iPhone Ultra Leaked: Apple's First Foldable Expected in September
Tech tipster Jon Prosser has released 3D renders and a video on Front Page Tech that claim to show Apple's first foldable iPhone, called the iPhone Ultra. The renders show a book-style foldable that opens to a larger, tablet-like display instead of folding like a clamshell. Apple reportedly designed a new hinge to reduce the visible crease, a common complaint about foldable phones. The iPhone Ultra is expected to be 4.5mm thick when unfolded and to come in Black and White.
The iPhone Ultra is rumored to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at Apple's September 2026 event. Leaks suggest it will start at over USD 2,000 (about Rs. 1.88 lakh) and use the A20 Pro Bionic chip with Apple's C2 modem. Apple has not confirmed the iPhone Ultra, its specifications, or any foldable product.
This article covers what Jon Prosser's leak says about the iPhone Ultra's design, how its 4.5mm thickness compares to other foldables, why the dual wide-angle camera setup stands out, and what details remain unknown before Apple's September event.
iPhone Ultra leak summary: Source Jon Prosser / Front Page Tech | Book-style foldable (not clamshell) | Near crease-free hinge system | 4.5mm unfolded thickness | Black and White colours | Dual rear camera with two wide-angle sensors + Camera Control | A20 Pro chip + C2 modem | New split-screen foldable productivity mode | Over USD 2,000 (~Rs. 1.88 lakh) | September 2026 event expected | None confirmed by Apple
iPhone Ultra Design: Book-Style Foldable With Crease-Free Focus
The iPhone Ultra leak describes a book-style foldable design. In foldable phone terminology, book-style means the phone opens like a book to a larger display, as opposed to clamshell-style which folds a square display in half. Book-style foldables from Samsung (Galaxy Z Fold series), Oppo (Find N series) and OnePlus (Open series) have established the format: folded, it is a standard-width phone; unfolded, it is a tablet-width device for productivity, reading and media consumption at a larger scale.
Apple's main difference is how it handles the crease. The crease at the fold is the most common complaint about book-style foldable phones, even in high-end models like the Galaxy Z Fold. It's often visible under certain lighting and can be felt when you touch the screen. The iPhone Ultra leak says Apple designed the hinge to make the crease almost invisible, both to the eye and to the touch. While other brands have made progress, none have completely removed the crease. According to the leak, Apple is making extra efforts to resolve this issue.
Book-style vs clamshell foldable: TiPhone Ultra's form-factor choice. Book-style foldables unfold to a larger display, typically 7 to 8 inches, that enables two-app split-screen, desktop-class productivity layouts, and an immersive landscape media experience. Clamshell foldables (Samsung Galaxy Z Flip, Motorola Razr) fold a tall smartphone display in half to a compact square. Book-style was the format most rumoured for Apple's first foldable across multiple years of leaks, reflecting the greater productivity differentiation it provides versus a clamshell which primarily offers compactness. The iPhone Ultra's book-style design aligns with Apple's positioning of a foldable as a creative and productivity device rather than a compact lifestyle phone.
iPhone Ultra Thickness: 4.5mm in Context
Device
Thickness
Context
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
4.2mm (unfolded)
Currently the thinnest book-style foldable when opened
iPhone Ultra (leaked)
4.5mm (unfolded)
Based on recent renders and leaks; approximately 0.3mm thicker than the Galaxy Z Fold 7 when unfolded
iPhone Air
5.6mm
Apple's thinnest conventional iPhone as of 2026
Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
5.8mm
Samsung's ultra-thin flagship slab phone
iPhone 18 Pro Max (expected)
~7.0–7.5mm
Traditional flagship smartphone thickness for comparison
The iPhone Ultra is 4.5 mm thick when open, which is less than the iPhone Air (5.6 mm) and much less than regular iPhone Pro models, which are 7 to 8 mm thick. Getting a book-style foldable to 4.5mm is amazing because it means that the screen, battery, camera, and hinge can all fit into a body that is thinner than a normal iPhone while still being strong. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is even thinner, at 4.2 mm. This shows that folding phones can be this thin, but it is still very new.
Jon Prosser's leak does not mention the folded thickness. Usually, book-style foldables are about twice as thick when closed, plus the thickness of the display, which means most are 9 to 12mm thick when folded. If Apple reaches 4.5mm unfolded, the folded iPhone Ultra would likely be 9-10mm thick. This would make it thinner than most foldables when closed, but still thicker than a regular iPhone.
iPhone Ultra Camera: Dual Wide-Angle Setup Without Telephoto
The iPhone Ultra renders show a horizontal rear camera module with two sensors, both described as wide-angle lenses. This is different from the iPhone Pro models, which usually have a main camera and a telephoto lens. The lack of a telephoto camera is the biggest difference and matches the design trade-offs needed for a foldable phone that is only 4.5mm thick.
Telephoto camera lenses, especially the periscope designs in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, 16 Pro Max, and the expected 18 Pro Max, need a certain thickness to fit the lens parts. At 4.5mm, the iPhone Ultra is thinner than any telephoto module Apple currently uses, so having two wide-angle cameras is likely a result of making the phone so thin. Apple's software features, such as scene recognition, Smart HDR, and digital zoom, are expected to make up for the lack of a real optical zoom.
Why foldables often lack telephoto cameras: The book-style foldable design splits the chassis thickness across two halves, each only 4.5mm in the iPhone Ultra's case. A periscope telephoto module requires approximately 6 to 8mm of chassis depth for the lens elements and prism to redirect light horizontally. At 4.5mm per half, there is no space for a conventional telephoto. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, at 4.2mm, similarly keeps its telephoto lens more compact than the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Apple's decision to use two wide sensors rather than one wide and one telephoto in the iPhone Ultra reflects this constraint directly.
The iPhone Ultra features a Camera Control button, first introduced on the iPhone 16 Pro. This is a touch-sensitive button on the right side that lets you take photos, adjust zoom, and switch camera modes. The leak shows this feature will be part of the foldable model too. On a device that opens to a tablet-sized screen, Camera Control makes it easier to take photos while holding the phone with both hands in landscape mode, without needing to tap the screen awkwardly.
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A20 Pro and C2 Modem: Expected iPhone Ultra Performance
The iPhone Ultra is expected to use the A20 Pro Bionic chip, which is also rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. This chip is the next step after the A19 Pro in the iPhone 17 Pro and is built on TSMC's latest technology. For a foldable phone, the A20 Pro's improved efficiency is important because the larger screen and hinge motor use more power than a regular iPhone. A more efficient chip should help the iPhone Ultra last longer on a single charge.
The C2 modem is Apple's second in-house cellular modem, following the C1 that first appeared in the iPhone 16e. The C2 should improve 5G battery life by working more closely with Apple's chip design. For a phone costing over USD 2,000, buyers will expect top performance from every part, so the C2's improvements are seen as standard rather than a special feature.
iPhone Ultra Foldable Software: Split-Screen and iPad-Inspired Features
The leak mentions a new split-screen mode made for the iPhone Ultra's larger unfolded display, bringing iPad-style multitasking to the iPhone for the first time. Right now, features like Stage Manager and multitasking in iOS 27 are built for the regular iPhone screen. With a foldable that opens to tablet size, iOS will need to support things like two apps side by side, a wider keyboard, and possibly floating windows like on iPadOS.
Apple has a good track record with software for larger screens. Features like iPadOS Stage Manager, external display support on M-series iPad Pros, and Apple Pencil support show Apple's focus on productivity. Adapting these features for the iPhone Ultra's foldable display, which also works as a phone when closed, will be the key challenge to making the device useful for productivity rather than just a novelty.
iPhone Ultra Expected Price: Over USD 2,000 in India
Leaks say the iPhone Ultra will start at over USD 2,000, which is about Rs. 1.88 lakh. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max starts at around Rs. 1,44,900 in India, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max is expected to be in a similar or slightly higher range. If the iPhone Ultra is priced above Rs. 1.88 lakh, it would be the most expensive iPhone Apple has sold in India, costing about Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 more than the Pro Max models.
The higher price than the Pro Max models is because the foldable hinge, dual displays, and advanced crease solution take more engineering. Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 is also likely to be expensive. By setting the iPhone Ultra's price this way, Apple is aiming it at people who want a high-end folding phone, not at regular iPhone users.
The Rs. 1.88 lakh figure is just the USD 2,000 conversion and not the actual India price. Apple sets higher prices in India because of import duties, GST, and its market strategy. iPhone Pro models in India usually cost 20 to 30 percent more than the US price. If the iPhone Ultra launches in India, the starting price will likely be above Rs. 2 lakh.
iPhone Ultra September 2026 Launch: Expected Lineup
Device
Expected Timing
Details
iPhone Ultra (rumoured)
September 2026
Apple's first foldable iPhone, expected to feature a book-style design, A20 Pro chip, and a price above USD 2,000
iPhone 18 Pro
September 2026
Standard Pro model expected to use the A20 Pro chipset
iPhone 18 Pro Max
September 2026
Largest Pro model in the lineup, expected alongside the Pro and Ultra models
iPhone 18
Later in 2026 (rumoured)
Standard iPhone model reportedly planned for a separate launch window
iPhone Air
Later in 2026 (rumoured)
Ultra-thin iPhone model expected to launch separately from the September event
According to several leaks, Apple's September 2026 event will feature three products: the iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro, and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18 and the new iPhone Air are said to be launching separately, which is different from Apple's usual practice of announcing all iPhones at once. If true, Apple may hold two events in late 2026 to give the foldable and standard models their own spotlight.
Final Verdict
Jon Prosser's leak describes the iPhone Ultra as Apple's first foldable iPhone, focusing on two main goals: making the display crease almost invisible and achieving a very thin 4.5mm profile. It is expected to have the A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, and new split-screen software. With a price over USD 2,000, the iPhone Ultra is aimed at the high-end market, not as a replacement for the Pro Max.
Apple has not confirmed the iPhone Ultra. All details about its specs, name, design, price, and launch date come from Jon Prosser's leak and other independent reports. The first official announcement is likely to come at Apple's September 2026 event. For updates, check apple.com/in.
Bottom Line: iPhone Ultra expected September 2026. Book-style foldable. Near crease-free hinge. 4.5mm unfolded. Black and White. Dual wide-angle cameras + Camera Control. A20 Pro + C2 modem. New split-screen foldable mode. Over USD 2,000 (~Rs. 1.88 lakh; India price expected above Rs. 2 lakh). Source: Jon Prosser / Front Page Tech. None confirmed by Apple.
FAQs
1. What is the iPhone Ultra?
Per leak sources, the iPhone Ultra is Apple's first foldable iPhone — a book-style device that opens from a standard phone width to a tablet-width display, expected to launch at Apple's September 2026 event. Apple has not confirmed this product exists.
2. Who leaked the iPhone Ultra design?
Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech shared 3D renders and video described as representing Apple's first foldable iPhone design. Jon Prosser is a known Apple tipster with a track record on pre-announcement product design leaks.
3. How thin is the iPhone Ultra?
4.5mm when unfolded, per the Jon Prosser renders. This is thinner than the iPhone Air (5.6mm) and 0.3mm thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (4.2mm unfolded).
4. What cameras does the iPhone Ultra have?
Two rear cameras with both described as wide-angle sensors, plus a Camera Control button. Unlike the iPhone Pro lineup, the iPhone Ultra is not shown with a telephoto camera — a trade-off for the 4.5mm-thin chassis, which lacks space for a periscope telephoto module.
5. How much does the iPhone Ultra cost?
Leaks describe a starting price of over USD 2,000, approximately Rs. 1.88 lakh at current exchange rates. The Indian price would likely be above Rs. 2 lakh due to import duties and GST. Apple has not announced pricing.
6. Is the iPhone Ultra a clamshell or book-style foldable?
Book-style, per the renders. It unfolds to a larger tablet-width display rather than flipping in half like a clamshell. Book-style is the format of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and OnePlus Open, enabling split-screen productivity on the larger unfolded display.
7. What chip does the iPhone Ultra use?
The A20 Pro Bionic is expected, based on multiple leak sources, to be the same chip rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Apple has not confirmed the specifications of the A20 Pro chip.
8. When does the iPhone Ultra launch?
Apple's September 2026 event is the expected launch window, per the leaks. The iPhone Ultra is expected alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air reportedly at a later, separate event.
9. Does the iPhone Ultra have a display crease?
The leak describes Apple's goal as a near-invisible crease through an over-engineered hinge design. No foldable phone has yet achieved a completely invisible crease. The leak suggests Apple has made significant progress on this engineering challenge, though the actual crease visibility will only be confirmed when the device is announced and available for hands-on assessment.
10. Will the iPhone Ultra launch in India?
Apple has not confirmed the existence of the iPhone Ultra, let alone an India launch. If launched globally as expected at Apple's September event, India availability would follow Apple's standard pattern of launching in India at or very shortly after the global reveal.
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Yaskar Jung ShahUpdated: Aug 3, 2026·15 min read
