(VIDEO) iPhone Ultra Foldable Rumored to Launch Sept. 18 at $2,000+ With Near-Invisible Crease Design Leaks

Apple's long-rumored first foldable iPhone, widely expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, could go on sale as soon as Sept. 18 at a price above $2,000, according to a growing body of leaks that point toward a device built specifically to solve the visible screen crease that has affected every foldable phone released to date.

According to Yanko Design, the device is expected to be unveiled at Apple's keynote event, anticipated for either Sept. 8 or 9, with a confirmed on-sale date reportedly set for Sept. 18. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's price estimate reportedly sets a floor above $2,000, with a ceiling as high as $2,500, according to the outlet, a range broadly consistent with pricing estimates circulating across multiple other reports.

The crease that appears at the fold line of every existing foldable phone has remained the category's most persistent design flaw since the format's introduction in 2019, according to Yanko Design, with manufacturers including Samsung, Google, Honor and Xiaomi all working to minimize its visibility without fully eliminating it. Apple is reportedly positioning a near-invisible crease as a central selling point of its own first foldable device.

According to multiple leaks compiled by PhoneArena, Apple is expected to rely on ultra-thin glass for the foldable display, a material more flexible than standard glass but somewhat less impact-resistant, allowing for a shallower, less visible crease at some cost to overall durability. The crease itself is reportedly expected to measure under 0.15 millimeters deep with a fold angle of roughly 2.5 degrees, a meaningful improvement over the Galaxy Z Fold 7's reported 0.7-millimeter-deep crease at a 3-to-4-degree angle, according to PhoneArena's reporting. A separate report cited by Beebom Gadgets similarly pointed to a 0.15-millimeter crease depth, though still deeper than the 0.05-millimeter figure reported for Oppo's Find N6 foldable, suggesting Apple's crease reduction, while significant, may not represent an outright industry first.

Central to Apple's crease-reduction strategy is a reported liquid-metal hinge, sourced through a contract with Apple's Liquidmetal Technologies partnership, according to Yanko Design, which described the material as an amorphous metallic alloy lacking the crystalline grain structure that causes conventional metals to deform under repeated stress. PhoneArena offered additional technical detail, reporting that Apple is separately said to be using a 3D-printed titanium hinge sealed with a filler material to close small gaps left by the printing process, a more cost-effective manufacturing approach than traditional precision machining. According to that outlet, Ming-Chi Kuo estimated Apple's final hinge design costs between $70 and $80 per unit, roughly 20% below the $100 to $120 figure suggested by earlier leaks. PhoneArena also noted that early supply chain reports had flagged a minor hinge rattling issue, though more recent reporting suggests those concerns are being addressed ahead of mass production.

Display specifications reported across multiple outlets describe a device featuring a roughly 5.5-inch external cover screen and a larger internal foldable display, variously reported between 7.6 and 7.8 inches depending on the source. Geeky Gadgets reported both displays would be sourced from Samsung, citing a peak brightness of 3,000 nits and Ceramic Shield 2 glass for improved scratch resistance. Back Market similarly confirmed that Samsung will exclusively supply the foldable display under a three-year agreement announced in April, describing it as a notable partnership between the two longtime rivals in the smartphone display space. Multiple sources described the internal display's aspect ratio as roughly 4:3, a squarer format Yanko Design suggested was intended to better support side-by-side app usage, closer in proportion to an iPad mini than to the taller, narrower internal displays used by rival foldables such as the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Yanko Design's reporting also described a notable change to Apple's biometric security approach for the device, with Touch ID reportedly returning via a side button rather than Face ID, a shift the outlet attributed to the physical constraints of fitting a structured-light Face ID sensor array into a chassis reportedly measuring just 4.8 millimeters when open. Multiple other outlets, including Back Market, confirmed the device is expected to lack Face ID entirely, along with a telephoto camera and some other camera hardware found on the standard iPhone 18 Pro lineup, reflecting design trade-offs inherent to a first-generation foldable device.

Processing power for the device is expected to come from Apple's A20 Pro chip, reportedly built on a 2-nanometer manufacturing process, according to Yanko Design, paired with 12 gigabytes of RAM. Techable News additionally reported that the device is expected to feature vapor chamber cooling, the same heat-dissipation technology Apple introduced with the iPhone 17 Pro, an addition that would help manage thermal output within the device's slim folded profile.

Initial supply is expected to be significantly constrained. According to Yanko Design, Weibo-based leakers have suggested it could take Apple three to five months to reach a production target of 10 million units, meaning that while the device's on-sale date may arrive as planned, widespread availability could remain limited well into the holiday shopping season. Back Market similarly cautioned that manufacturing constraints tied to surface-mount technology production could push broader availability into late 2026 or even into 2027, suggesting that even customers eager to purchase the device at launch may face significant availability challenges.

As with all pre-announcement Apple leaks, the specific pricing, launch date, technical specifications and design details outlined across these various reports remain unconfirmed by Apple directly and are subject to change ahead of any official unveiling. Given the volume and increasing consistency of leaks pointing toward a September announcement, however, industry observers continue to treat Apple's first foldable iPhone as one of the most closely watched product launches of the year, with the device's ultimate success likely to hinge, in large part, on whether its crease-reduction claims hold up to real-world scrutiny once reviewers and consumers are finally able to test the hardware for themselves.