied to Apple ecosystem devices and do not resort themselves to move to non Apple device just to get a folding phone, like myself. Apple does the right thing.

 

[CharlesShaw]

Dang it, lol, the color of that dummy keeps triggering an unpleasant childhood memory involving frozen sherbet treats, and I fear it's not going away soon enough.

 

[MarkNewton2023]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss all of the rumors surrounding Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, now said to be called the "iPhone Ultra," which is shaping up to be a comprehensive redesign unlike anything the company has shipped before.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, though reports suggest it will ship after the Pro models, potentially as late as December. Pricing is expected to start at over $2,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.

The device will have a book-style, passport-shaped design with a 4:3 aspect ratio, wider than it is tall and unlike any foldable currently on the market. When closed, it will have a 5.5-inch outer display; when open, a 7.8-inch inner OLED panel takes over, making it just slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini. According to design leaks from Instant Digital, the device will measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, which would make it Apple's thinnest iPhone to date. The outer frame is said to be made of titanium for durability at that thinness, while the inner frame uses aluminum. The back features a glass finish with a shorter, iPhone Air-style camera plateau housing two horizontally arranged rear cameras.

The same leak revealed that volume buttons are relocated to the top edge of the device, aligned to the right. The inner display features a single punch-hole cutout resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island, while a Touch ID power button and Camera Control remain on the right edge. Reports indicate the iPhone Ultra will support iPad-style multitasking and layouts for running apps side by side when unfolded, befitting its iPad mini-sized inner display. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has described it as the "most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."

Achieving that ultra-thin form factor comes with tradeoffs, and the iPhone Ultra will be missing several features that iPhone users have come to expect, in some ways echoing the compromises Apple made with the iPhone Air. The iPhone Air went without stereo speakers, a SIM card slot, and multiple rear cameras to achieve its 5.6mm frame; the iPhone Ultra faces similar constraints at an even more demanding 4.5mm. The ultra-thin chassis leaves no room for a triple-lens camera setup, so the telephoto lens found on iPhone Pro models is absent, leaving just a dual 48-megapixel rear system. More significantly, there is no space for the TrueDepth sensor array required for Face ID, meaning the iPhone Ultra will rely on a side-button Touch ID module instead.

Under the hood, the iPhone Ultra is expected to feature Apple's A20 chip paired with 12GB of RAM. Storage options are said to include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, while color options could simply be black and white. Battery capacity is reportedly in the 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh range, which would put it among the largest ever in an iPhone despite its slim dimensions.

The scale of Apple's production ambitions for the iPhone Ultra has already been tempered by manufacturing realities. Kuo initially indicated Apple placed orders for 15 to 20 million total foldable iPhones, though he noted demand would likely be limited due to the device's cost. By December, Kuo warned that early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges could mean smooth shipments may not occur until 2027, with potential shortages lasting through at least the end of 2026.

The high asking price is expected to be a further constraint on volume: IDC projects the device will capture over 22% unit share of the foldables market in its first year, but that market remains a niche segment overall. The iPhone Air's underwhelming sales performance, with Kuo reporting suppliers cut production capacity by more than 80% after demand fell short of expectations, may serve as a cautionary tale for premium iPhone form-factor experiments.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel!​

You can also listen to The MacRumors Show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or other podcast apps. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your player.

​

If you haven't already listened to the... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Apple's Foldable iPhone 'Ultra'

The discussion seems to be overthinking and over analyzing. I trust Apple has considered all possible concerns including the ones on the discussion. Not having triple lens cameras and Face ID are just not big deals for me or others who do not rely on these features. I am so excited and looking forward to get it after feeling 100,000 years waiting for Apple pocketable phone mini tablet/phablet.

 

[robertpetry]

I think trying to compare an iPhone Pro Max to this foldable iPhone is the wrong way to to go. Id try comparing this to the iPad mini instead.

This. The use case is someone who wants to have both and iPad mini and an iPhone.

"A phone. A tablet. A Camera. These aren't three devices. it is one."

That can help justify the cost. But not fully.

Now, I doubt I will accept the compromises needed to buy this thing. The phone screen is too small. Loss of FaceID is unacceptable to me. The weird square shape. No telephoto camera? Nope for me on this generation

 

[Kriss_De_Valnor]

Folding phones are like 1-2% of the total phone market, and competitors have had products out for 7-8 years at this point, what's the market they are chasing here?

One magic word: Apple.

It will sell. Because it is Apple.

 

[Saturn1217]

I’m reading this on an iPad mini. I think for me at least having an iPad mini as a separate device and having my iPhone have no compromises is the way to go. But hopefully after a few iterations we can get to a foldable that compromises less and then I might consider it. I use all 3 lenses on my 17 Pro Max fairly regularly and I would miss telephoto if it was gone.

I hope this doesn’t stop Apple from investing in the iPad mini.

 

[Mitochris]

Concerning the discussion about Apple waiting to get it right. In my opinion, this philosophy died with Jobs. Focus has shifted from bringing something new to the market to trying to capture the luxury and status market. Examples? In the aftermath, Cook hired Angela Ahrendts to bring in fashion. Luxury contracts were made with Hermes, gold Apple watches (how well are those working these days?), designer phone pouches, etc. Focus is placed on exclusivity and status, rather than "It just works."

 

[Kriss_De_Valnor]

There is no way I’m spending over $2000 on a phone.

I'm not spending this money too but some members here did admit in the other thread that they will pay this money. Free market.

 

[MayaUser]

Garbage design..aspect ratio of an ipad mini but not running ipados…bad thinking, bad UI
We are back to ipad first generation UI

 

[epox999]

One magic word: Apple.

It will sell. Because it is Apple.

The iPhone Air and the Vision Pro were cut back and drasticly underperformed and or were flops, their two more recent major new products

 

[bushman4]

Too many trade offs if the rumors are correct
Biggest question is how do I carry this in my pocket???

Is this another Vision Pro ??

 

[lazyrighteye]

A feature that might help some justify the higher price point, is if it docks/connects to a display and offers more Mac-like functionality. Leaning into the "computer in your pocket" concept, could be enticing.

I mean, if MacBook Neo can run on phone chips...

 

[MartiNZ]

I've had two Galaxy Z Flips and love their form factor and durability. The original is still going fine but was getting short on battery life and then I dropped it and shattered one of the back pieces, and it seemed like a sign to upgrade. Much like the iPhone, it started out all nice and curvy and pleasant to hold, but has moved to brick-like with clearly more easy to replace outside shell. The newest one has a full front screen, which makes it seem very hard to put a case over, so I'm pleased to have the previous gen.

By contrast the fold to tablet ones seem to have gotten more delicate over time with their Apple-like push to be as thin (and as expensive) as possible. The Z Fold 7 is currently on sale at 2,999 NZD for 256GB, which -should- see it a fair bit cheaper than the 2K USD suggested here. Conveniently, I don't have any interest in that form factor, but definitely interested to see what Apple brings to the market. Maybe at that price they have worked out bending actual glass? Or maybe not, and this will give them the opportunity to sell yet another pencil!

 

[Kriss_De_Valnor]

The iPhone Air and the Vision Pro were cut back and drasticly underperformed and or were flops, their two more recent major new products

Vision Pro is still a niche product. A niche product which is crazy expensive. And we have to remember that the whole VR thing is still a niche. The iPhone Air may be a small defeat but it may be too early to make a judgement because sometimes you need a long time marketing strategy to convince potential customers. In early days of Xbox Microsoft was losing plenty of money in this division and today it delivers a healthy revenue.

 

[MartiNZ]

Vision Pro is still a niche product. A niche product which is crazy expensive. And we have to remember that the whole VR thing is still a niche. The iPhone Air may be a small defeat but it may be too early to make a judgement because sometimes you need a long time marketing strategy to convince potential customers. In early days of Xbox Microsoft was losing plenty of money in this division and today it delivers a healthy revenue.

I mean yeah Xbox delivers a bit of revenue, but they still lose money on every console sale, and recently got massive cuts because they were not meeting profit margin requirements for Microsoft. The only reason we may still get another generation is because the console will actually be a Windows PC.

Maybe Microsoft should do a foldable and try to revive Windows Phone. That was an amazing time! Best phone OS experience I've had!