Foxconn and Apple ramp foldable iPhone Ultra production ahead of a 2026 debut

Apple is already making plans for its third-generation foldable iPhone, with launch expected as early as 2028, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said the first foldable iPhone is about to get what he called the device's first "truly revolutionary design change" this year, and that Apple already has a roadmap extending two generations beyond it. A second-generation model is planned for 2027, Gurman says, with a third version following as early as 2028. The third-generation foldable will apparently feature slightly larger displays on both the inside and the outside compared to its predecessors, though he did not provide specific screen sizes. The first foldable iPhone is expected to launch with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover display, so any increase would build on those dimensions. This is the first report to lay out plans for a third-generation model, extending Apple's foldable roadmap a year beyond where it previously stood. The first foldable iPhone is expected to arrive this year with an ultra-thin design, Touch ID instead of Face ID, the A20 chip, C2 modem, and the moniker "iPhone Ultra," at a price around or above $2,000. The second-generation foldable, meanwhile, is reported to have already received the go-ahead for development, according to the Weibo leaker known as "Digital Chat Station," who said the "‌iPhone Ultra‌ 2" project has been formally approved and will likely reuse the first-generation model's display. That model is expected to launch in fall 2027 alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone. Related Roundup: iPhone FoldTags: Bloomberg, Foldable iPhone, iPhone Ultra, Mark GurmanThis article, "Foldable 'iPhone Ultra 3' Rumored to Feature Larger Displays" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Apple’s fall iPhone event is expected to look different this year. Rather than unveiling four closely related models, rumors point to a flagship-only September lineup consisting of three premium models: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first foldable, widely expected to be called iPhone Ultra.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone is finally expected to debut this year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. While the Cupertino-based tech giant has yet to confirm the details, a new report suggests that the purported handset could have a significant impact on the foldable smartphone market. Samsung is reported to maintain its leadership position, but Apple’s foray into this segment could lead to an increase in foldable smartphone shipments by 20 percent, with wider adoption of book-style foldables also playing a key factor.

Apple is expected to use its September product event to introduce the next generation of flagship iPhones, including what could be the company's first foldable smartphone, according to a roundup of industry reports and analyst predictions published by MacRumors. Apple has not officially confirmed its launch lineup. Foldable iPhone Could Be the Star of the Event According to the report, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max as its flagship smartphones for the year. A significant portion of the presentation could also focus on the company's long-rumored foldable handset, which has been referred to in various reports as the iPhone Ultra. The device is rumored to carry a starting price of around $2,500, positioning it as Apple's most expensive smartphone to date.

Global foldable smartphone shipments are expected to grow 20% in 2026 compared to last year, with Apple's first entry into the category cited as one of the factors driving the increase, according to industry sources cited by DigiTimes. The report notes that the broader smartphone market is contending with tighter supply of upstream logic chips and higher memory prices, but says the foldable segment is expected to keep expanding regardless. Samsung is expected to retain its lead in the category, while Apple, Huawei, and other brands are described as helping to drive growth, with the fourth quarter of 2026 flagged as the year's most important sales period. Industry sources told the publication that wider foldable designs and Apple's move into foldables are giving the category a further lift. Nearly eight years of product development, along with a growing number of brand launches and a broader range of devices for buyers, have made foldables more mature and given manufacturers added momentum to expand shipments. Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models this September, and has reportedly told suppliers to prepare to build around 10 million units this year. Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has suggested the device may not be available to pre-order until the fourth quarter of 2026, a timeline that lines up with DigiTimes' framing of that quarter as the category's key growth window. According to the report, Samsung's own experience shows that early preorder campaigns can generate strong launch-period sales, but the bigger growth phase is expected to arrive in the fourth quarter, once foldable launches from multiple brands are already on the market. That period is seen as a key opportunity to expand overall demand and drive shipment growth. ‌DigiTimes‌ added that that most consumers already expect device prices to rise, so demand should hold up as long as increases stay reasonable. Tags: DigiTimes, Foldable iPhone, iPhone UltraThis article, "Foldable Smartphone Sales to Rise 20% This Year Due to 'iPhone Ultra'" first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums

Apple's long-rumoured foldable iPhone is reportedly nearing production, with leaks pointing to a September 2026 launch, an iPad mini-style screen, and a starting price close to $2,000.