The MacRumors Show
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PodcastThe MacRumors Show
Publisher/creatorThe MacRumors Show
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About this episode
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show , we discuss all of the rumors surrounding Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, now said to be called the “ iPhone Ultra ," which is shaping up to be a comprehensive redesign unlike anything the company has shipped before. The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max this fall, though reports suggest it will ship after the Pro models , potentially as late as December. Pricing is expected to start at over $2,000 , making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. The device will have a book-style, passport-shaped design with a 4:3 aspect ratio, wider than it is tall and unlike any foldable currently on the market. When closed, it will have a 5.5-inch outer display; when open, a 7.8-inch inner OLED panel takes over, making it just slightly smaller than the 8.3-inch iPad mini . According to design leaks from Instant Digital , the device will measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, which would make it Apple's thinnest iPhone to date. The outer frame is said to be made of titanium for durability at that thinness, while the inner frame uses aluminum. The back features a glass finish with a shorter, iPhone Air-style camera plateau housing two horizontally arranged rear cameras. The same leak revealed that volume buttons are relocated to the top edge of the device, aligned to the right. The inner display features a single punch-hole cutout resulting in a smaller Dynamic Island , while a Touch ID power button and Camera Control remain on the right edge. Reports indicate the iPhone Ultra will support iPad-style multitasking and layouts for running apps side by side when unfolded, befitting its iPad mini-sized inner display. Bloomberg 's Mark Gurman has described it as the "most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history." Achieving that ultra-thin form factor comes with tradeoffs, and the iPhone Ultra will be missing several features that iPhone users have come to expect, in some ways echoing the compromises Apple made with the iPhone Air . The iPhone Air went without stereo speakers, a SIM card slot, and multiple rear cameras to achieve its 5.6mm frame; the iPhone Ultra faces similar constraints at an even more demanding 4.5mm. The ultra-thin chassis leaves no room for a triple-lens camera setup , so the telephoto lens found on iPhone Pro models is absent, leaving just a dual 48-megapixel rear system. More significantly, there is no space for the TrueDepth sensor array required for Face ID , meaning the iPhone Ultra will rely on a side-button Touch ID module instead. Under the hood, the iPhone Ultra is expected to feature Apple's A20 chip paired with 12GB of RAM. Storage options are said to include 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Battery capacity is reportedly in the 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh range, which would put it among the largest ever in an iPhone despite its slim dimensions. The scale of Apple's production ambitions for the iPhone Ultra has already been tempered by manufacturing realities. Kuo initially indicated Apple placed orders for 15 to 20 million total foldable iPhones, though he noted demand would likely be limited due to the device's cost. By December, Kuo warned that early-stage yield and ramp-up challenges could mean smooth shipments may not occur until 2027, with potential shortages lasting through at least the end of 2026. The high asking price is expected to be a further constraint on volume: IDC projects the device will capture over 22% unit share of the foldables market in its first year, but that market remains a niche segment overall. The iPhone Air's underwhelming sales performance, with Kuo reporting suppliers cut production capacity by more than 80% after demand fell short of expectations, may serve as a cautionary tale for premium iPhone form-factor experiments.
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Episode summary
Welcome back to The MacRubus Show; I’m Dan, Hartley’s here, and we’re diving into those first foldable iPhone dummies ahead of WWDC—I'm excited, but I’ve got mixed feelings until I see iOS running on it.
It’s a totally new silhouette for iPhone—shorter and wider, almost passport-like; unfolded you get a four by three, iPad-style canvas, but closed it may feel unusual in hand.
It gives me first‑gen Pixel Fold vibes, and while one‑handed use seems okay, I worry the novelty fades and I miss a normal slab.
What stings is the trade‑off at two thousand to twenty four hundred dollars, starting with only wide and ultra‑wide cameras and no telephoto; Face ID reportedly doesn’t fit a four point five millimeter body, so Touch ID moves to the side button and the Dynamic Island likely goes too.
Side‑button fingerprint readers are finicky and easy to trigger in a pocket, and placement rarely suits every hand, so I’d want a reliable face unlock in tandem.
With a button that thin, the sensor area will be tiny, which rarely helps accuracy.
Rumor says it’s called iPhone Ultra, yet Apple has cut expected builds from roughly ten million to about three million, which doesn’t scream confidence.
They’ll hype it and early stock will go, but who keeps a pricier phone that offers less than a Pro.
We’ve seen this movie with iPhone Air—beautiful but misaligned with what buyers want, even hitting approximately thirty percent off on Apple’s Amazon UK page; this foldable seems to echo that playbook with eSIM‑only and possibly an A20 instead of a Pro‑class chip.
I spot far more Samsung foldables than iPhone Airs in the wild, which tells me the category can work if the package lands.
I’m excited for the reveal, but to justify double a 17 Pro it needs a telephoto, strong speakers, dependable biometrics, and leading battery life.
I can live without Face ID, but the telephoto is non‑negotiable, and I need software that proves the fold is more than a week‑long novelty; where does the crease end up.
Expect a visible but smaller crease, likely on par with or better than Galaxy Fold 7, since Samsung makes the panel and the hinge decides what you see.
Apple’s ‘wait and nail it’ playbook hasn’t always delivered—Vision Pro is brilliant tech in a heavy, app‑light product, and AirPods Max made expensive compromises.
Make it a touch bigger with a tiny keyboard case and it could replace my travel iPad, because I want this to be genuinely good.
I want that too, but top‑mounted volume keys sound awkward even if they free space for battery, and the whole shape may feel odd for everyday photos and pocket use.
Would a clamshell hit better for the selfie crowd, especially when Samsung’s Flip outsells the Fold and lands around half the price.
Maybe, especially if it replaced iPhone Air, but the price must match that audience, and a maxed unit here could approach three thousand dollars.
Design‑wise, are we getting rounded corners all around or a sharper hinge edge, and can we please have true stereo speakers if it’s built for media.
I’d bet on full curves and a partial‑width camera bar that looks a bit odd, and speaker details are still unknown.
That’s our take; we’re rooting for it even if we sounded tough, so tell us what you think and we’ll catch you next week.
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