Foldable iPhone: What we know about the Ultra’s hardware
Next Wednesday is the day: Apple is expected to present its first foldable phone. Various hardware details have leaked in the run-up. An overview.
Person with unfolded foldable phone: Now it’s Apple’s turn.
(Image: ra2 studio / Shutterstock.com)
That Apple is working on a foldable has been known for at least six years. However, it has not yet come onto the market, even though major competitors like Samsung have had corresponding products in their lineup since 2019. Now that is supposed to change: At the iPhone keynote of 2026, planned for September 9th, Apple is expected to present its first foldable OLED smartphone alongside new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. In the rumor mill, it has long been referred to as the iPhone Ultra. This information about the new hardware seems set.
Foldable in passport format
Displays and form factor: The iPhone Ultra is expected to be released in passport format, meaning it will be significantly less tall than conventional foldables. This leads to a comparatively small and wide external screen of 5.5 inches when folded. When unfolded, it measures 7.8 inches, likely in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The display is expected to be “almost” crease-free. It is still unclear how well the hinge is protected against penetrating particles.
Chips and photography: The iPhone Ultra is expected to feature Apple’s latest 2 nm A20 Pro chip, likely with 12 GB of RAM, which aids in AI tasks. Apple’s in-house C2 is expected as the modem chip, and Apple seems to be replacing SIM slots with a pure eSIM solution, as with the iPhone Air. The Bluetooth and WLAN chips are likely from Apple, in the form of a new N2. On the back, there will only be two camera sensors instead of three as in the iPhone Pro models; Apple is reportedly omitting the telephoto lens. Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle sensors will be present. It is still unclear whether there will be one or two selfie cameras (i.e., one when folded and one when unfolded).
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Biometrics and app adaptations: After many years, Apple is apparently returning to Touch ID for biometric authentication. It is apparently integrated into the sleep/wake button, as seen on the iPad mini. The reason: There is reportedly no space in the casing for Face ID facial recognition. This space is largely occupied by a split battery. However, a MagSafe charging function is present. Apps are expected to adapt automatically to the new display formats. How exactly multitasking will work – for example, two apps side by side when unfolded – remains to be seen. “Proper” window management like on the iPad is not expected.
Price and availability: The iPhone Ultra will not be cheap. In the USA, a price of at least $2000 without sales tax is expected; in the EU, it could reach €2500 or more. Several storage configurations from 256 GB to 2 TB are planned. Apple is unlikely to make its first foldable immediately available; it is conceivable that sales will only begin weeks after the presentation. Furthermore, the initial production volume (for iPhones) is likely to be rather small. Pre-ordering will therefore probably be mandatory for interested parties.
Whatever Apple exactly presents: Mac & i and heise online will report as always with a live ticker. The keynote starts on September 9th (Wednesday) around 7 PM, but we will report with current information already in the afternoon.
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