Apple iPhone Ultra Fold Model Price Could Start at $2,099 USD or More Than PHP 130,000
Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone could finally arrive as the iPhone Ultra, combining a pocketable outer screen with a much larger, iPad-like folding display.
- Foldable Flagship: Apple's first foldable iPhone is widely expected to adopt a book-style design with a 5.5-inch outer OLED screen and a much larger 7.8-inch inner OLED display, potentially giving users an iPhone and an almost iPad mini-sized viewing experience in one device.
- Premium Hardware: Rumored specifications include Apple's A20 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, up to 2TB of storage, a remarkably thin body, two 48 MegaPixel rear cameras, Touch ID, and an inner display capable of up to a 120Hz refresh rate.
- Ultra Pricing: The foldable iPhone could become Apple's most expensive smartphone ever, with estimates placing its US starting price at $2,099 to $2,299, while top configurations could reportedly cross the $3,000 threshold.
The Apple iPhone Ultra could be just days away from becoming official, potentially marking one of the biggest changes to the iPhone since the original model arrived nearly two decades ago. After years of rumors surrounding Apple's foldable ambitions, reports now point to a book-style folding iPhone that could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series at Apple's September 9, 2026 event.
There is one important detail to remember before getting too attached to the name. Apple has not officially confirmed that its first foldable will be called the iPhone Ultra. The name has appeared repeatedly in reports, however, making it one of the strongest possibilities heading into the announcement.
An iPhone That Opens Into an iPad-Like Device
Rather than going with a vertically folding clamshell form factor, Apple is reportedly preparing a book-style device. When closed, the foldable iPhone is expected to offer an approximately 5.5-inch OLED outer display. Opening it would reveal an approximately 7.8-inch OLED screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio that should feel considerably more like a compact tablet.
The inner OLED panel is expected to support ProMotion with refresh rates reaching 120Hz. Rumors have also suggested resolutions of around 2,088 x 1,422 pixels for the outer display and 2,713 x 1,920 pixels for the inner panel, although these specifications remain unofficial.
Apple has apparently placed considerable attention on minimizing one of the most obvious drawbacks of current foldables: the display crease. Reports suggest the company has pursued a nearly invisible crease through developments involving ultra-thin glass, display construction, adhesives, and the hinge itself.
Thickness could be another standout feature. The device has been rumored to measure around 4.5mm when unfolded and approximately 9mm to 9.5mm when closed, although reports have varied slightly. Its construction could combine titanium and aluminum, balancing structural strength, heat dissipation, and weight.
Apple iPhone Ultra Fold Model Concept Photo Source
A20 Pro Chip and Up to 2TB Storage
Inside, TrendForce expects the iPhone Ultra to feature Apple's upcoming A20 Pro processor manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process. The chipset could be accompanied by 12GB of RAM, putting Apple's first foldable firmly within flagship territory.
Storage choices could include 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and even 2TB. Earlier reports mentioned fewer storage configurations, so the final lineup remains something to watch once Apple makes the device official.
The larger screen is also expected to bring some iPad-inspired software capabilities to iOS. Reports suggest users could run two apps side-by-side when the phone is unfolded, while certain apps may gain sidebars similar to those found on iPadOS. Apple is nevertheless expected to keep the device running iOS rather than iPadOS.
Two 48 MegaPixel Rear Cameras
Apple's foldable may command an Ultra-level price, but its camera system could actually be simpler than that of the iPhone 18 Pro.
Current information points to two 48 MegaPixel rear cameras consisting of Wide and Ultra Wide shooters. A dedicated Telephoto camera is not expected, apparently because Apple's pursuit of an extremely thin design leaves limited internal room.
A 24 MegaPixel front-facing camera has also been reported, with the inner camera potentially positioned beneath the display. The device is expected to provide front cameras for use whether it is folded or unfolded.
Touch ID Could Make a Flagship Comeback
Perhaps the most surprising rumor is the absence of Face ID.
Apple's TrueDepth hardware reportedly takes up too much internal space for the ultra-thin foldable design. Instead, the company could bring Touch ID back to its flagship smartphone lineup through a fingerprint sensor integrated into the side or power button, similar to the implementation seen on some iPad models.
Other familiar iPhone features may also be sacrificed. Reports indicate that the foldable could omit the Action button, physical SIM card slot, and mmWave 5G support. It is expected to rely exclusively on eSIM in markets where it becomes available, while Apple's rumored C2 modem could limit 5G connectivity to sub-6GHz networks.
MagSafe, fortunately, appears increasingly likely to make the cut. Earlier dummy units created uncertainty because they did not show evidence of an internal MagSafe ring, but more recent information from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman points toward MagSafe being included.
Apple's Most Expensive iPhone Yet?
All this folding technology will apparently come at a steep premium.
TrendForce estimates that the foldable iPhone could start between $2,099 - or around PHP 131,600 with current conversion - and $2,299 in the United States, with higher-end configurations potentially surpassing $3,000. Other predictions have varied, with Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously estimating a price somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500.
That would easily make the iPhone Ultra the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released.
For Filipino Apple fans, however, it is too early to translate those figures into an expected Philippine retail price. Local pricing, availability, storage configurations, taxes, and Apple's eventual rollout strategy remain unknown.
September 9 Could Finally Reveal Everything
Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max during its September 9 event. Actual retail availability is less certain, with reports suggesting that manufacturing complexity could result in constrained initial supplies or a launch slightly later than the other new iPhones.
For now, the iPhone Ultra remains an intriguing collection of credible reports rather than an official Apple product. If the rumors prove accurate, though, Apple appears to be approaching the foldable category in its own way: exceptionally thin, focused on minimizing the crease, optimized around iOS, and positioned firmly at the highest end of the smartphone market.
The biggest question may no longer be whether Apple can make a compelling foldable iPhone. With a potential $2,000-plus starting price and several familiar Pro features reportedly being sacrificed to achieve that folding design, the real question is how many iPhone users will be ready to pay the "Ultra" premium for it.
