The MacRumors Show: Michael Fisher Talks iPhone Ultra

[MacRumors]

YouTuber Michael Fisher, known as "MrMobile," joins us on this week's episode of The MacRumors Show to talk through key rumors about the "iPhone Ultra" and how the device could compare to rivals.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos​

Michael has covered the foldable phone category since 2019 and personally owned or reviewed nearly every major device in it, from the original Galaxy Fold to Samsung's newly redesigned Galaxy Z Fold8. He still carries a Motorola Razr Ultra as his personal phone alongside a rotating stack of review units.

Apple's foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the "iPhone Ultra," is widely expected to be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro this fall, featuring a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, the A20 chip, and a starting price above $2,000.

Much of the design speculation centers on Apple adopting a shorter, wider form factor similar to the Z Fold8 and older Pixel devices, rather than the taller, narrower shape most foldables have used for years. To minimize the crease that has plagued the category since the original Galaxy Fold, Apple is reportedly pursuing a layered glass display structure paired with a liquid metal hinge.

The foldable is reportedly expected to ship with just two rear lenses and no telephoto camera, despite engineering compromises made elsewhere to fit in a Camera Control button, while Samsung's competing Z Fold8 Ultra ships with a three-lens system that includes a telephoto with 3x optical zoom. The foldable iPhone is also expected to use Touch ID built into the side button rather than Face ID, since there is reportedly no room for the TrueDepth sensor array in such a thin chassis.

Pricing has been a recurring point of speculation, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman saying the foldable will "cross the $2,000 threshold" in the U.S., which would make it Apple's most expensive iPhone ever. Durability is also likely to face scrutiny, given the hinge failures that plagued the original Galaxy Fold and the fact that Samsung's current foldables still lack a full dust resistance rating years into the category's existence.

Code strings found in the iOS 27 beta reference a hinge angle, which could hint at foldable-specific software features, and Apple has already introduced new app adaptation protocols, likely as preparation for the device.

See more of Michael's work over on his YouTube channel. Fisher is also a co-founder of Clicks, which makes physical keyboard accessories for smartphones. The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.

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If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about how the Apple Watch is seemingly heading into one of its least eventful new generations, yet the rumors stacking up behind it describe the most radical rethink in the product's history coming later.

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Article Link: The MacRumors Show: Michael Fisher Talks iPhone Ultra

 

[firstcitazen]

picked up a Samsung Flip 8 phone yesterday for a spare phone (daily is an iPhone Air), and was looking at their Fold lineup. Was impressed, if Apple's is similar, should provide a nice option for those that need it

 

[SkyRom]

I love MrMobile! Now ask him where his review for the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold is while we wait on the iPhone Ultra 🤣 Clicking now 🥳 I'd be curious to hear his thoughts on the Sony PlayStation Physical Media announcement too since he appreciates retro-tech and nostalgia.

 

[zenmacx]

Price aside, the Apple logo alone will sell this new model.

The shorter, wider form factor is what disqualifies it from my buy list.

Having enjoyed using my Samsung Z Fold7 for work daily since its release. I’ve found the taller, narrower shape ideal for my business oriented workflow. The spacious 8.0” display is ideal, yet a slightly larger display would be perfect.

The iPhone Ultra’s small 7.76” display is just not suited to my needs. For some it will be fine as its target market is likely those who use it for casual content consumption and to show off to their friends.

Durability has been excellent with my Z Fold7 although I do take care of my devices and there’s always room from improvement. The crease is noticeable but not objectionable. I do expect the iPhone Ultra to benefit from Apple’s expertise with hardware and recent Samsung folding display advancements.

No matter where Apple places the price point, the novelty and “Ultra” moniker will sell these phones.

 

[NeonNights]

I appreciate MrMobile and Dan both commenting on the crease at the 18:40 mark and describing how it's overblown like the notch/Dynamic Island. I don't have the clout of these two online personalities but maybe the rest of the naysayers will finally listen when it comes from MrMobile and Dan.

 

[NeonNights]

Price aside, the Apple logo alone will sell this new model.

The shorter, wider form factor is what disqualifies it from my buy list.

Having enjoyed using my Samsung Z Fold7 for work daily since its release. I’ve found the taller, narrower shape ideal for my business oriented workflow. The spacious 8.0” display is ideal, yet a slightly larger display would be perfect.

The iPhone Ultra’s small 7.76” display is just not suited to my needs. For some it will be fine as its target market is likely those who use it for casual content consumption and to show off to their friends.

Durability has been excellent with my Z Fold7 although I do take care of my devices and there’s always room from improvement. The crease is noticeable but not objectionable. I do expect the iPhone Ultra to benefit from Apple’s expertise with hardware and recent Samsung folding display advancements.

No matter where Apple places the price point, the novelty and “Ultra” moniker will sell these phones.

Have you tried the Samsung TriFold (with 10" inner display)? The TriFold is very much a Fold 7 in every regard, with an additional foldable panel.

However, the Fold 7's inner display is actually higher resolution than the TriFold. You'll see things more easily on the TriFold (especially in widescreen format), but not necessarily see "more" information on the screen.

The following examples are reposted from https://www.facebook.com/groups/765312464922694/posts/1600315361422396/:

 

[Sami13496]

There will be a crease, and it will be visible. You will see it with your own eyes. Period. On a $2,500 device.

 

[blairh]

Mr.Mobile is just an awesome YouTuber. Period.

 

[MiamiFL]

I'm not really the target audience but if it looks like that render.... yikes!

 

[johnsawyercjs]

Have you tried the Samsung TriFold (with 10" inner display)? The TriFold is very much a Fold 7 in every regard, with an additional foldable panel.

However, the Fold 7's inner display is actually higher resolution than the TriFold. You'll see things more easily on the TriFold (especially in widescreen format), but not necessarily see "more" information on the screen.

The following examples are reposted from https://www.facebook.com/groups/765312464922694/posts/1600315361422396/:

View attachment 2654522

View attachment 2654524

Samsung's Trifold looks great with that large screen area, but unfortunately they discontinued it only two or three months after putting it on the market. Apparently they didn't actually expect to make it into a recurring product anyway, but instead they wanted to release it as a technological one-time wonder. Rumor is they're now working on a rollable.

I was still impressed by Samsung's remaining large foldables (the Z Fold8 and the Z Fold8 Ultra) that I saw for the first time yesterday at Best Buy. Their displays aren't as large as the Trifold, but they're still impressively larger than the displays in a standard slab-style phone. The photos you included show that they do have a limitation in how well they can fit in a landscape orientation photo, or a 16:9 video frame (or similar ratios), showing big bars above and below, but I found these Z Folds useful for viewing web pages better than on a slab-style phone in either a narrow portrait or landscape orientation.

 

[zenmacx]

Have you tried the Samsung TriFold (with 10" inner display)?

Yes indeed the TriFold is a fantastic device.

Unfortunately during the brief period they were available for sale, I missed it due to a very hectic business trip abroad.

 

[zenmacx]

There will be a crease, and it will be visible. You will see it with your own eyes. Period. On a $2,500 device.

Clarification for the unaware, folding phones have multi-panel displays that incorporate a hinge between the panels that facilitates folding.

The crease between the panels is a fact of life given the current designs.

For those who obsess over this characteristic, choosing not to buy a folding phone is an excellent solution.

 

[NeonNights]

@johnsawyercjs and @zenmacx, this was posted in another MacRumors thread and indicates Samsung is expanding their foldable lineup next year, including the TriFold 2:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2089271407058497714

 

[johnsawyercjs]

@johnsawyercjs and @zenmacx, this was posted in another MacRumors thread and indicates Samsung is expanding their foldable lineup next year, including the TriFold 2:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2089271407058497714

Thanks. Reading further, I see that Samsung did discontinue their original TriFold, but they're using the data gathered from its limited production run to make the next version better. Among other things, they started testing a redesigned, thinner hinge mechanism shortly after pulling the original, to try to reduce its folded thickness to about 8.9mm, down from the original's 12.9mm.

 

[NeonNights]

Thanks. Reading further, I see that Samsung did discontinue their original TriFold, but they're using the data gathered from its limited production run to make the next version better. Among other things, they started testing a redesigned, thinner hinge mechanism shortly after pulling the original, to try to reduce its folded thickness to about 8.9mm, down from the original's 12.9mm.

I don't know if I need Samsung to make the TriFold any thinner. The profile is barely enough as it is to get a grip and unfold it. The TriFold isn't as svelte as the Fold 7 or Fold 8 of course, but the overall thickness is very close to my previous Fold 6.

The TriFold is already impressively thin for what it is, and feels dense and solid. Any thinner and it may feel flimsy. For the TriFold 2, I welcome some weight reduction and the return of S Pen support -- but that may be wishful thinking. And I'd like a 1TB option.

 

[KennyJr]

Thanks for this. I plan to buy an iPhone Ultra. This presentation said a lot about the peripheral aspects of this style foldable. But what I was hoping to hear more of from Michael was how people are using their foldable, why they like it, what their reasons are for preferring it over their previous phones, what improvements they'd like to see, and whether they plan to stay with foldables in the future.

 

[Seoras]

I spent the last couple of years updating my apps to not be 2 form factor fixed (iPhone and iPad).
With MacOS able to install iOS Apps the form factor is already a challenge for App developers.
In pursuit of making my apps look great on MacOS, in whatever aspect the user chooses to use them, they are all set for any form a foldable may bring to the table.
I'm sure there are plenty of other Apps that are all set to go for the same reason.

 

[Dakotter]

There will be a crease, and it will be visible. You will see it with your own eyes. Period. On a $2,500 device.

I still don't know why these messages keep getting posted. They're not making any point beyond the obvious, but they have the smug aura of thinking they've made a clever observation. Yes, there's a crease. Yes, you can see it. It's a foldable. People go around with shattered displays covered in gunk and fingerprints. A crease is neither a surprise nor an impairment.

If I had to guess, it seems more like these posts are being made as a quick way to feel smug and superior to people with differing experiences and opinions.

 

[code-m]

I wonder if Samsung, Apple or any other manufacturer makes a trifold where the two sides are each half of the main inner display. The rear can hold a large display while the cameras can be mounted on the two half or wings on the trifold.

Similar to cabinet design with its doors. Want to use the camera to capture something in front of you, flip one of the wings open while the other wing and its camera faces you. This design would not have one hinge be thicker to overlap the other display. This method can also have the phone flat on a table while recording with one of the wings in a perpendicular position to the main inner display.

 

[code-m]

picked up a Samsung Flip 8 phone yesterday for a spare phone (daily is an iPhone Air), and was looking at their Fold lineup. Was impressed, if Apple's is similar, should provide a nice option for those that need it

Imagine this device as a rollable screen.

 

[Sami13496]

I still don't know why these messages keep getting posted. They're not making any point beyond the obvious, but they have the smug aura of thinking they've made a clever observation. Yes, there's a crease. Yes, you can see it. It's a foldable. People go around with shattered displays covered in gunk and fingerprints. A crease is neither a surprise nor an impairment.

If I had to guess, it seems more like these posts are being made as a quick way to feel smug and superior to people with differing experiences and opinions.

Lol, what an analysis. These messages keep getting posted because rumors have been telling us for years that the iPhone Fold won’t have a crease. But that’s a lie. It will have a crease, and it’ll make the display look and feel cheap. And as an Apple fan, it annoys me that Apple is moving away from what has always made it Apple and jumping on the gimmick train just to make money in the short term, like Samsung’s gimmick factory.

But hey, it’s worth it, right? Paying $2,500 for a contraption with a folding gimmick just to get a screen that’s one inch bigger than the Pro Max when you rotate it into landscape orientation.

The truth is, y’all Fold defenders are just bored and want a new toy to play with. You won’t admit it, but deep down, you know I’m right.

 

[Dakotter]

Lol, what an analysis. These messages keep getting posted because rumors have been telling us for years that the iPhone Fold won’t have a crease. But that’s a lie. It will have a crease, and it’ll make the display look and feel cheap. And as an Apple fan, it annoys me that Apple is moving away from what has always made it Apple and jumping on the gimmick train just to make money in the short term, like Samsung’s gimmick factory.

But hey, it’s worth it, right? Paying $2,500 for a contraption with a folding gimmick just to get a screen that’s one inch bigger than the Pro Max when you rotate it into landscape orientation.

The truth is, y’all Fold defenders are just bored and want a new toy to play with. You won’t admit it, but deep down, you know I’m right.

Now I'm pretty convinced I'm just talking to an LLM.

 

[FranApple]

Price aside, the Apple logo alone will sell this new model.

The shorter, wider form factor is what disqualifies it from my buy list.

Having enjoyed using my Samsung Z Fold7 for work daily since its release. I’ve found the taller, narrower shape ideal for my business oriented workflow. The spacious 8.0” display is ideal, yet a slightly larger display would be perfect.

The iPhone Ultra’s small 7.76” display is just not suited to my needs. For some it will be fine as its target market is likely those who use it for casual content consumption and to show off to their friends.

Durability has been excellent with my Z Fold7 although I do take care of my devices and there’s always room from improvement. The crease is noticeable but not objectionable. I do expect the iPhone Ultra to benefit from Apple’s expertise with hardware and recent Samsung folding display advancements.

No matter where Apple places the price point, the novelty and “Ultra” moniker will sell these phones.

Agreed. I got a Fold 8 and returned it after a week. Short phones cut off too much content vertically. Even for content consumption, they're not ideal. I didn't find it superior for anything other than taking up less space in my pocket.

 

[Sami13496]

Now I'm pretty convinced I'm just talking to an LLM.

An LLM card. ”This post is so written by ChatGPT” right? Is LLM the new excuse for when you can’t come up with a counterargument in a discussion? I’m pretty convinced I’m talking to a teenager.

 

[NeonNights]

Lol, what an analysis. These messages keep getting posted because rumors have been telling us for years that the iPhone Fold won’t have a crease. But that’s a lie. It will have a crease, and it’ll make the display look and feel cheap. And as an Apple fan, it annoys me that Apple is moving away from what has always made it Apple and jumping on the gimmick train just to make money in the short term, like Samsung’s gimmick factory.

But hey, it’s worth it, right? Paying $2,500 for a contraption with a folding gimmick just to get a screen that’s one inch bigger than the Pro Max when you rotate it into landscape orientation.

The truth is, y’all Fold defenders are just bored and want a new toy to play with. You won’t admit it, but deep down, you know I’m right.

Have you actually watched the MacRumors Show episode at the top of this thread? MrMobile and Dan both praise Samsung's latest foldables and point out the insignificance of the crease. Both of them have access to a lot more phones than the rest of us, yet neither describes foldables as gimmicky and eagerly await the foldable iPhone. Dan even called the Fold8 pretty near perfect in his separate video review.

It may be difficult for you to accept but foldables are only going to grow in popularity with Apple jumping on the train. You can't seem to get beyond the crease but go look at the photos in post #6 of this thread, you can't even make out the crease. The horrible crease you like to remind everyone of has grown fainter over eight successive generations. If the crease stops you from buying a foldable then so be it, but there's no denying that demand will be high for the foldable iPhone considering the Fold8 has broken sales records. 2026 will go down as the year of the foldable.

Lastly, none of the foldables I've owned ever felt cheap. They all felt very solid and well-built, with gorgeous screens. The foldable iPhone's inner display is rumored to be less than an inch larger (diagonally) than a 17 Pro Max, but the iPad Mini-like proportions offer vastly more screen area over a 17 Pro Max.