Speculations about Apple’s first flexible smartphone have gained momentum recently, with several unofficial information coming to light. Journalist Mark Gurman, renowned for his vast knowledge of the technology giant’s launches and for providing many details before the official presentation, has gathered the most recent data up to August 2026.
The brand’s foldable device is expected to be unveiled at an Apple product event scheduled for September 9, 2026. With manufacturers like Samsung and Google already offering flexible smartphones, the enthusiast community eagerly awaits Apple’s entry into this segment.
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Past reports have suggested that within Apple, the foldable iPhone project is known as the “iPhone Ultra.” The device must integrate Touch ID in place of Face ID and will come with a new user interface (UI), different from the versions present on iPhones and iPads.
Additionally, Gurman mentioned having spoken to individuals who already had access to the foldable iPhone prototype prior to its presentation. These sources indicated that the phone is compact, pocket-friendly, and has a sophisticated hinge that offers a pleasant tactile experience and robustness. The new interface was also well received.
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The same sources reported that the foldable iPhone’s camera is intuitive, but pointed to the absence of a telephoto lens as a relevant weakness. Gurman believes that this shortage could negatively impact sales, especially considering the estimated price of more than US$2,000 (around 318,000 yen). He argues that audiences willing to pay such a high price often seek more advanced camera features, including powerful zoom.
The technology analyst suggests that Apple’s introduction of the flexible iPhone will raise the profile of the foldable smartphone segment as a whole. This, in turn, could generate sales growth of millions of units for devices from competing companies such as Samsung and Google.
Another crucial point, according to Gurman, is the “Chinese market”, which presents itself as a challenge for Apple. He notes that the foldable smartphone sector is still niche, and China dominates more than half of that market. Gurman emphasizes the expectation of Chinese consumers in observing Apple’s performance against its local competitor, Huawei.
Increases in the value of high-tech items have become common in recent years, driven by shortages of raw materials. Apple has not escaped this trend, having already readjusted the prices of several products since July 2026. Gurman commented that “price increases are inevitable, the question is the proportion. Apple follows Samsung and Google’s response to rising component costs. If they follow the same line, the iPhone 18 Pro could reach US$1,199 (around 190,000 yen), representing an increase of approximately 9%. Given the severity lack of memory, this is a relatively contained readjustment”. The iPhone 17 Pro, at its launch, cost 179,800 yen in the 256 GB version. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, had also admitted the adjustments in the values of the company’s products.