Rumors point to Apple’s first foldable iPhone—possibly called iPhone Ultra—with a titanium book-style design, new displays, and Touch ID.
A new kind of iPhone buzz is heating up ahead of this fall, with rumors pointing to Apple’s first foldable model—possibly called iPhone Ultra—and a very different way of carrying and using iOS.
If the speculation holds, iPhone Ultra won’t just be another “Pro” variant.. It’s expected to combine a wider. book-style fold with a crease-free inner screen. two separate display experiences in one device. and an iPhone software layer that leans into multitasking ideas similar to those seen on Apple’s tablet line.
Design is at the center of the excitement.. Unlike many foldables that fold like a tall book. iPhone Ultra is rumored to unfold into a shape that is wider than it is tall.. That would come with an outer display that looks shorter and wider than typical iPhone screens. paired with an inner panel that’s expected to resemble the size and proportions of an iPad mini when opened.
Even more notable is the claim about the inner screen.. Previous foldable designs have often brought the trade-off of visible crease areas.. For iPhone Ultra. the rumor is that the inner display will use a crease-free approach. which. if real. would represent a major breakthrough for the form factor—especially for users who worry that the display might age differently than a conventional slab.
The device is also expected to borrow aesthetic cues from the rumored iPhone Air direction. Reports describe a titanium border, an ultra-thin profile when unfolded, and the look of “two iPhone Airs stacked together” when folded—while still remaining thinner than many foldable competitors.
Color options, meanwhile, are also being discussed in the rumor cycle. The expectation is that only black and white would be offered, narrowing the palette for what would likely become Apple’s most premium and attention-grabbing iPhone yet.
The display story continues with a second big change: two screens with different sizes and orientations.. iPhone Ultra is rumored to include an outside screen and an inner screen revealed when unfolded.. The outer display is said to measure roughly 5.3 to 5.5 inches. while the inner display is expected to land around 7.6 to 7.8 inches.
The outer panel is expected to feel more like a compact iPhone experience. with an aspect ratio described as wider than a typical iPhone mini-style layout.. When opened. the inner display is expected to be closer to an iPad mini-like experience “in the hand. ” reinforcing the idea that iPhone Ultra may blur the line between phone convenience and tablet usefulness.
On cameras, the rumor shift could matter for anyone currently choosing between “Ultra” style and “Pro” style hardware.. iPhone Ultra is said to feature two rear lenses: a 48MP Main camera and a 48MP Ultra Wide camera.. That pairing would mean users selecting iPhone Ultra over a Pro model would reportedly miss the Telephoto camera and its increased zoom capabilities.
Front cameras would also change because the device would effectively present two different “faces.” With two displays. iPhone Ultra is rumored to include two front-facing cameras—one tied to each screen.. While details on how they will be configured aren’t fully laid out. Apple is expected to use an 18MP Center Stage camera previously associated with iPhone 17.. A hole-punch design is also expected.
Software is another area where iPhone Ultra could stand out, particularly around multitasking. iOS 27 is expected to bring iPhone Ultra-exclusive features, with two headline updates being side-by-side apps for multitasking and iPad-like app layouts.
According to the reporting being discussed, the foldable handset would not be positioned as a full iPadOS substitute.. The device is described as not supporting the full windowing features of iPadOS 26, nor running iPadOS itself while unfolded.. Still. the implication is that iOS 27 would borrow enough from the tablet experience to make better use of a larger open display.
Under the hood, the rumors point to Apple rolling out new connectivity and processing tailored for a premium device. iPhone Ultra is expected to come with an A20 Pro chip and a C2 cellular modem—components that are also expected to be part of iPhone 18 Pro.
The A20 Pro story includes claims about a larger-than-usual upgrade driven by a newer 2-nanometer process and a technology described as WMCM (Wafer-level Multi-Chip Module) aimed at improving efficiency.. The chip is rumored to include 12GB of RAM. reportedly the same amount associated with A19 Pro. but paired with faster LPDDR5 memory for improved performance.
For cellular connectivity, C2 is described as Apple’s next-generation in-house modem.. The rumor is that it would replace Qualcomm’s 5G modem approach with an Apple-designed solution. including several benefits that haven’t been fully detailed but are expected to improve how the iPhone handles mobile performance and features.
A major identity change may come with authentication. Despite the “Ultra” naming, the foldable iPhone is not expected to offer Face ID. Instead, the device is rumored to bring back Touch ID, integrated into the power button.
The reasoning being shared is practical: the report suggests Apple may not have been able to shrink Face ID components enough to fit separate modules for a two-display foldable.. That means two screens create space constraints that Touch ID can reportedly solve more neatly.. The rumor also hints that future models could revisit Face ID if Apple can fit the necessary hardware.
Pricing remains the most chaotic part of the rumor landscape, with expectations ranging in both directions. Many analysts are reported to expect a starting price around $1,999 for a 256GB model, while others speculate it could be lower or higher.
Still. there is a shared takeaway among the speculation: iPhone Ultra is anticipated to be the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold.. The logic is tied to what the device is believed to offer—an iPhone and a tablet-like experience combined into one product. with Apple banking on the idea that the premium build and software experience can justify the cost.
iPhone Ultra Apple foldable iPhone iOS 27 multitasking Touch ID power button A20 Pro chip C2 modem