Apple Reportedly Eyes 'iPhone Ultra' Name for Folding Phone Expected This Year
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| Source: Mastodon | Original article
Apple is reportedly gearing up to launch its first foldable smartphone under the “iPhone Ultra” moniker, with a debut slated for September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The name, floated by long‑time leaker Ming‑Chi Kuo on Weibo and echoed in a Mark Gurman tip, signals Apple’s intent to position the device at the top of its premium line rather than treating it as a niche experiment.
If the rumor holds, the iPhone Ultra will adopt a book‑style hinge and rely exclusively on Samsung Display for its foldable OLED panels for the next three years, a deal that underscores Apple’s willingness to lock in a single supplier to guarantee panel quality and yield. The partnership also hints at a potential price point that could eclipse Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, which has long dominated the high‑end foldable market.
The move matters because Apple has so far resisted the foldable format, citing durability and user‑experience concerns. A launch would force the tech giant to confront the trade‑offs between its hallmark rigidity and the growing consumer appetite for larger, multitasking‑friendly screens. It would also reshape the premium smartphone landscape, compelling rivals to rethink their own foldable strategies and potentially accelerating the convergence of tablet and phone form factors.
What to watch next: Apple’s September event will be the first chance to confirm the Ultra’s design, specifications and pricing. Analysts will be keen on the hinge mechanism, screen durability, and whether Apple will extend its repair‑ability initiatives—topics we covered in our recent “Apple and Lenovo have the least repairable laptops” piece. Follow‑up stories will also track the rollout of Samsung’s exclusive panel supply and any impact on Apple’s upcoming A19 Pro chip roadmap, which could power the Ultra’s demanding multitasking workloads.
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