Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at a September 9 event, with fresh leaks detailing the device’s screens, hinge, and camera setup just days before the company’s biggest hardware reveal in years.
A Book-Style Design With a Liquid Metal Hinge
The device, expected to be branded iPhone Ultra internally at Apple though not yet officially confirmed, is reported to use a book-style folding design with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen, according to the Business Standard. Apple is said to be using a liquid metal hinge designed to minimize the crease that has affected rival foldables.
Earlier leaks suggest the device will be around 4.5 millimeters thick when unfolded, thinner than the existing iPhone Air, with a dual rear camera setup featuring two 48-megapixel sensors. Reports also indicate Apple may replace Face ID with Touch ID built into the side button, similar to the approach used on some iPad models.
Expected Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro Lineup
The foldable is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, though some reports suggest it could arrive in the same window or be delayed slightly, potentially into October, due to manufacturing complexity, according to MacRumors.
Rumors put the foldable’s price above 2,000 dollars, which would make it Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date. Reports also point to iPad-like multitasking features built into iOS 27 to take advantage of the larger unfolded screen.
Apple Has Dropped Hints Itself
Apple’s own event invitation for the September 9 keynote, titled “Surprise and Shine,” carried a Chinese language tagline that translates to “a new chapter unfolds,” which tech outlets have interpreted as a deliberate hint at the folding design, according to Cult of Mac.
Apple has not officially confirmed the foldable iPhone’s existence, name, or specifications, and all details remain based on leaks and supply chain reporting rather than company statements.
Notably, several reports indicate Apple will skip a standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e at this event entirely, pushing those more affordable models to a spring 2027 launch instead. That would leave September’s lineup skewed toward the premium end, with the foldable positioned as the clear centerpiece of the keynote.
