Apple's iPhone Ultra faces high bar in
Apple's upcoming folding iPhone, the iPhone Ultra, is expected to launch into a market dominated by Samsung's refined designs.
Apple's folding iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, is expected to launch on September 9 into a market already populated by established rivals. The device faces immense pressure to elevate a category that remains a tiny fraction of the overall smartphone market.
Samsung, Google, Huawei, Motorola, and Oppo have spent years refining their foldable phones. These devices are now thin, light, and powerful, often featuring excellent screens, battery life, and cameras. Samsung's current flagship, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, exemplifies this progress but is not without compromises.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is an excellent foldable phone, but it is not the thinnest model available and has just two rear cameras. Its unique "passport" shape when folded is a compelling, though temporary, differentiator. When opened, it offers a screen size nearly as large as other foldables but in an unusual 4:3 aspect ratio. Samsung's strategy reportedly aims to bridge the gap between its fashion-focused Galaxy Z Flip and the productivity-first Z Fold series.
Despite reported sell-outs and production ramps, the foldable market remains minuscule compared to standard smartphone sales. The report notes that overall sales for Samsung's Z8 line, which includes the Fold, Flip, and Ultra models, might be in the range of 4 to 5 million units. In contrast, iPhone 16 preorder sales in 2024 reportedly reached 37 million units. Apple historically sold over 77 million iPhones in a single December quarter and ended one year with over 217 million units sold.
What the iPhone Ultra is expected to offer
The industry hopes the iPhone Ultra's arrival will crack open the foldable market in a way competitors have not. This hope is predicated on the assumption that Apple's device will be substantially better. However, the TechRadar analysis suggests it probably will not be, as Samsung has come close to perfecting the foldable form. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra unfolds flat, has an almost creaseless screen, and is as light and thin as a standard flagship while offering greater utility.
Rumors indicate the iPhone Ultra may not even match the Z Fold 8 Ultra in style and features. It is widely expected to adopt a similar passport-style form factor. Most observers believe Apple is sourcing its folding display from Samsung Display. Leaked specifications suggest a device with a 5.5-inch screen when folded and a 7.8-inch screen when unfolded.
| Feature | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (as referenced) | Rumored Apple iPhone Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Folded Screen Size | Not specified | 5.5 inches |
| Unfolded Screen Size | Not specified | 7.8 inches |
| Build Materials | Aluminum and titanium (as referenced for Z Fold 8) | Aluminum and titanium (rumored) |
| Unfolded Thickness | Not specified | 4.5mm (rumored) |
| Rear Cameras | Two | Two (rumored, no telephoto) |
| Key Display Goal | Nearly creaseless screen | "Liquid metal" to erase crease (rumored) |
| Performance Specs | Not specified in detail | A20 chip, 12GB RAM, C2 cellular (rumored) |
The chief design distinction for the iPhone Ultra might be the rumored use of "liquid metal" to try and fully erase the screen crease. Where Apple might have an edge is in performance, with expectations of an A20 chip paired with 12GB of RAM and a proprietary cellular modem. This could make it a faster foldable, even if the average user never notices the difference.
Some analysts believe Apple does not need to make the world's best foldable phone. It simply needs to deliver one to its loyal customer base. Millions of people may have been waiting for Apple to enter the market before buying a foldable. If that is the case, the Apple brand cachet alone could grow the foldable phone market to a previously unimaginable scale, regardless of the device's technical specifications compared to the competition.
