Apple’s foldable iPhone — the model most reports call the iPhone Ultra — will be unveiled at the company’s September event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Weekend leaks suggest the timing holds, the supply does not, and the name may still change.
iPhone Ultra launch timing holds; stock will not
Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital said the initial batch will be “extremely limited”, pointing to reports that Apple has ordered around 10 million units. He said suppliers could take three to five months to hit that target, which would make the foldable very hard to get at launch. Ming-Chi Kuo has said suppliers may ship only 7–8 million units in 2026.
In a separate post, the same leaker pushed back on reports that the device would launch in the US only. His sources say mass production is running smoothly despite hinge assembly challenges, and the launch will still be fairly global at first — just constrained. MacRumors, citing Australian outlet ChannelNews, reported the opposite: a US-first release with key markets including China following over two or three months. That claim remains uncorroborated. Reports put the event itself in the first half of September, with the foldable expected to offer a 7.7–7.8-inch inner display and a price above $2,000.
iPhone Ultra: will it even be called that?
Leaker Instant Digital now doubts the foldable will carry the Ultra name at all, saying Apple may reserve it for the 20th-anniversary iPhone in 2027 and its successors. His post is largely speculative — Apple has confirmed nothing about the name.
What it means if you’re shopping in the UAE
tbreak estimated in July that the foldable would cost around AED 8,440–9,175 and be the hardest iPhone to find at launch. If the US-first rollout happens, UAE buyers wait months; if the leaker is right, the phone lands here in September in very small numbers. Either way, expect pre-orders to sell out quickly.
When will the iPhone Ultra be announced?
Apple’s September event, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Reports point to the first half of September, with September 8 or 9 floated; Apple has not confirmed a date.
Will the iPhone Ultra be available in the UAE at launch?
Not confirmed. One report claims a US-first release with other markets following over two or three months; a Weibo leaker says the launch will be fairly global but the first batch extremely limited. tbreak has estimated UAE pricing at around AED 8,440–9,175.
Will Apple’s foldable iPhone be called iPhone Ultra?
Apple has not confirmed the name. Leaker Instant Digital doubts it, saying the Ultra branding may be reserved for the 20th-anniversary iPhone expected in 2027.
