Will the iPhone 18 Be Foldable? Latest Leaks and Rumors

Are we getting a folding iPhone this year? It certainly looks that way. The iPhone 18 series is due to launch in September, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Max set to hit the shelves simultaneously. Sitting alongside them will be the iPhone Fold. Apple is about to enter a new market. 

Here at Ghostek, we make no secret about being smartphone enthusiasts (or ‘nerds,’ if you will). We love digging into the rumors and leaked tech specs to find nuggets of gold, and we’ve spent a disproportionate amount of time researching the first foldable iPhone. Read on to learn more.

Why Are We Getting a Folding iPhone?

Before we plunge into the world of tech blogs and leaked spec sheets, though, why does this phone exist in the first place? Are Apple devotees that keen for a new iPhone that bends at the waist? 

Put simply, foldable phones are making a comeback. It’s a slow-moving one, but it is a comeback nonetheless. They’re a niche product, but sales are steadily increasing enough to raise the question of whether folding phones will be the next big trend. If the demand continues, experts predict that folding phones will account for 5% of sales by 2028. The line is going up. 

It’s not surprising that Apple will want to get a chunk of that action, especially as their closest rivals are currently raking in the benefits. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 is currently the most popular folding phone worldwide. 

In that context, it makes perfect sense for Apple to enter the fray. There’s been no official word about the project, but it’s rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra. 

The Design of the First Foldable iPhone

The most recent leaks come from a Chinese leaker who goes by Digital Chat Station, and the X account of Sonny Dickson. These gave us a detailed mix of tech specs, as well as images of some dummy units (we don’t expect that vibrant pink to be the standard color across the range). This gave us a few interesting factoids to digest, including:

• A book-style design: the new iPhone has a vertical hinge and opens sideways like a paperback into a wider display. It doesn’t look dissimilar to a miniature tablet. 

• A nearly invisible crease: it appears as though Apple has pulled off a coup here. The iPhone fold seems to have a crease-free design, and that’s quite the achievement for a folding phone.

• Surprisingly compact measurements: the iPhone fold has a sizable display, but doesn’t look like a chunky and overly large device. The images don’t include any measurements, and we have no other objects to provide a sense of scale, but the expected measurements are 5.5 inches (folded) and 7.8 inches (unfolded). 

The consensus at Ghostek is that it resembles a smaller version of the iPad Mini. It also has a certain “nostalgic-futuristic” charm. It almost looks like a device from the science fiction comics from our youth.

iPhone Ultra Specifications

It’s an eye-catching device, but it also has some impressive tech specs to brag about, including:

• 12GB RAM

• The A20 Chip

• A battery capacity of up to 5,800mAh

• The second-generation C2 modem

• Support for Apple Pencil

That A20 chipset is especially notable. It’s built on TSMC’s 2nm process, making it 15% faster and 30% more efficient than its predecessor, the A19. This means the iPhone Ultra will have excellent multitasking capabilities and won’t strain the battery to the breaking point.

And speaking of the battery, if that 5,8000mAh figure is correct, it’ll be the largest battery capacity ever used on an iPhone. 

The iPhone Ultra Camera

If you’ve paid close attention to the ever-swirling cloud of rumors, you may have noticed that the iPhone Fold specs are very similar to those of the iPhone 18. This might lead one to assume that it’s no more than a regular iPhone 18, but with a satisfying flip function to help grab headlines and attract attention.  

There may be some truth to that, but the differences become more obvious when you consider the camera. It’s harder to integrate a full photography suite into foldable smartphones, but from what we can gather, Apple has done well. The camera island will be returning, and is expected to feature a dual rear-camera with two 48MP lenses, similar to those of the iPhone 17 Pro. You’ll be able to take photos with striking levels of detail, with the slight drawback that your phone won’t rest perfectly on a flat surface. 

The front-facing camera is expected to be a hole-punch style lens for both the inner and outer displays. This means it will be relatively discreet, with the compromise of not supporting traditional Face ID systems. These will be replaced with Touch ID.

The company has also attracted attention with a reported 24MP under-display camera for the inner screen. That doesn’t sound as impressive as the two rear cameras, but it is a significant advance in camera technology on foldable devices. 

Apple iPhone Ultra Release Date (and How Expensive is it?)

That’s all the geeky stuff out of the way, so let’s fast-track to the bit that always sets people on edge: how expensive will it be? 

Well, brace yourselves…UBS analysts estimate that the iPhone Fold will be priced between $1,800 and $2,000, while Fubon Research suggests a price of $2,400. Yeah, we know. That isn’t cheap. It’s in contention for being the most expensive iPhone ever.

That’s not the end, either, as your preferred storage level will impact the price. At present, the different variants and their respective costs are:

• 256GB - $2,325

• 512GB - $2,645

• 1TB - $2,905

It seems that making a folding phone with no visible crease is expensive. 

While we definitely sensed a sharp intake of breath or two when reading those figures, bear in mind that this isn’t far removed from the estimated price of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The iPhone Ultra does look more expensive, but it promises to be an impressive addition to the world of book-style foldable phones. Even if they haven’t eliminated the camera bump. 

We’re anticipating the official announcement of the iPhone Ultra in September 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. If our luck holds, we should be able to get a hands-on test with one before Christmas. However, some analysts have predicted that it could face delays into 2027, due to setbacks in the engineering test phase. 

Apple’s Folding Phone

There’s a lot to be excited about with the first foldable iPhone. If Apple pulls this off, it could topple Samsung from the top of the folding phone mountain. We’re looking forward to getting our hands on one and taking it for a test drive. 

If you’re anything like us, you’ll enjoy giving your smartphone a personalized touch. So, why not check out the Ghostek collection of iPhone cases and accessories? You might spy something that calls out to your tastes perfectly.