Apple’s long-awaited first foldable iPhone, internally known as the iPhone Ultra, is drawing strong early praise for its form factor, hinge durability, and software adaptations, positioning it as a potential return to the company’s signature product magic.
According to reports citing people familiar with internal testing, early users have highlighted how the book-style (or passport-style) device fits comfortably in a pocket when closed. The hinge has also impressed for its solid feel and durability, addressing a common pain point in the foldable category. The hinge is rumored to be constructed of Liquidmetal (an amorphous metal alloy prized for its high strength-to-weight ratio, elasticity, and resistance to wear) which could help minimize screen creasing and maintain smoothness over hundreds of thousands of folds. When unfolded, the roughly 7.8-inch internal display supports iPad-like app layouts that enhance usability for productivity, gaming, video, and entertainment. The larger screen has additionally been noted for performing well as a camera viewfinder.
The device is expected to feature a 5.5-inch cover display, a dual-camera rear system (48-megapixel main and ultrawide lenses), and a side-button Touch ID sensor rather than Face ID, a design choice that helps keep the unfolded thickness around 4.5mm. While the camera setup works well for many scenarios, the absence of a telephoto lens has been flagged as a potential drawback given the premium positioning.
Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman detailed these tester reactions in his latest Power On newsletter, noting the positive overall feedback while acknowledging trade-offs like the biometric sensor shift that some Face ID loyalists may not prefer.
The iPhone Ultra is anticipated to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at Apple’s fall event, expected around September 8 or 9, 2026. Pricing is projected to start at $2,000 or higher, potentially reaching $2,500 for top storage configurations, reflecting both the advanced engineering and broader industry cost pressures. Limited initial supply is also expected.
MacDailyNews Take: The foldable iPhone will very likely help to expand the smartphone category and reinvigorate interest in Apple’s flagship iPhone lineup after years of more incremental updates.
Please help support MacDailyNews — and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more — by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!
Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
