Apple's first foldable iPhone "iPhone Fold": Rumor summary of shape, specs, and release date

It is rumored that Apple will announce its first foldable iPhone along with the iPhone 18 Pro series at an event expected to be held on September 9th (US Pacific Standard Time). It is a device called "iPhone Ultra" or "iPhone Fold".

Although it has not yet been announced, images of third-party cases and dummy models are already circulating, and quite specific information about the shape has come out. In this article, we will organize the shape, price, release date, specifications, etc.

Please note that all of the following information is provided by news organizations, analysts, and leakers. Apple hasn't officially announced anything. Please note that the actual product may differ.

The shape revealed by the dummy and case leaks

First, let's take a look at the exterior.

In April 2026, leaker Sonny Dickson released a dummy model of a folding iPhone along with the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max. On June 7th, we released detailed images of the dummy with a higher degree of completion.

What you can see from the published image is that it is a book type that opens horizontally, and the ratio when opened is 4:3. It will be shaped like a passport, with the width being longer than the height. The thickness when opened is approximately 4.5mm, and the frame is said to be made of titanium.

The out camera is twin-lensed, and the shape of the camera plate is said to be similar to the iPhone Air. The cover display is said to extend all the way to the edges and have slightly curved edges. Regarding the main body color, it has been pointed out that there is a possibility that it will only be white.

On the other hand, it is not clear whether MagSafe will be installed. It has been pointed out that the magnet on the main body side may have been omitted to make it thinner, but the leaked case, which appears to be made by a third party, contained a MagSafe magnet. I don't know which one is correct.

When opened, it is a 7.8-inch 4:3 suitable for manga and documents.

When opened, it measures approximately 7.8 inches, which is slightly smaller than the iPad mini (8.3 inches). It is approximately 5.5 inches in size when closed, and can be used as a regular smartphone even when closed.

4:3 is an aspect ratio close to that of an A5-sized magazine, and seems suitable for displaying manga, magazines, and PDFs. It seems to be compatible with usage such as opening a document and checking its contents.

Video, on the other hand, is a different story. When playing a typical 16:9 video on a 4:3 screen, bands appear at the top and bottom. The larger the screen, the easier it is to see, but the ratio itself is not suitable for videos. It doesn't seem like anything is going to be comfortable just because it's foldable.

spec rumors

The main spec rumors that have come out so far are as follows.

As for the battery, in July, Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station reported two cells registered by Apple's battery supplier. The folding machine stacks cells separately on the left and right panels, so it is a natural configuration that the folding machine is divided into two panels. Note that the minimum rating and nominal value are different, so the nominal value may be higher. At the development stage, there was information that it would be in the late 5000mAh range.

Regarding biometric authentication, it is likely that Touch ID will be installed on the power button. However, it is expected that Face ID will not be installed instead. It may have been a decision to use Touch ID rather than putting Face ID on both the cover display and the inner display, but for users who are used to recent Face IDs, the usability will likely change significantly.

The out-camera is a two-lens main camera and an ultra-wide-angle lens, and there is no expectation that there will be a telephoto lens. In addition, the action button will be omitted, the volume button will be moved to the top edge, and the in-camera on the inner display will be placed on the top left.

The compared Galaxy Z Fold8 is 4.5mm open, 9.7mm closed, and weighs about 201g. The numbers rumored for folding iPhones are about the same level.

The question of release date and “can you buy it?”

Opinions are divided regarding the release date.

Ming-Chi Kuo said that although the foldable iPhone will be announced on the same day as the iPhone 18 Pro, it will likely be released later than the Pro. There are also reports that it will be announced in September and released in October or November. On the other hand, there are reports that mass production has already begun and there are no delays.

Also, according to semiconductor analyst Tim Culpan, Apple does not have enough DRAM, and TSMC has processors worth $1 billion sitting in a state waiting for memory. The A20 Pro chip (tentative) uses packaging technology that integrates the processor and DRAM at the wafer stage, so assembly cannot proceed unless DRAM is on hand.

The DRAM shortage itself has been going on for several months, and it is also affecting delivery times for Mac Studio, Mac mini, and MacBook Air. This is because memory manufacturers are prioritizing products for AI data centers, which have higher profit margins.

According to MacRumors, Apple and its assemblers expect to be able to meet initial demand, but in-store inventory may sell out quickly and delivery times may be extended. The foldable iPhone has a complex design and manufacturing issues, and supply may be the most limited among the three models.

In 2025, the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max were sold out during the reservation period, and shipping was delayed to October. In 2026, in addition to the ``limited supply'' due to DRAM shortages, the absence of unbranded models in the fall will cause ``demand to concentrate on Pro/Fold'', so we expect fiercer competition than usual. If you want to be sure to get your hands on it as soon as it's released, it's likely that you'll be able to do so at the same time as pre-orders begin.