First live photo of Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra surfaces online
Apple's long-rumored foldable iPhone has been photographed in the wild for the first time. Leaker Ice Universe posted on Weibo what he claims is a live shot of an unannounced unit — not a dummy or 3D-printed mockup — showing the device fully unfolded in a light silver finish. With Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide due in July and the Motorola Razr Fold already shipping, Apple is entering a foldable market that isn't waiting around.
The hardware
The photo confirms several details that had previously circulated only in supply-chain reports. The front display has no visible camera cutout, backing up the idea that Apple will use an under-display camera for the first time. The rear camera block holds two sensors arranged horizontally — no telephoto lens, a trade-off reportedly driven by space constraints inside the hinge.
The device shown unfolded, in light silver — Ice Universe claims this is a pre-production unit, not a mockup.
According to Macworld's iPhone Ultra specs roundup, the device is expected to carry a 5.5-inch outer OLED display and a 7.8-inch inner panel that unfolds to a 4:3 aspect ratio — closer to a small iPad than a stretched phone. Powering it should be the Apple A20 Pro chip on TSMC's 2nm process. Battery capacity is estimated at 5,500–5,800 mAh. Touch ID replaces Face ID, another concession to the foldable form factor.
The competition problem
Apple's biggest challenge may not be the hardware itself. Mass production was pushed from June to August 2026, though a September announcement is still on track, per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. That tight window points toward limited stock at launch — a replay of the Vision Pro rollout — with widespread availability unlikely before December.
By then, Samsung will have had months to sell the Z Fold 8 Wide at an expected $1,899, and Motorola's Razr Fold undercuts at around $1,799. Apple's entry price is projected above $2,000, which narrows the audience considerably.
The hinge question
The one unresolved issue is the hinge. Apple is reportedly developing a liquid metal mechanism — a first for any mass-market phone — but the same supply-chain sources say the company is "not yet sure" about its long-term reliability. That claim has not been publicly addressed by Apple, and no independent durability testing exists yet. Whether that concern is settled before the September event matters: a $2,000-plus device that raises durability questions at launch is a hard sell even for committed Apple buyers.