Apple's Surprise and shine iPhone launch event is going to be a little different, in that there are only three new iPhones being released instead of the usual five But those three newbies are all premium devices, and that makes deciding between them a much trickier endeavor. With no standard iPhone 18 on the horizon, it's not just a case of picking between the regular iPhone and one of two Pro-tier sizes

Prospective iPhone users that don't want to wait until iPhone 18's early 2027 launch need to decide whether they should stick with a Pro or go Ultra. But what exactly is different between all these new iPhones? Various leaks and rumors show that it's not quite as simple as spotting that one of them folds and the other two don't.

Here's what we know about iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra, and what the differences between all three upcoming iPhones are.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Rumored Specs

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Price & Availability

Price will be a major sticking point with the next wave of iPhones, due to the fact that prices are almost certainly going up. iPhones have never been cheap, but the ongoing issues with RAMageddon and the skyrocketing cost of both memory and storage means Apple's is all but certain to increase the price of entry. Especially after raising prices of almost every product it sells earlier this summer.

Analysts have predicted that the iPhone 18 Pro Max could be as much as $200 (or higher) more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If that is the case, we could see the cost of Apple's largest phone rise to over $1,400

Even if the price hike isn't that high, I'd be surprised if Apple didn't tack on an extra $100 to both iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. In that instance both phones would start at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.

iPhone Ultra is expected to be considerably more expensive than a non-folding iPhone, with rumors suggesting we could see a starting price somewhere around $2,400 and $2,500. However, recently leaked Australian prices suggest we could see a price closer to $1,999. While expensive, that would be a lot more palatable, especially since the $2,099 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra is already on sale.

As for availability, we don't expect any significant changes for the iPhone 18 Pros. Apple is a creature of habit, and pre-orders for new numbered iPhones typically begin the same week as the launch event.

With Surprise and shine happening on September 9, we would normally predict pre-orders would open on Friday September 11. Though it's predicted that Apple will want open pre-orders a day later on September 12 to avoid the anniversary of 9/11. The actual release day will likely be a the end of the following Friday, on September 18.

Things aren't quite so simple with the iPhone Ultra, due to various reports that Apple is struggling to produce enough units. No two sources seem to be able to agree on when the phone will actually release, with some saying it'll happen at the same time as iPhone 18 Pro, and others claiming it'll be much later in the year.

One recent report also suggested that a global launch is out of the question for the time being, since Apple may stagger the release schedule in different regions — starting with the U.S. The one thing there does seem to be consensus on is the fact that supply is likely to be limited. But with a price tag that high, it isn't likely that people will be rushing out to buy one.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Design & Display

We're not expecting any significant design changes for the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, which means the two phones will probably look pretty similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max at first glance. In other words we should expect to see the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch displays, alongside the raised camera bar Apple refers to as the "forged plateau."

It's unclear if Apple will do anything to fix the durability issues that affected the iPhone 17 Pro series. Multiple Tom's Guide employees were affected by "scratchgate," as it was known, to varying degrees. We haven't heard rumors about this, though, so I wouldn't expect anything more than token changes to the exterior metal.

That said, we have heard rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be thicker and the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made, clocking in at 240g/8.47oz. It's not clear why, but it's possible that a switch to stronger and heavier materials could account for some of the extra weight — alongside changes like larger batteries and the variable aperture camera lens

The iPhone Ultra, on the other hand, is shaping up to be unlike any iPhone we've seen before. Dummy units show a phone that is shorter and wider than a typical iPhone, and that's just the 5.4-inch cover display. The phone will unfold to reveal a 7.8-inch cover foldable display, which is a similar size and shape to the iPad mini 7.

Apple has apparently focussed on the durability of the Ultra, with an iPhone Air-style body made from titanium. Also rumored is a liquid metal hinge, a structural glass mid-frame and ultra-thin display glass for extra support on the foldable screen. This will also apparently have the added bonus of eliminating the display crease, though we've yet to see whether it's actually invisible or not.

In contrast to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, the Ultra is expected to be ultra-thin and lightweight, with around 4.5mm of thickness when unfolded. That's thinner than the iPhone Air, which already felt like it was impossibly thin. Reports suggest it may weigh a similar amount as the Pro Max, despite the thin titanium design, which makes sense when you remember that this is effectively two phones in one.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Performance

The iPhone Ultra may bear the Ultra moniker, but its performance may not be at the same level. Rumor has it that the foldable may come with an A20 chipset, compared to the A20 Pro on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. However, it will still reportedly still be built on TSMC's 2nm process, which is expected to offer a 15% improvement in speed and 20% boost to efficiency.

The A20 Pro is also expected to be built on the 2nm process. This will apparently offer an 18% boost to performance power and 30% boost in energy efficiency. The new C2 modem is also expected to be included, which will reportedly add an additional energy saving onto the pile.

We should expect all three to come with 12GB of RAM, which is currently the minimum needed to power some of the more intensive Siri AI features that launched with iOS 27 — including the new dictation and expressive voices.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Cameras

We're not expecting any major changes with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max's cameras this year, which means we're likely to see the same trio of 48MP lenses covering the duties of primary, ultrawide and telephoto photography — plus a new 24MP Center Stage selfie camera.

However there are still some changes rumored, including the inclusion of variable aperture, and an adjustment to the Camera Control button. Variable aperture would allow iPhone users to adjust the amount of light that enters the camera lens on the fly. Newly incovered code references in the iOS 27 beta suggest that this is on the way, thanks to a new feature called "aperture based image corrections."

Various rumors have discussed the possible changes to Camera Control, including tweaking its capacitive capabilities and ditching the current design in favor of a mechanical button. Whether any of those predictions will come true or not isn't clear right now, but it's unlikely that any of those changes will affect the iPhone Ultra as much as they do the iPhone 18 Pro.

The main thing to note about the iPhone Ultra is that it only has two main cameras, which are expected to be 48MP main and ultrawide lenses. The lack of a dedicated telephoto lens is expected to be a point of contention among the die-hard iPhone fans likely to buy this device. Apple does offer limited "optical quality" digital zooming, but that's never going to replace the quality of a standalone zooming lens. Especially not with a 48MP main camera.

We're expecting to see two selfie cameras, both offering 24MP, but it's unclear whether they will utilize a hole-punch design or if they will be hidden under the display. My gut says the former, but renders and dummy units haven't been particularly forthcoming on this point.

Don't expect to see Face ID, though, since reports claim Apple is ditching Face ID in favor of a Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the power button.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Battery

Battery size has never been high on Apple's list of priorities, but that hasn't stopped the company offering some of the best phone battery life in recent years. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may take that a little further, by offering even larger batteries than we've seen before. In fact, the Pro Max could rise to as high as 5,567 mAh.

Combined with the extra efficiency of the A20 Pro chipset, and inherent optimization between every aspect of iPhone's Apple-made software and hardware we're expecting to see a noticeable boost in battery life.

Those factors will also likely aid the iPhone Ultra, though the larger internal screen will likely eat up more battery life than you'd expect from a non-folding model. That's true of Samsung foldables anyway, with the 5,000 mAh Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra lasting a few hours less than a similar 5,000 mAh battery in the Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Reports have suggested we'll see a 4,833 mAh battery, which sits in the middle of the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max's rumored battery packs. Though we'll have to wait and see how that might translate into real-world battery life.

Expect all three phones to come with MagSafe wireless charging, as well as varying degrees of fast wired charging — though since Apple is also pretty secretive about charging speeds we may have to wait before we can figure out just how fast each model is.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Software

Software is one of the few things that iPhone users don't need to worry about, since the general experience is the same regardless of which kind of phone you use. Often there are exclusive features to the Pro models, though that typically only affects the people who would want to buy the non Pro models like iPhone 18 or iPhone Air 2. I don't see Apple restricting the iPhone Ultra from accessing any premium features without a very good reason.

The software on the iPhone Ultra is going to have to be very different, on account of it essentially being an iPhone and iPad rolled into a single device. This isn't likely to affect the kind of features that are on offer, but it does mean iPhone Ultra's software is going to have to ensure apps can adapt to both screens — and transition whatever you're doing when you switch to a different display.

Likewise it would be a missed opportunity if Apple didn't offer some kind of multitasking capabilities that weren't available (or not as useful) on regular iPhones. Sadly we haven't heard anything about that, so it remains a mystery as to how iPhone Ultra will let users have multiple app windows open at once.

iPhone 18 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone Ultra: Outlook

The differences between iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are likely to be (mostly) superficial and based around the differing sizes of both phones. However, the fact that variable aperture may be exclusive to the Pro Max means there may be some things further differentiating the two devices.

However the iPhone Ultra is set to be unlike any other device Apple has produced so far, which throws a wrench into the usual decision-making process. The fact we've never seen a foldable iPhone before means it's difficult to get an idea of what to expect — and how the Ultra will differ from other foldables already on sale.

Choosing between them all is not quite a matter of ticking off the right boxes and seeing which phone fits your needs the best. You're signing up for a very different iPhone experience than most people are used to. It's also worth considering that the Ultra has been nerfed in some key areas, but the benefit of having a larger and more productive screen could help make up for it.

Then again, if you can't justify spending over $2,000 on a brand new smartphone, the point might be totally moot.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra tipped to cost $2,000 and still lose a crucial feature — I'm weirdly conflicted about it
• iPhone Ultra battery: here's what we know so far
• iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra and beyond — here are the latest mobile features I saw at IFA 2026 that Apple needs to steal

The iPhone 18 Pro Max isn't going to be revealed until the Apple event tomorrow, but a bunch of possible camera features just leaked, and it comes from the most trustworthy source of all: Apple's own code. Specifically the code for the iOS 27 beta, with a deep dive from Macrumors forum member pdfu uncovering references to five new camera features.

It's unclear whether these features are destined to arrive with the iPhone 18 Pro this week, or whether they'll be added as part of a future software update. But some of them do seem to suggest that the rumors of a variable aperture lens may be true after all.

Here are the five referenced features that could be coming to iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max:

Exposure scopes: This feature will apparently allow the camera app to display a waveform or histogram to help users gauge exposure levels when taking photos.

A histogram is capable of showing how much of the image is too dark or bright, as well as everything in between. A waveform is capable of displaying similar information, but makes it a lot easier to identify specific areas of the image in the process.

Focus peaking and highlight warnings: These two features add an overlay featuring new information on the camera screen. Focus peaking highlights objects that are in the sharpest focus, while a separate overlay can warn you when parts of the photo are being overexposed.

Apparently these warnings will be able to utilize solid or pulsing colors, diagonal stripes and checkerboard pattern options.

Repeated self-timer shots: Currently the iPhone camera app only lets you take a single timed shot at a time, but code references suggest the option to repeat the process is on the way.

In this instance it won't be a case of multiple shots being taken back to back, instead the countdown will restart as soon as the first photo is taken — giving you time to repose without having to set the whole process up again.

Manual focus: A mainstay on standalone cameras, and one that Apple has attempted before in iOS 26. Apple removed the focus slider in the iOS 27 beta, but it looks like it might be coming back.

The focus code is there, but it's seemingly being restricted to devices that ship with iOS 27 — which means it'll be restricted to the newest iPhones and not devices that have been released before.

Aperture-based image correction: This one appears to be a change to the way iPhones process photos, and that could be more directly tied to the variable aperture lens.

This feature will apparently let iOS 27 adjust lens corrections based on the aperture setting, and blends four different reference points to smooth out the result after the fact.

The first three features could apply to any iPhone running iOS 27, but the latter two are the most interesting. Obviously aperture on iPhone cameras doesn't change that much between lenses, though it's not as though they're all identical.

However, the fact that the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to have variable aperture would make aperture-based corrections a much more important feature — especially if you can customize it, rather than sticking with pre-set aperture settings. Likewise, the fact that the manual focus is seemingly limited to new iPhones means there could be a big focus on new camera capabilities — even if the hardware is staying more or less the same.

None of these features are accessible in the current version of the iOS 27 beta, which suggests they won't be landing with the public release of the software. So we'll have to wait until the Surprise and shine event to find out whether they're exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra, or if they may be coming to a future iOS 27 update.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch at the 'Surprise and shine' event
• Apple 'Surprise and Shine' event live blog — iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12 and all the last-minute leaks
• iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra and beyond — here are the latest mobile features I saw at IFA 2026 that Apple needs to steal

The iPhone 18 Pro Max launch event is imminent, with the "Surprise and Shine" event taking place on September 9. It's here that we expect to get all the details about Apple's newest wave of iPhones, including the foldable iPhone Ultra and the super-sized iPhone 18 Pro Max.

But what can we actually expect from the iPhone 18 Pro Max? The iPhone 17 Pro Max offered a huge number of changes, including a complete redesign, and we shouldn't expect anything so drastic this time round. But this doesn't mean that this is going to be a small upgrade, with the rumors and leaks pointing towards some major changes this year.

The smaller iPhone 18 Pro should also get a bunch of those improvements as well. However, the best upgrades are apparently being held for the Pro Max model. For those of you wondering which way you should swing, here's a breakdown of what to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Specifications

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Possible release date and price rumors

The Apple event is set to be somewhat different to how we expect. Not because of the foldable iPhone Ultra, though that is a part of it, but because Apple is apparently leaving the non-Pro models out of the equation — so no iPhone 18 or iPhone Air 2. This means the pressure is on for the Pro models to do well.

September 9 is the day we expect the iPhone 18 Pro Max to be revealed, at the "Surprise and Shine" event. Pre-orders are expected to open on Saturday September 12, with the actual release happening almost a week later on September 18.

We don't know how much the Pro Max will cost, but we should expect to see a major price increase. Apple has already increased the price of all its other devices, barring the Apple Watch, due to0 the rising cost of RAM and storage. It's safe to say that the new iPhones are next in line for a price hike.

The question is, how much will we expect to pay? Analysts believe that the price could rise by anything from $100 to $200, and in a worst-case scenario that could see the cheapest Pro Max model start at $1,399 for 256GB of storage.

Naturally the more storage you want, the more you'll have to pay, and it's unclear how much more Apple is going to charge. So brace yourselves for an expensive upgrade this year.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Design and display

We're not expecting a huge amount of design changes on iPhone 18 Pro Max. It's only been a year since the iPhone 17 Pro Max offered bunch of major (if controversial) design changes, and we expect that design to stick around for a little whole longer.

This means you should expect the same raised camera bar, aluminium unibody design alongside the blend of metal and glass. However some rumors claim that Apple may "soften" the two-tone design to ensure the different materials blend together and don't stand out quite as much.

Screen size is expected to remain at 6.9-inches, though we could finally see Face ID disappear under the screen for good. This isn't expected to kill off the Dynamic Island, though, and no matter what actually happens word is that the Dynamic Island will be a lot slimmer than last year.,

In an unboxing clip recently published by Unboxed Therapy, we get our closest look at Apple's upcoming iPhones, including the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Not surprisingly, it looks very similar to the current iPhone 17 Pro Max, but host Lewis Hilsenteger also shows us the new paint job in a dark cherry hue.

The weight of the 18 Pro Max may be a different story, with leaks suggesting it could weigh as much as 240g/8.47oz. This would make it the heaviest iPhone Apple has ever made, even outweighing models made from the notoriously heavy stainless steel.

Some of that extra weight could be due to the larger batteries that have been rumored, though it possible that other components could add to it as well. A more advanced camera array is speculated to be coming, and the extra hardware could have its own impact.

It's also possible that more durable metal could make an appearance, and while that isn't guaranteed, it would help Apple alleviate fears of another scratchgate controversy.

Rumored colors include a "Dark Cherry," which will apparently be the hero color Apple uses in most of its marketing. That'll apparently come alongside Black, silver and a light blue that's been described as similar to iPhone 17's Mist Blue.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Performance

The one thing we can always count on Apple adding to new iPhones are new chips. Particularly a new primary chip, and this time around it should be the A20 Pro.

This chip will apparently be built with TSMC's 2nm process, which offers increased transistor density and should offer improved performance and energy efficiency as a result. Recent reports suggest this will offer an 18% increase in performance power with 20% better energy efficiency.

Considering Apple's chips are already some of the best, that's definitely good news. However I would like to see it boost its graphical performance, since A-series chips always seem to falter there compared to Qualcomm's flagships.

We should also expect to see 12GB of RAM make a comeback, which will allow the 18 Pro Max to utilize the latest and best Siri AI features — including expressive voices and dictation. But considering the state of the memory world right now, we should not expect to see any additional RAM.

Rumor has it that this could be the year Apple adds its own C-series modems to flagship iPhones. The C2 modem is expected to have even better power consumption, which should add some more longevity to the battery.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Cameras

The iPhone 18 Pro Max's cameras aren't expected to change that much compared to last year. In other words we should see the same trio of 48MP lenses, including the 4x optical zooming-telephoto.

That said, this year is rumored to be the year Apple adds variable aperture to the iPhone. The idea being that you can adjust how much light enters the camera, rather than the fixed amount Apple has set. this could benefit different conditions, including low light and with Portrait mode, or allow photography experts to better adjust the camera to take different kinds of photos

The feature isn't that common on other premium phones, and that could be one of the things that helps the 18 Pro Max stand out. Sadly this may be exclusive to the Pro Max model, which means the iPhone 18 Pro would miss out.

We might also see some changes to the Camera Control button, though it's unclear what they might be. Some reports claim that Apple will swap the capacitive sensor for a mechanical button, while others thing it will be moved to a new location.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Battery

Apple is not one to dwell on battery size the same way other phone makers are, but that doesn't mean it's going to ignore it completely. In fact, rumors suggest Apple increase the size of iPhone 18 Pro Max's battery packs to the point that they're much larger than many rivals.

The actual size varies from report to report, and the fact eSIM-only iPhones come with larger batteries complicates the matter even further. At the moment it looks as though the battery could be anywhere between 5,321 mAh and 5,567 mAh. Whichever way you look at it. that's a lot higher than the 5,0088 mAh battery in the eSIM iPhone 17 Pro Max.

But battery size is only part of the equation. Apple has been pushing to improve energy efficiency over the past several years, and this year should see an even bigger leap.

The A20 Pro is expected to slash power consumption by as much as 30%, while the new C2 modem is also expected to reduce the amount of power needed to stay connected.

We can't predict how much battery life will improve this year, but considering the iPhone 17 Pro Max reached 20 hours in our custom battery life test, Apple has a solid foundation to build upon.

We can't make any predictions until we test the battery for ourselves, which won't happen until after the phone has been released.

iPhone 18 Pro Max: Outlook

It may not seem as though iPhone 18 Pro Max is getting a lot of changes, the rumors upgrades do paint a very positive picture of what to expect. We'll still need to do hands-on testing to know for sure, but so far we're excited to see what the iPhone 18 Pro Max has to offer.

The A20 Pro chipset should boost performance and battery life, while the bigger battery itself should see the phone last even longer than before. Likewise variable aperture could be a perfect feature to appeal to camera enthusiasts, and keep pushing the iPhone as a more enthusiast-friendly camera experience

While the foldable may steal all the headlines following the Apple September event, there's still plenty to look forward to if you'd prefer a traditional iPhone experience. Even if the cheaper models aren't landing yet.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra — here's how Apple is reportedly erasing the crease for its foldable phone
• Apple A20 Pro chip: why it’s such a big deal for the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iPhone 18 Pro Max battery rumors: it could be a record-breaking year for Apple

Apple is expected to launch its first ever foldable phone at the company's "Surprise and shine" event on September 9. The device is will undoubtedly be the centerpiece of the event, an entry into a new product category and a landmark product for new CEO John Ternus.

Foldable phones aren't new — Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Z Fold 8 earlier this year — but they are still a relatively niche category. Apple's entry into the sector could blow it into the mainstream, even with the anticipated high price.

There are just days to go before the iPhone Ultra is unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to what we know, it will be a shorter passport-style book foldable with dual rear cameras, Touch ID and an almost invisible central crease.

If you're planning to upgrade to Apple's first foldable phone this year, then here's everything you need to know about it.

iPhone Ultra: Rumored specs

iPhone Ultra: Release date and pre-orders

This year's Apple event takes place on Wednesday rather than the typical Tuesday due to the Labor Day holiday. While we expect the iPhone Ultra to be unveiled at the event, it's less clear when the actual release date will be.

There have been conflicting reports for months about whether the iPhone Ultra will release alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max either with full or limited availability or whether it will be a staggered release similar to what the iPhone X did in 2017. Some concerns over production issues have suggested the phone may arrive later in the year.

In our exclusive interview with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has been following the foldable iPhone saga for the past 5 years, he suggested the phones will release simultaneously.

“I would be very surprised if [Apple’s] foldable phone did not come out at the same time as the new Pro phones or very close to it,” Gurman said. “So either on the same launch date, a dual launch, or coming out within weeks later. This Idea of a late October, November launch, massive delays, supply chain issues. I don't believe to be the case.”

Normally, new iPhones go up for pre-order the Friday following the Apple event, but this year that date would fall on Sept. 11. And it's easy to understand why Apple would want to avoid that date, given that it's the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

So the prevailing wisdom is that the iPhone Ultra along with the iPhone 18 Pros will be available for pre-order on Saturday, Sept. 12. So expect a wave of promotions and iPhone Ultra pre-order deals to start that day.

iPhone Ultra: Price

Pricing has been a constant question about the upcoming phone and early estimates tipped it to cost around $2,000. However, due to the ongoing RAM crisis, that prediction ballooned to a starting price of $2,400 to $2,500.

Last week, Australian pricing for the phones was shared on X and allegedly came from network carrier Vodafone (h/t @ev_downunder on X). It lists the base model at AU$3,699, which converts to roughly $2,666.

That direct comparison with US pricing isn't important — because pricing can vary based on things like tariffs. Instead, let's look at the percentage increase over the iPhone 17 Pro. In Australia, the iPhone Ultra would be 85% more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro (AU$1,999). Applying that same logic to the USA, if the iPhone Ultra is 80% more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro, the starting price would be about $1,999.

Taking both the leaks and the latest research into account, I think Apple will attempt to bring the iPhone Ultra in at the $1,999 price for the starting configuration. It will allow the marketing team to pitch the device as "sub-$2,000," and then Apple will push the pricing up for the higher storage configurations.

Here's my own estimates of pricing for each storage configuration.

iPhone Ultra: Design

The iPhone Ultra is a completely new type of iPhone with a design completely unique from any previous handset. A slew of dummy units have shown up online revealing the look and feel of the foldable, with Apple opting for a more passport-style design that is shorter and wider than traditional book-style foldable.

The closest comparable foldable is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which adopts a similar look — but appears to be slightly larger than what we expect from Apple. It's speculated that Apple could utilize titanium to enhance the durability of the iPhone Ultra, while keeping the overall weight low — much as it did with the iPhone Air.

Reports suggest that the foldable display will be around 7.8-inches in size, which is around half an inch smaller than the iPad mini 7, with a 5.5-inch cover display. This would likely mean an aspect ratio close to 4:3, just like iPads and the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which makes the Ultra a hybrid phone/tablet.

It's also been claimed that an open iPhone Ultra could be as thin as 4.5mm, and somewhere between 9 and 9.5mm when closed. This would make it the thinnest Apple device so far, beating the 5.1mm iPad Pro. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is thinner than these dimensions.

The smaller size also means that the phone only seems to have two rear cameras, while the front display will reportedly skip Face ID in favor of adding Touch ID to the power button — similar to the system Apple uses on cheaper iPad models.

An unboxing video from Unboxed Therapy appear to show dummy units, offering us our closest look yet at the potential final designs for Apple’s first foldable. The hands-on previews showcase refined industrial designs, highlighting the ultra-slim chassis of the foldable Ultra.

iPhone Ultra: Colors

Rumors about possible colors suggest that Apple will keep the iPhone Ultra in line with the more muted pallet of the iPhone Pro series.

At the moment, it's likely that we'll get options like black or dark gray, and either silver or white.

One additional rumor is we may see a color similar to iPhone 17 Pro Max's Deep Blue which could be the iPhone Ultra's hero color for this year.

iPhone Ultra: Crease-free display?

The iPhone Ultra is also expected to have no visible crease. Apple was reportedly very particular about this, and it rumored to be using the crease-free display as one of the iPhone Ultra's key selling points. Reports suggest this will be reliant on a bunch of design innovations, including a more durable liquid metal hinge, ultra-thin glass, a structural glass mid-frame and optically clear adhesive.

These hardware features will apparently work in tandem to ensure that there won't be a visible crease out of the box, nor will it form with continued use. Meanwhile, Apple has apparently worked to ensure the crease depth is under 0.15mm, with a crease angle below 2.5mm. Lower depth should make the crease less noticeable, while the lower angle should offer a flatter look when the screen is unfolded.

It's unclear as to whether the "crease-free" description holds up to scrutiny. After all, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was reportedly crease-free, and while the crease is much harder to spot, it is still there.

According to another report from Mark Gurman, Apple prototyped a shorter, magnetic Apple Pencil designed to attach to the side of its upcoming foldable. However, the company reportedly scrapped the accessory ahead of launch due to awkward handling and concerns that the tip could leave marks on the foldable's inner display.

iPhone Ultra: Performance

We don't know a lot about the performance capabilities of the iPhone Ultra, but it goes without saying that the phone should feature an A20 chipset — which is rumored to be built on TSMC's 2nm process.

The transition from the 3nm process will allow boosted performance from the increased transistor density. Reports suggest that the A20 could be 15% faster than the A19 chips, and 30% more efficient. That means stronger performance, less heat generation and lower energy consumption. The latter is particularly important because it means the large batteries rumored to be in the iPhone Ultra should last even longer.

RAM for the iPhone Ultra is expected to be at least 12GB, simply because that's the minimum needed to utilize the full range of Siri AI features. Any less and features like improved dictation and expressive AI voice styles will not be supported on the foldable — which would be absurd for a phone that could start at $2,000 phone.

iPhone Ultra: Software

The iPhone Ultra is going to have to make major changes to the way iOS handles multitasking, since it's going to have to start splitting apps across a much larger area than ever before. It's a feature that works well on iPadOS, and should be able to transition to the foldable device. Likewise, it would be surprising if we don't see a menu bar, similar to what is already available on iPads and Samsung Z Fold devices.

The fact that this passport-style iPhone Ultra will feature two wildly different screen sizes to normal non-folding devices means app developers will need to ensure their apps are better optimized. Both for the larger inner display, but also the smaller cover display. Apple referred to something known as "app adaptability" at WWDC 2026, and it's likely this will play a key role in iPhone Ultra app support.

This concept will likely involve ensuring apps can adjust themselves based on the size of the screen they're on — which will allow them to switch between both iPhone Ultra displays. Hopefully, this ends up being a little more robust than some Android foldable apps, which simply blow up the phone app to take up more screen space.

iOS 27 beta also features references to a "foldstate" and "angledegrees," which all but confirms that iOS 27 will need to be able to detect the exact state of a foldable's hinge. Not only does this suggest the iPhone Ultra will automatically transfer contents between screens when the iPhone Ultra is opened (or closed), it also hints at a feature similar to Samsung's Flex Mode.

Flex Mode is able to split the foldable screen into two distinct areas when the hinge is fixed at a 90-degree angle. That way you can do something on one half of the screen, while the other does something completely different. This could be helpful for gaming, with a split between the touch controls and the game itself, or when watching videos on social media.

iPhone Ultra: Cameras

The one common theme with iPhone Ultra leaks is that the rear camera array will only feature two lenses — arranged horizontally on a raised camera bar like the iPhone Air. It's unlikely that either of these will be a telephoto lens, due to the foldable's thin design, which means we're likely to see the traditional pairing of main and ultrawide angle lenses.

Both lenses are expected to offer 48MP resolution, which is par the course for modern iPhone flagships. So don't expect any Samsung-style 200MP cameras on this particular foldable.

Selfie camera rumors are a little sketchy, with some rumors speculating that we could see an under-display camera on the larger folding screen. However, the exterior cover display is likely to be a standard hole-punch design which, in the absence of Face ID hardware, should be a lot smaller than the Dynamic Island pill we've already seen on iPhone 17 Pro. Resolution is tipped to be 24MP on both cameras, should we get two.

iPhone Ultra: Battery

Apple is not really one to brag about the size or makeup of its batteries, so don't expect to hear much about the iPhone Ultra's power supply until we get our first post-launch teardowns. But rumor is that Apple won't scrimp on the battery with the iPhone Ultra, despite rumors of the ultra-thin display.

It's been claimed that the battery could be 4,883 mAh, which would be similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8's 4,800 mAh.

The question is, what sort of batteries will Apple employ? Samsung recently added silicon carbon batteries to boost the capacity in the Z 8 series of foldables, with the highest being a 5,000 mAh battery in the Z Fold 8 Ultra. Since silicon carbon offers better power density, it could allow Apple to offer such large batteries while maintaining the slim, lightweight profile of the iPhone Ultra.

Then again, Apple may also have a different idea in mind, with rumors suggesting that it could redesign the power systems to be thinner, while simultaneously adopting high-density battery cells. What we should expect to see is the total battery capacity split across to separate battery packs — one on each side of the phone.

References in iOS 27 beta suggest that a future iPhone will have more than one battery, and the Ultra makes the most sense — especially since the split battery is a common design feature in other foldables.

iPhone Ultra: What's it actually going to be called?

The name iPhone Ultra has gained popularity over the last few months, toppling the old "iPhone Fold" nickname everyone had been using. However, as we draw closer to the Apple September event it seems the debate surrounding the name of this device is growing.

Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach doesn't believe that Apple will finally adopt the iPhone Ultra name for the foldable. His reasoning is that "It makes no sense to me given the other Ultra branding Apple has. It does not seem Ultra. It’s lesser than but unique compared to the Pro, that is not an Apple Ultra-product.

Fellow Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi, posted her own two cents, stating that, "to some extent this is like the Neo a new category and the name Ultra would be a poor descriptor of what you are buying. Apple might not want to call the iPhone Fold or the iFold but that is what it is really."

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Mark Gurman claims that the phone is referred to as the "Ultra" internally, but admitted that we'll have to "see what happens." In other words, nothing is set in stone just yet, but it's clear Apple employees are making the use of the long-rumored Ultra name.

Personally, I feel as though Ultra is a little more fitting, even if iPhone Fold is a literal description of what this phone is.

Not only is this tipped to be the most expensive iPhone ever made, Apple needs to emphasize that this device isn't just a gimmick. As descriptive as the term "Fold" is, it highlights the foldable nature of the phone while seemingly ignoring everything else. "Ultra" suggests that this is a step beyond the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and should intrigue people about the kind of things this phone can do. Or, at least, that's the way I see it.

We won't know for sure until the iPhone Ultra is unveiled at the Apple event, but until then the consensus is that Apple is opting for the "Ultra" name.

iPhone Ultra: Outlook

As we inch closer to the fall Apple Event, we're forming a much better picture of the iPhone Ultra and the kind of things it should be able to accomplish. Obviously, there are still a bunch of unknowns, and we can't form a concrete opinion until we test the phone for ourselves, but the rumors and leaks paint a fairly positive picture of Apple's very first foldable.

Then again, rumored $2,000+ price could be a major sticking point. While iPhone Ultra demand is expected to be high, the fact that it could cost more than three iPhone 17s may make shoppers think twice, even if the new Apple Upgrade leasing program is able to reduce that monthly cost.

We won't know for sure until Apple actually reveals and releases the iPhone Ultra later this year. Until then keep checking back for all the latest news and rumors about the first-ever Apple foldable.

More from Tom's Guide

• I used a thermal camera to see how hot the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra gets compared to the Galaxy S26 Ultra — here's what happened
• 3 big ways the iPhone Ultra could beat the Galaxy Z Fold 8
• This is the Pixel 11 Pro Fold — and this is when pre-orders officially start

Every silicon cycle promises incremental gains in speed and efficiency, but Apple’s upcoming A20 Pro could mark a genuine architectural leap. As we head into Apple's “Surprise and Shine” event this week in Cupertino, all eyes are locked on the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro Max — and specifically, whether the shift to TSMC’s rumored 2-nanometer process lives up to expectations.

Across the board, this jump is poised to deliver substantial gains in throughput and thermal efficiency, both of which will be pivotal if Apple introduces its first foldable phone. Still, before crowning it a game-changer, the A20 Pro has to prove its worth under real-world workloads.

iPhone 18 Pro Max could crush the flagship competition

Both the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are tipped to gain the A20 Pro, but the larger flagship will naturally face greater scrutiny when going head-to-head with the best Android phones around. I’m talking about marquee devices I’ve tested, like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and OnePlus 15, which have already proven their muscle thanks to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset.

The bar for the A20 Pro is undeniably high, especially considering the outgoing iPhone 17 Pro Max already leads the pack with staggering 4,120 single-core and 11,850 multi-core scores — comfortably ahead of both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and OnePlus 15. Meanwhile, despite being less than a month old, the Tensor G6 powering the Pixel 11 Pro XL falls flat in comparison.

For the A20 Pro to truly assert itself as the dominant leader, it'll need to push single-core speeds well beyond the 4,500 mark and stretch multi-core past 13,000. Reaching those figures would be impressive on its own, but imagine if the A20 Pro actually surpasses those estimates. Doing so would point the spotlight on Qualcomm, putting even more pressure on its subsequent flagship silicon to keep pace with next year's Android flagships.

While Apple has traditionally proven successful in Geekbench, graphics performance has become Qualcomm’s bread and butter — and the 3DMark numbers above show the uphill battle facing the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 currently holds the graphical crown, with the Galaxy S26 Ultra leading the charge at 29,937 (179.27 fps) and the OnePlus 15 not far behind at 29,029 (173.83 fps). Meanwhile, the current iPhone 17 Pro Max tops out at 26,637 (159.53 fps) — a figure closely mirrored by the smaller iPhone 17 Pro at 26,451 (158.37 fps).

For the iPhone 18 Pro Max and its rumored A20 Pro chip to snatch the crown back from Samsung and OnePlus, a rumored stainless steel vapor chamber could be what ultimately gives it the edge. Sure, this cooling system is reportedly going to cause the iPhone 18 Pro Max to balloon a bit in weight, but it might be a compromise well worth making.

iPhone Ultra will be more demanding

While the iPhone 18 Pro Max reaps clear gaming and computational benefits, the A20 Pro is even more crucial for another device in Apple's pipeline: the foldable iPhone Ultra.

Notebook-style foldables present engineering challenges of their own, requiring far more background management to deliver a seamless phone-meets-tablet experience. The rumored 7.8-inch main display of the iPhone Ultra should be a major test all on its own, as both the software and processor attempt to handle dynamic app scaling.

I’ve said this countless times by now, but app continuity will be the defining, make-or-break test for Apple's foldable. Seamlessly moving an active app from an external cover screen to an expansive inner panel demands instantaneous re-rendering, so the A20 Pro's processing power can't stutter.

This foldable will be far more demanding than the standard iPhone 18 Pro Max, particularly if it aims to offer true side-by-side app multitasking. Heavy workflows — like streaming a video call while editing a spreadsheet and running Apple Intelligence models in the background — place immense strain on system resources. Apple can't afford to overlook the power efficiency of the A20 Pro here, or the foldable risks facing the same issues that plague Android foldables I’ve tested, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro Fold.

For Apple to convince power users that a foldable iPhone is a legitimate desktop-class productivity powerhouse, the software experience must be flawless. With the A20 Pro under the hood, Apple could ensure that dynamic split-screen layouts, drag-and-drop multitasking, and on-the-fly display transitions feel just as responsive as interacting with a single app on a standard screen.

More from Tom's Guide

• Motorola 2026 foldables compared: book-style powerhouse vs elite compact flip
• I've tested every major foldable phone this year, and the iPhone Ultra can beat them all with this one killer feature
• I pushed the latest foldables from Samsung, Motorola and Honor into a no‑mercy battle royale and there was one clear winner

When I put the iPhone 17 Pro Max through our Tom’s Guide battery test last year, the results were nothing short of impressive. The flagship logged massive endurance gains over its predecessor, earning easy spots among our best phone battery life contenders. Yet, those marks will likely take a back seat to what's coming in the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If recent iPhone 18 Pro Max battery rumors hold up, last year’s benchmark numbers may end up looking like modest stepping stones. We could be looking at a record-breaking generation for Apple’s premier flagship. While reports point to a tangible capacity increase, that only tells part of the story.

The real secret weapon lies beneath the glass — centered on a next-generation silicon architecture tipped to redefine overall efficiency.

A larger battery is a good foundation

Back in July, I covered leaked regulatory filings pointing to a notable capacity upgrade for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. While I initially scoffed at early claims that it might be the heaviest iPhone to date, that added weight makes sense if Apple is stuffing a much larger cell inside. Leaks tip the new battery somewhere between 5,391 mAh and 5,567 mAh, with the latter being the U.S.-bound an eSIM-only model. Either way, that’s roughly a 10% leap over the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 5,088 mAh capacity.

What’s particularly intriguing is that Apple is reportedly hitting these numbers without switching to silicon-carbon technology. Competitors like OnePlus — and more recently Samsung on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra — have adopted silicon-carbon anodes to radically hike energy density without adding unnecessary bloat. Apple, by contrast, seems content sticking to traditional lithium-ion cells.

Here’s how the rumored iPhone 18 Pro Max battery specs compares to its predecessor and direct flagship competitors in battery capacity and our labs testing:

While the OnePlus 15 holds the two-day endurance crown thanks to that mamouth 7,300 mAh silicon-carbon battery, the iPhone 18 Pro Max's reported 5,567 mAh cell with Apple’s next-gen silicon could comfortably push the iPhone 18 Pro Max past the 19- or 20-hour threshold. That alone would substantially widen the gap between Cupertino and its closest rivals from Samsung and Google.

A20 Pro could be the key

Battery capacity isn't everything, and Apple has repeatedly proven that efficiency often beats raw size. While a larger physical cell lays the groundwork, the true genius in extending battery life lies in the silicon it's packing. Apple is widely tipped to debut the A20 Pro, bringing along TSMC’s 2-nanometer manufacturing process — a major generational leap over the 3nm architecture powering previous flagships.

Early leaks suggest the A20 Pro could slash power consumption by up to 30% compared to the A19 Pro. Pair that level of efficiency with a bigger physical battery, and Apple has a recipe to shatter expectations. Given how the iPhone 17 Pro Max held up on a 3nm node, reaching 20 hours on our benchmark test should be well within the iPhone 18 Pro Max's grasp.

Hitting that 20-hour threshold requires an 11.7% improvement over the current iPhone 17 Pro Max result — essentially the baseline expectation I have for this hardware jump. But if Apple pushes the silicon's efficiency performance closer to 30%, which I've seen in previous generations, the calculations would put the runtime past the 23-hour mark. That wouldn't just set a new standard for Apple, it would crown the iPhone 18 Pro Max as the longest-lasting iPhone in history.

More from Tom's Guide

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The AirPods might be on track for an annual release cycle. It's worked for the iPhone for the last 20 years, and now it seems it's time for Apple's world-famous wireless earbuds to get on-board with the plan.

From the rumors and reports surfacing now around the web, it seems like the AirPods 5 are imminent. If that's the case, they'll release ahead of the AirPods Ultra (the ones with the cameras) and the AirPods Pro 4.

It's certainly plausible and, according to Apple insider Mark Gurman, pretty much a given at this stage. Here's what we know about the AirPods 5 so far.

AirPods 5: Potential release date

The bulk of the reporting we have on the AirPods 5's potential release date comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

In the last six months, lots of Gurman's reporting was focused on the AirPods Ultra, a pair of super-secret wireless earbuds that come with an IR camera that can detect objects near the user.

That all changed back at the end of August when Gurman says Apple changed tacts. Instead of the AirPods Ultra coming out in 2026, Gurman says that Apple will instead launch the AirPods 5.

So when will these new earbuds break cover? All signs point to Apple's September "Surprise and Shine" iPhone 18 Pro event.

If the earbuds get revealed on September 9, we could reasonably expect to see them launch alongside the new phones around September 18.

AirPods 5: Potential features

The beating heart of the AirPods 5, allegedly, is the new H3 Wireless Chip. With it, the earbuds will be capable of better voice isolation when taking phone calls; better active noise cancellation; and better spatial audio.

In addition to the H3 Chip, other publications have speculated that the AirPods 5 will also implement some form of a temperature sensor that can gather important health data. It won't be at the same level of accuracy or depth as the Apple Watch, but the AirPods Pro 3 offer built-in in-ear heart rate monitoring, so it's likely going to be along the same lines as that.

It's also likely that we're going to get two different versions of the AirPods 5: one that has active noise cancellation and one that does not. This division started with the AirPods 4 and will likely continue with the AirPods 5.

In short, the AirPods 5 without noise cancelling should have better sound, but you'll need to pay slightly more for the version that offers both better sound and active noise cancellation.

AirPods 5: Potential price(s)

The good news? Having two different versions means two different price points: $129 for the base model and $179 for the version with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).

Why those prices? That's the price of the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, and Apple's unlikely to change things up too much given the current state of the economy.

AirPods 5 outlook: Why I'm skeptical

Call me jaded (15 years covering tech will do that to a person) but, if everything I've heard about them so far is true, the AirPods 5 aren't going to blow anyone out of the water.

Remember, these are Apple's affordable in-ear earbuds. They're not the Pro Series that offers the best the company has to offer, and instead focus on delivering great value as an entry-level option.

Now, if Apple can sneak in some new features via the H3 Chip that are above and beyond what we've seen with the H2, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

But given the rumored price point and feature set, I'm not holding my breath.

More from Tom's Guide

• AirPods Ultra with cameras are 'nearly ready' — here's 4 features you need to know
• AirPods Ultra 'almost certainly' hinted at in iOS 27 code — and they could be a huge audio (and camera) upgrade
• Apple iPhone 18 event — all the new products expected to launch in September

Seven years after Samsung made foldables a category with the troubled launch of the original Galaxy Fold, Apple is finally ready to join the race. The iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled at next week’s Surprise and Shine event on September 9.

The foldable market has come a long way since the problem-filled early days of Fall 2019, but one thing that hasn’t been completely addressed is the visible crease where the two sides of a folding screen meet.

Apple has long been rumored to be seeking to “eliminate the crease at all costs.” Here’s what we know about the company’s plans so far.

Foldable creases: What’s the problem?

In order to bend, foldable screens obviously require more flexibility than standard screens, typically opting for a plastic polymer or ultra-thin glass. As foldables are opened and closed, the repeated stress of bending creates a permanent crease, accelerated by the hinge mechanism that exerts pressure on the screen.

You can see how this looks on the picture below, of the Honor Magic Vs.

While a crease doesn’t impact usage, some view it as a visible eyesore, and you can sometimes feel it while touching the screen. Understandably, buyers also aren’t keen on any visual imperfections on devices that typically start in four figures, though our very own Tom Pritchard thinks the problem is overstated.

How the iPhone Ultra is tackling the crease

Apple is reportedly combining three different approaches to fix the problem.

The first is the adoption of a liquid metal hinge, which is capable of handling repeated lifetime bends while spreading the tension through the glass.

The second is the panel itself. Not only does it reportedly feature two layers of ultra-thin glass to reduce the impact of a crease over time, but its thickness isn’t uniform. Instead, it’s thinner at the center where it bends the most, and thicker towards the edges to offer some impact resistance.

Finally, Apple is said to be using an optically clear adhesive glue. This is designed to maintain liquid properties to fill in microscopic gaps that would eventually contribute to a visible crease.

Will this make the crease invisible, or merely less obvious? The Weibo account Fixed Focus Digital claims the latter, measuring a crease of less than 0.15mm, and an angle of less than 2.5 degrees. This is obviously out of the box, and we’ll need thousands of test hours to see how this changes over time.

Apple isn’t the first company to try and reduce the appearance of the crease. Samsung has been trying making progress over multiple generations, reducing it significantly with the Galaxy Z Fold 6 SE, and claiming near victory with the recent Galaxy Z Fold 8.

However, our Managing Editor Jason England has found that it can creep back after repeated use. We’ll have to see if a similar fate awaits Apple’s solution.

Will the iPhone Ultra hinge be reliable?

Despite early reports of reliability concerns in Cupertino, it seems like things are back on track.

Back in May, the leaker Instant Digital claimed that “its reliability after frequent opening and closing consistently fails to meet Apple's quality control standards,” suggesting this could cause a delay.

As we’re expecting the phone imminently just four months later, we can safely assume that Apple has fixed the issue — or it was exaggerated in the first place. Indeed, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that people he’s spoken to who have had early access to the device praise the durability of the hinge.

It’s worth noting that since the seventh generation, Samsung has indicated that its Galaxy Z Fold devices can be opened and closed more than 500,000 times. Assuming 100 interactions per day, that’s over ten years of use, meaning that reliability is no longer the foldable Achilles’ Heel it once was.

The big reveal

Of course, all of this comes from leaks and rumors, and while the sources have been extremely reliable in the past, we won’t know for sure what Apple has in store until the iPhone Ultra is officially unveiled.

Fortunately, we don’t have long to wait. The company’s Surprise and Shine event is scheduled for Wednesday September 9, at 10 a.m. PT or 1:00 p.m. ET. Expect the iPhone Ultra to be the main focus of the event, though we’ll also get a good look at the iPhone 18 Pro series and Apple Watch Series 12.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra rumored release date, price, colors and all the latest leaks
• Apple Watch Ultra 4 — these are the upgrades Apple needs to make to remain the smartwatch king
• iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors and leaks: Everything we know so far

When you’re about to launch your first-ever foldable device, you know it needs to leave a lasting impression. That’s why design is paramount to making the iPhone Ultra compelling — a device already tipped to be the thinnest iPhone ever.

Apple’s entry into the foldable market isn't just another product launch because it’s a defining moment that will set the hardware benchmark for what an ultra-premium, notebook-style foldable should be. While Apple has the chance to set a new standard with its record-breaking thin chassis, it faces fierce competition from rivals like Samsung, Motorola, and Google, who have spent years iterating their designs.

Here’s what the rumors and leaks say about how thin Apple could make the iPhone Ultra.

It’s going to be thinner than the iPhone Air

There’s very little doubt by now that the iPhone Ultra is going to be a solid contender for best foldable phone when it’s released. In fact, one of the biggest reasons for that comes from a longstanding rumor that it will be the thinnest iPhone ever at 4.5 mm unfolded — something reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo has claimed for more than a year now.

At under 5 mm, it would easily undercut the ultra-slim iPhone Air’s impressive 5.64mm chassis and blow past traditional slates like the standard iPhone 17. What’s even more impressive is how the Ultra still retains a thin construction when closed, with rumors suggesting it would sit around 9mm to 9.5mm thick — only marginally thicker than the current iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.

Comparing the folded and unfolded states to Apple’s current lineup highlights just how dramatic this level of engineering is:

The weight story reveals the inevitable balancing act of having a phone with dual screens. Leaks suggest the iPhone Ultra will tip the scales between 8.1 and 8.5 ounces (230 to 241 grams). While that's substantially heavier than the current iPhone Air and iPhone 17, it puts Apple’s first foldable directly in line with the iPhone 17 Pro Max — giving users a tablet-sized 7.8-inch inner display without adding meaningful heft beyond Apple’s largest flagship.

Impressively thin, but not the thinnest

While the iPhone Ultra’s rumored 4.5 mm unfolded profile would make it a standout within Apple’s lineup, it still wouldn’t be the thinnest notebook-style foldable on the market. Backed by years of iterative engineering, Android rivals have pushed physical dimensions to the absolute limit.

Here in the U.S., Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra holds the title with its astounding 4.1 mm profile when unfolded. Seeing is believing, as the ultra-thin chassis leaves you wondering how companies like Samsung manage to cram high-end hardware into such slender frames. However, even Samsung’s latest flagship is a smidge thicker than the reigning global titleholder: the Honor Magic V6, which shaves even more off its waistline with a 4.0mm unfolded build.

In terms of heft, the iPhone Ultra's estimated weight of 230 to 241 grams puts it squarely in the middle of the pack. It won't quite match the featherweight engineering of Samsung's standard Galaxy Z Fold 8 (201 grams) or the Honor Magic V6 (219 grams), but it comfortably undercuts chunkier alternatives like the Motorola Razr Fold (228 grams) and Pixel 11 Pro Fold (245 grams).

For a first-generation foldable, matching the thickness and ergonomics of established devices proves Apple isn't treating the iPhone Ultra as an experiment, but as a refined flagship designed to compete head-to-head on from day one.

But it could come at a cost

Even if the iPhone Ultra doesn’t walk away with the undisputed crown for the world’s thinnest foldable, the engineering behind its design will still be a milestone for Apple. Thinness is only half the battle because if Apple manages to pair its slim chassis with a truly crease-less inner display, MagSafe connectivity, and the strong performance of an A20 Pro chip, it could set a new gold standard for foldables.

The ultimate test, however, will be the price tag. Leaks and rumors hint that the iPhone Ultra price could land anywhere between $2,000 and $2,500, so the iPhone Ultra’s eye-watering cost could easily be a dealbreaker for mainstream buyers. Yet, if Apple somehow delivers on its ambitions, that steep price could establish the Ultra as worth every penny.

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• iPhone Ultra tested with Apple Pencil but not happening at launch — this is how it could work
• iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrades — everything we know about the new sensor

Everything about the iPhone Ultra is going to be scrutinized under a much larger magnifying glass, so Apple can’t afford to gloss over some of the foldable’s biggest rumored features. One of the greatest areas of concern centers on battery life, given that it’s tipped to become the thinnest iPhone ever.

Delivering all-day endurance in a foldable is notoriously difficult, especially when you factor in that these devices have expansive main displays compared to traditional slates. I’ve tested many of the best foldable phones, and our lab testing reveals the obvious: battery life remains a major area of opportunity.

Knowing that Apple needs to strike a careful balance between battery endurance and a thin, lightweight construction, I’ll break down all the leaks and rumors surrounding the iPhone Ultra’s battery — while examining what its main rivals offer in terms of stamina.

Split battery design

Based on regulatory filings released back in July and shared by leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple could be leaning toward a dual-cell split battery design for the iPhone Ultra to evenly distribute weight across its folding chassis. The configuration revealed in the filings pairs a 1,921 mAh cell with a larger 2,962 mAh one, bringing the total combined rated capacity to 4,883 mAh.

Unlike many of its rivals, Apple isn’t planning to bank on silicon-carbon battery tech to power its upcoming foldable. While competitors leverage high-density silicon anodes that allow them to cram massive capacities into their foldables without adding bulk to their frames, Apple's decision to stick with conventional lithium-ion cells means the iPhone Ultra won't lead the pack in raw capacity.

The chart above highlights the disparity in raw capacity the iPhone Ultra faces against its main rivals. At 4,883 mAh, the iPhone Ultra would lag near the bottom of the pack, eclipsing only the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. On the other end of the spectrum, the Motorola Razr Fold, Oppo Find N6, and Honor Magic V6 all boast capacities of 6,000 mAh or more.

Battery life is a big concern

I’ve already mentioned how foldables don’t have the same level of endurance as traditional flagship models, but they are making dramatic improvements. Our own lab testing results show that the landscape is shifting rapidly for notebook-style foldables, raising the stakes for the iPhone Ultra.

Looking at the Tom’s Guide battery drain test — which involves having a device continuously surf the web over cellular at 150 nits of screen brightness until depletion — you can see how larger battery capacities inherently deliver longer battery life in the chart above.

Leading the pack is the Motorola Razr Fold at 14 hours and 44 minutes, with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra not too far behind at 14 hours and 33 minutes. I think we have a good indication of where the iPhone Ultra could land based on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Pixel 11 Pro Fold's performances.

If the iPhone Ultra does indeed end up packing a 4,883 mAh battery, I suspect it'll clear the 12.5-hour hump with ease — and possibly land closer to the 13-hour mark. While that would still fall short of the leaders, it will come down to something else entirely to prove that the iPhone Ultra is a legitimate endurance contender.

A20 Pro could have the biggest impact

I know firsthand that size is only one part of the equation because I only need to look at the devices topping our best phone battery life guide to be reminded of that. Despite leaks and rumors indicating that the iPhone Ultra will have a much smaller battery capacity than its rivals, endurance will ultimately come down to the efficiency of what's running under the hood. Specifically, I’m referring to the rumored A20 Pro chip, reportedly built on TSMC’s next-generation 2nm architecture.

The A20 Pro could represent Apple’s biggest efficiency leap in years. Moving down to a 2nm architecture doesn’t just promise a performance bump — it should drastically slash power draw across the board. That advantage will be critical for balancing the heavy power draw demanded by the iPhone Ultra’s dual displays.

If Apple can optimize power delivery to key hardware components, the iPhone Ultra could significantly stretch its endurance between charges. Given the sizable battery life gains between recent flagship generations, the A20 Pro might just defy everyone's expectations (including mine). While matching the 14+ hour times posted by rival foldables seems far-fetched based solely on a 4,883 mAh cell, the raw efficiency of a 2nm silicon could easily bridge the gap.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra exclusive: Gurman on price, release date rumors and 'day one' weapon against Android
• 'We're not changing it': MapQuest hits No. 1 in App Store after refusing to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America
• iPhone Ultra and 18 Pro Max unboxed ahead of Apple event — these could be the final designs

John Ternus has finally taken over as CEO of Apple, and his term could kickstart a wave of new and redefined Apple devices. It all starts next week with the "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event.

However, that's just the beginning, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman just released a massive report that highlights 41 devices that could be released in the next three years and beyond.

That includes new devices like the foldable iPhone Ultra and Apple's first foray into smart glasses.

Later 2026 and Early 2027

Most every device meant to launch in the next six months should arrive during one of two events: the September 9 iPhone soiree and an announcement in October or early November.

Mostly, the difference here is that new MacBooks are usually announced in mid-fall, usually with a new chipset.

The key devices to be aware of in the next few months include Apple's first foldable iPhone Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, all of which are expected to launch next week. There's also the first iPad mini with an OLED screen and the rumored HomePad with a screen, which should be Apple's next steps into smart home devices.

There's also the rumored MacBook Ultra, a high-end version of Apple's Pro laptop with a touch display and OLED panel. Personally, I'm interested in the refreshed Apple TV 4K with a faster chip and more Siri features. Though that has been rumored for years now and has yet to actually be released.

• iPhone Ultra
• iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
• Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
• AirPods 5
• Apple TV 4K set-top box
• HomePod mini
• HomePad
• iPad mini with OLED screen
• M6 iMac refresh
• M6 14-inch MacBook Pro refresh
• MacBook Ultra

In development for 2027

Next year is when we could start seeing some truly updated designs for Apple's products from the all-glass iPhone 20 to redesigned Apple Watches and even more smart home products.

Some devices will be a simple chip refresh, like the M6 MacBook Air or the A19 Pro MacBook Neo, which proved so popular the first go-round that Apple couldn't keep it in stock.

A slew of iPads, from a refreshed iPad 12 to an iPad Air OLED are also expected next year.

iPhones will get weird next year starting in the spring where Apple splits the launch of the iPhone 18 series. We should see the vanilla iPhone 18, alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2.

In the back half of the year, the 20th anniversary iPhone could feature one of the largest design changes in years. The biggest is a curvy all-glass wraparound design that seamlessly covers the entire phone. An analyst claimed this design was canceled in August, but Mark Gurman pushed back, saying that it's still on track. There are more potential changes, but the glass look will be immediately noticeable.

We were expecting to see camera-laden AirPods this year after leaked code and videos appeared, but Gurman claims these have been delayed until 2027. The cameras would enable Siri AI to "see" the world around you and respond to queries. People are voicing privacy concerns already, but presumably the cameras would not record photos or video.

Finally, Tim Cook was allegedly obsessed with Apple Glasses, but it's not clear if Ternus shares that same excitement. Apple's take on the form should arrive next year and be similar to the Meta Ray-Ban allowing you to take calls, pictures and videos but lacking a display. Rumors had slated the glasses for 2028 but a summer report claimed Apple was rethinking its roadmap after Vision head Paul Meade left for OpenAI.

• M6 MacBook Air
• A19 Pro MacBook Neo
• Entry-level iPad refresh
• iPad Air OLED
• iPad Pro
• New Apple Pencils.
• iPhone 18 and 18e
• iPhone Air 2
• M7 14-inch MacBook Pro
• AirPods with cameras
• In-home security sensor and system.
• Apple Glasses
• iPhone 20 (XX)
• iPhone Ultra 2
• Redesigned Apple Watches
• M7 Pro and M7 Max MacBooks

2028, 2029 and beyond

The next batch of potential Apple devices could be released any time between 2028 and 2030. Some are chip and OLED updates, but a couple are new devices that we haven't seen from Apple before.

The HomePod on a robot arm was rumored two years ago and apparently will actually debut in the next couple of years. Per Gurman, this version will have a 9-inch display and advanced AI features.

Before the rumor mill settled on the foldable iPhone, Apple's first foldable device was actually supposed to be a giant foldable 18-inch iPad or MacBook. Apparently, this is still in the works and could launch in 2028. Gurman claims manufacturing issues pushed a potential launch back.

Apple allegedly wants to release its own AR glasses à la the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The glasses would superimpose data on your real-world view. There's no specific release year for these, but they could arrive before 2030.

Apple is apparently working on an AI pendant as well. The Apple version would work with your iPhone and use AI and the camera for tasks.

• HomePad with a robot arm
• M7 Max and M7 Ultra Mac Studio
• Apple Vision Pro revamp
• AI Pendant
• Larger foldable iPhone
• Foldable iPad
• MacBook Air OLED
• Higher-end iMac OLED
• Augmented reality glasses

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple HomePad rumored release date, price and all the latest leaks
• iPhone Ultra price rumors — here's how much you can expect to pay for Apple’s first foldable
• Nvidia’s RTX Spark N1X launches this October: My price predictions for the potential MacBook Pro killer

In less than a week, Apple's "Surprise and shine" event will officially reveal the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the foldable iPhone Ultra. The latter is the company's first attempt to make one of the best foldable phones, and the price is one of the biggest questions still left to answer.

There's no doubt the iPhone Ultra is going to be a premium device, and a lot of internet chatter seems to back up the idea that it'll start at $1,999. That's what Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman predicted when he spoke exclusively to Tom's Guide, and it's less than the $2,500 (or even $3,000) price some analysts were predicting earlier this year.

Source: Trendforce

This week, Australian pricing for the phones was shared on X and allegedly came from network carrier Vodafone (h/t @ev_downunder on X). It lists the base model at AU$3,699, which converts to roughly $2,666.

That direct comparison with US pricing isn't important — because pricing can vary based on things like tariffs. Instead, let's look at the percentage increase over the iPhone 17 Pro. In Australia, the iPhone Ultra would be 85% more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro (AU$1,999). Applying that same logic to the USA, if the iPhone Ultra is 80% more expensive than last year's iPhone 17 Pro, the starting price would be about $1,999.

Leaks suggest the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a 10% and 11% price increase, respectively.

Analyst predictions

Yesterday, market research firm TrendForce released new analysis on the price of Apple's upcoming devices, and it paints a slightly more negative picture. According to the analysts, the iPhone 18 series and the iPhone Fold could see price rises of up to 20%.

"Given the weak global macroeconomic environment, more cautious consumer spending, and Apple’s strategy of continuing to expand its market presence, TrendForce expects the company to adopt a relatively moderate pricing approach," the researchers wrote.

"Prices for the new models are projected to rise by around 10–20%, with Apple absorbing some of the higher costs to help preserve market share.

"For the highly anticipated iPhone 18 Fold, improvements in crease reduction will be a key technological highlight, while its position as Apple’s first foldable will also make its pricing an important benchmark for future generations. TrendForce estimates that the device will carry a starting price of US$2,099–2,299, while top-end configurations could exceed $3,000."

My prediction

Taking both the leaks and the latest research into account, I think Apple will attempt to bring the iPhone Ultra in at the $1,999 price for the starting configuration. It will allow the marketing team to pitch the device as "sub-$2,000," and then Apple will push the pricing up for the higher storage configurations.

Here's my own estimate of what the pricing for the new iPhones will be. We can see how close I came after the September 9 event:

As you'll see, once you start to scale up the storage, the iPhone Ultra becomes eye-wateringly expensive. But the reason for that is simple: this is not meant to be a mass-market device. It's the same as the Apple Vision Pro, which also launched with an astronomically high price.

The TrendForce research mentioned above also estimates that foldables will account for only around 2% of the global smartphone market in 2026. It's true that the market will expand — but for now, only a very small proportion of Apple fans and tech enthusiasts will buy the iPhone Ultra.

If you've got your own thoughts on the iPhone Ultra or the new Pro phones, I'd love to hear about them in the comments below. Will you be making an upgrade this year? How much are you willing to spend? Let me know!

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: 5 biggest rumored upgrades
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At Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, we're expected to see the new iPhone 18 lineup — including a foldable iPhone — new AirPods, a new Apple Watch, and potentially, the long-awaited Apple HomePad, a new smart home device that combines a smart speaker and display in one.

Rumors of this device have been circulating for years, but it could finally be unveiled this week. Here's everything we know about the HomePad in advance.

What's this thing going to be called?

One thing's for sure: No one quite knows what Apple is going to call this new device. It could be the HomePad, a portmanteau of HomePod and iPad, it could be called the HomeHub, or — and this would be the most boring option — HomePod Display.

Rumored release date and price

Apple's HomePad has been rumored to launch for several years now — Bloomberg's Marc Gurman originally reported that we were going to see a wall-mounted device back in 2025 — but issues with Siri pushed things back.

However, now that Apple Intelligence has finally rolled out — and there's a new and improved Siri AI — Apple's new smart home device could actually come to pass this year.

Some reports have thrown around a price of $350 for the HomePad, which seems low, given that the HomePod 2 itself is $349; it used to cost $299, but component prices have driven it up by $50 since it launched.

If I had to guess, I would expect a tablet-like device to cost somewhere around $499.

Design

Apple's new smart home device will have a screen attached to some sort of speaker base.

My best guess is that it'll look something like the Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd gen), which not only had an articulating screen, but could also turn to follow you around the room. However, with the advent of digital face tracking — something we've seen for years with Apple's Center Stage feature on its iPads and Macbooks — it's unlikely that the company would needlessly complicate things with something that moves mechanically.

Still, separate rumors from two years ago point to a tabletop robot that can do just that. Whether that's still on Apple's roadmap remains to be seen, as both Amazon's Echo Show 10 and the Facebook (Meta) Portal, which had a similar feature, have both been discontinued.

Apple could also be working on two variants of the HomePad: a tabletop version and a wall-mounted model, similar to the Amazon Echo Show 15 and 21. According to MacRumors, the tabletop version could have a squarish 7-inch display, along with a front-facing camera.

Interface

While the HomePad may have a tablet as its face, it might function more like an Apple Watch than an iPad. That's at least according to one rumor reported by Engadget, which found code references in OS Tahoe with Watch-like "faces," which will act like the wearable, rather than apps on the tablet.

Users will be able to pick apps from a Face Gallery, and the widgets could change throughout the day, to reflect different conditions both in and around your house. Additionally, the device will be able to recognize who's looking at it, and then tailor the display to that person's preferences.

Outlook

The Apple HomePad has been a long time coming, but is it too late? Amazon has its array of smart displays, but abandoned the form factor that Apple looks to be adopting.

Google, too, has also given up on a smart home display. The Google Pixel Tablet was meant to be not just an Android slate, but also a de facto smart home hub when connected to its dock. However, a year after it launched, Google no longer bundled the dock with the tablet, and a year after that, it discontinued the tablet entirely.

So, if Apple does launch a new smart home display, I will be very curious to see how it can differentiate itself from what's come before — and make a compelling argument for why it belongs in my house.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple Sept. 9 event — all 9 new products we're expecting to see
• iPhone Ultra rumored release date, price, colors and all the latest leaks
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As I keep saying, there’s a big two-device compromise problem. I love my 14-inch MacBook Pro for its rigidity, battery life, silent thermals, great ergonomics, and raw performance for my prosumer workload. But macOS locks me out of native PC gaming (mostly), so I need another machine to do that.

So when Nvidia’s RTX Spark was announced, I saw the possibility of a future daily driver pull into view — the everything machine I’d always wanted. And then when I held the Asus ProArt P14 in my right hand and the 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro in my left, it became clear I’d found my top pick of Team Green’s roster.

That’s because Asus didn’t just build a competitor; they pretty obviously reverse-engineered the MacBook Pro’s footprint and low-profile industrial aesthetic. It was going to take a lot to get me to switch from my Apple lifestyle, but coming as close to the Apple feel as possible is a helpful start, to say the least!

So for the first time, a Windows machine has the silicon architecture to challenge Apple Silicon, and Asus is packing it into a machine that rolls tanks onto the MacBook Pro’s turf.

Design and build: spotting the physical differences

Stacking them directly, you can see how much Asus took inspiration from Apple, as the ProArt P14 matches the MacBook Pro 14 almost millimeter for millimeter. But there are subtle differences.

First is the finish. Apple’s anodized aluminum has a smoother, more metallic texture, whereas Asus’ stealthy matte charcoal coating has a much more interesting texture under your fingers.

And second is the weight balance. Holding them both one-handed, the Pro definitely feels denser, but the distribution feels better balanced. Whereas in the ProArt P14, it’s lighter but more heavily weighted toward thermal management at the back of the system (more on that later).

Ports-wise, both are effectively set up for creators with full-size HDMI, high-speed USB-C, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card slot. But the ProArt flex here comes with the legacy USB-A port on the right flank — a minor detail that saves you from carrying dongles.

Screen showdown: 2.8K OLED vs Liquid Retina XDR

So when it comes to picking between these screens, I know the default is to say “OLED is better,” but there are levels to this.

Because yes, the infinite contrast, instant pixel response times for gaming, zero blooming, and no camera notch give the ProArt P14 an advantage. It’s a gorgeous display — this is Asus’ bread and butter after all, as colors melt off the screen.

But the MacBook Pro (I’m assuming, as we won’t know until full testing — this is just based on what’s always happened before) will likely have a higher sustained peak brightness for outdoor work.

Really, it comes down to what you’re going to do with it. For gaming and color-accurate video grading in indoor/studio settings, the OLED wins on pure punch. However, for working out and about in bright coffee shops, Apple’s Mini-LED will probably retain the top spot.

The tactile friction point: Key feel and trackpad

The MacBook Pro has always been one of my favorites ergonomically speaking —packing shallow but snappy scissor keyboard switches set in a well. It feels familiar, reliable, and fatigue-free, but it does lack the travel for deep gaming presses.

Meanwhile, the ProArt P14’s keys have a deeper dish, a little more key travel, and a softer landing underneath. The added depth creates a more satisfying impact, and the WASD stability for gaming feels a little better. But the slight added mushiness may come back to haunt me if I type all day.

Then there’s the trackpads. Now don’t get me wrong, the ProArt’s physical trackpad is massive and smooth, with a nice tactility to the physical click. But Apple’s Force Touch haptics are basically witchcraft, with an identical click anywhere on the glass and zero chance of any mechanical dead zones.

Under the hood

Currently, I’m on an M5 MacBook Pro, but you can spec it up to M5 Pro or M5 Max with unified memory shared between CPU and GPU cores. The end result is lightning-fast performance across all your tasks that has always been one step ahead of the competition from Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD.

And now, the ProArt P14 is taking on Apple with the RTX Spark N1X platform — marrying an Arm-based Nvidia Grace CPU with a dedicated Blackwell RTX GPU, backed up by up to 128GB of unified memory.

In terms of how much you can spec it, ProArt P14 configurations start from that baseline N1X with fewer cores and 24GB of memory, so the versatility of configs means you can run the full gamut against the MacBook Pro.

Apple’s machine falls down in modern AAA PC gaming backlogs — some of it works through Metal compatibility, but most will be left to crippling emulation or cloud streaming.

But with N1X’s CUDA cores, the ProArt P14 can run 1440p games at 100 FPS, complete with DLSS support and anti-cheat compatibility. Beyond that, I expect they’ll be pretty evenly matched in creator performance and AI. Differences there will come down to the software optimization for the silicon.

The potential dealbreakers

I’m just going to summarize some quick things that may become the thorn in the ProArt P14’s side once we get one in the labs to fully test.

• The fan noise: When I tested the ProArt P14 for gaming, it was the loudest RTX Spark laptop in the room. The MacBook Pro stays near-silent during everyday tasks, and hopefully the P14 is the same — but it’s clear that an insane amount of Nvidia silicon requires aggressive airflow.
• Battery endurance: Nvidia is claiming “all-day” battery life and the same performance both on and off the charger. During my testing, I can confirm the latter, but we don’t know about the former yet! If it can achieve that 12-14+ hours of mixed real-world productivity, Apple loses its biggest single advantage.
• The price: The MacBook Pro starts at $1,999. To get the equivalent amount of memory (24GB), that price goes up to $2,199. This is the big question mark for N1X laptops, and hopefully they’ll be competitive on cost.

Early verdict

This is a way-too-early verdict, as I’m piecing together the few times I’ve had to test the ProArt P14 and its potential against months of MacBook Pro use. But I’ll give it a stab.

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A new alleged shot of the die for Apple's A20 Pro chipset gives us our first look at the new chip, which should be built on the TSMC 2nm process. The new chip is expected to power both the iPhone 18 Pro and the rumored iPhone Ultra.

The leak comes from Weibo user "White rice fried white rice" (machine translated), who posted some images of the die and an analysis of how it might be laid out. Based on their reporting, it seems the chip has been significantly redesigned.

Here's what the new chip appears to feature:

• 7-core GPU vs 6 core on the A19 Pro
• 4 efficiency and 2 performance CPU cores
• 8MB L2 cache for efficiency cores vs 6MB on the A19
• 16MB L2 cache for performance cores (same as the A19 Pro)
• 96-bit LPDDR5X memory interface

What does that all mean? At its most basic level, the larger GPU and more cache memory should translate into faster gaming, graphics and overall performance on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Ultra. Plus, if the leak is accurate that 7-core GPU would be the largest ever used by Apple.

The leak is fairly speculative on the layout, as they apparently tried several before landing on one that was the "most reasonable."

The die does not have a labeled NPU or ISP block, important since the NPU will be responsible for AI features. Presumably, that will be bigger as well, which is likely why the CPU is shifted compared to the A19 Pro.

How does that the A20 Pro compare to Android phones?

Samsung, Apple's main rival, has been utilizing the powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon. Both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 8 are multitasking powerhouses thanks to Qualcomm's chip.

In our internal tests, both proved quite powerful and outperformed the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the A19 Pro chipset, especially in multicore testing and graphics benchmarks.

Apple and Samsung trade performance as each new generation releases. Similarly, while the S26 Ultra and Z Fold 8 are currently front running, it's not by a significant ammount.

If the A20 Pro is as powerful as it seems, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Ultra should equal or surpass what Samsung and Qualcomm are doing.

Both iPhones are expected to launch at the Apple event on Sept. 9 alongside at least seven other devices. Bookmark Tom's Guide as we'll be on hand to cover all the latest news.

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When I first got my hands on the iPhone Air, I was instantly head over heels for its rail-thin construction — but my admiration faded the more I used it. While its refined design clearly deserves praise, the compromises I soon found with it quickly became impossible to ignore. In fact, I’ve previously argued that the standard iPhone 17 was the superior phone between the two.

With the iPhone Air 2, Apple clearly knows it has to redeem itself in a big way. Early rumors and leaks suggest Apple is aiming to fix the pain points that discouraged consumers from choosing it over more capable alternatives like the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. Considering that Apple is reportedly delaying its launch to focus on the iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max for its upcoming "Surprise and Shine" event next week, these rumored upgrades should make the extra wait worthwhile.

Here are the 7 biggest expected upgrades I’m most excited to see in the iPhone Air 2.

Dual cameras

Perhaps the single biggest missed opportunity with the original iPhone Air was settling for a lone rear camera, an omission that I felt was glaring for a device carrying a flagship-tier price tag. That’s why I’m thrilled about leaks hinting that Apple is developing a dual-camera system for the iPhone Air 2, reportedly pairing a 48MP main camera with a 48MP ultrawide shooter.

It’s the exact utility I expect from a premium phone. An ultrawide lens unlocks several practical advantages, from capturing more expansive scenes to feeding the depth data needed for more natural subject separation in portrait mode. From a content creation standpoint, that wider field of view changes everything. Because I typically avoid using lower-resolution front cameras for vlogging, having an ultrawide sensor on the back makes walk-and-talk recording easier.

A20 chip

This rumor stirs up some controversy: rather than getting the flagship A20 Pro silicon expected to debut on the iPhone 18 Pro models, the iPhone Air 2 is rumored to settle for the standard A20 chip instead.

For reference, the original iPhone Air relies on a downclocked version of the A19 Pro. Even so, the leap to a 2nm manufacturing process should give the iPhone Air 2 more than enough muscle to handle whatever is thrown its way, all while delivering the thermal efficiency an ultra-slim chassis desperately needs.

Higher capacity battery cell

When real estate is at a premium for an ultra-thin device, battery life is always a major concern — and the iPhone Air certainly proved that. In fact, it posted the shortest result in our custom battery drain test among last year’s lineup, averaging just 12 hours and 2 minutes.

Rumors suggest Apple intends to directly address this shortcoming by outfitting the iPhone Air 2 with a larger-capacity battery. Supply chain leaks point to a 3,500 mAh cell, an upgrade over the original model’s 3,149 mAh pack. That works out to roughly an 11% increase, which is substantial given the tight physical constraints of an ultra-slim frame. Paired with the power-efficiency gains expected from the 2nm A20 chip, it feels entirely possible for the Air 2 to approach the 14-hour mark in our testing.

Smaller Dynamic Island cutout

This next upgrade is lower on my wishlist because the pill cutout never felt like a major distraction on the current model, but reports suggest the Dynamic Island’s footprint will be significantly reduced. While we haven’t seen leaked images or renders depicting the new dimensions just yet, I suspect this slimmer cutout will look strikingly similar to what we’ve seen in leaked renders for the iPhone 18 Pro.

Shaving down the cutout’s width would immediately make full-screen media, gaming, and everyday reading feel more immersive. Just as importantly, shrinking the hardware footprint without sacrificing software utility — such as Live Activities and background alerts — would give the Air 2 a cleaner, less intrusive aesthetic.

Lavender colorway

If there’s one thing the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max proved to me, it’s how much a standout hero color can make all the difference. While Apple offered four colorways for the original iPhone Air, they were all a bit too muted for my liking — and a far cry from the piercing hue that catapulted Cosmic Orange up the sales charts on the 17 Pro models.

Leaks indicate Apple plans to introduce a fresh light purple finish — described by tipsters as closer to a soft lavender tone — that is expected to replace the current Sky Blue option alongside Space Black, Cloud White, and Light Gold. A vibrant pastel like this feels tailor-made for an ultra-slim chassis, and it's exactly the kind of visual refresh that could persuade shoppers to give the Air 2 a serious second look.

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Apple is clearly late to the foldable game, but with its “surprise and shine” event a little over a week away, the buzz around the iPhone Ultra is kicking into high gear. While the prospect of Apple’s first foldable device hitting the market is genuinely exciting, there’s one thing I can’t shake: its rumored price.

That’s because I’ve tested many of the best foldable phones around, including recent releases like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro Fold. I've been tracking every iPhone Ultra price rumor over the last few months, and the scattered predictions are cause for concern. There’s no denying that this device is heading into ultra-luxury territory, but if history has any bearing, Apple can’t afford to price it out of reach.

iPhone Ultra could be $2,000 to $2,500

Analysts have been estimating the foldable’s price for a while now, with the latest reports indicating that the iPhone Ultra could fetch anywhere from $2,000 to $2,500. As much as I’d love for Apple to undercut the competition by keeping it closer to $2,000, realistically I think it will land north of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra’s $2,099 starting price.

So far, though, reports haven't clarified how those price points align with specific storage configurations. At the baseline tier, a 256GB iPhone Ultra could start around $2,100 to directly match what Samsung charges for its top-of-the-line foldable. On the higher end of the spectrum, it could easily reach a whopping $2,500 for the baseline option — with upwards of $2,900 for 1TB. Personally, I feel $2,300 is the most realistic sweet spot.

As shown in the chart above, here's how the iPhone Ultra is expected to stack up against its direct rivals across each storage tier. Based on Apple’s current price structure with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, each storage tier is separated by roughly $200.

Reasons why it could cost so much

Apple is stepping into uncharted territory with the iPhone Ultra, so it’s understandable why it could command a premium. While the form factor appears to feature a wider aspect ratio than rival book-style models that have been on the market for years, there are practical engineering reasons behind a potential $2,000+ starting price.

One of the biggest drivers is the nearly invisible crease Apple has reportedly developed to make the inner display look seamless. No manufacturer has truly eliminated this aesthetic compromise, as most current foldables still exhibit a noticeable indentation. Even if you aren't bothered by a standard crease, engineering it out entirely adds serious manufacturing costs.

However, Samsung has done a very impressive job of minimizing the crease with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 series, thanks to its Flex Titanium tech.

Under the hood, Apple’s A20 Pro chip is tipped to leverage a cutting-edge 2nm process node. Paired with broad component cost increases across the supply chain, that silicon upgrade could push the iPhone Ultra's bill of materials substantially higher. No hardware maker is immune to these pressures — both Google and Samsung launched their latest foldables with $100 price hikes over their previous generations.

The most compelling justification for a higher price tag may come down to the software experience in iOS 27. Beyond Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, the real differentiator is system-level optimization for dynamic app scaling and fluid transitions.

Android hardware partners still wrestle with consistent multi-window layouts, so if Apple nails seamless transitions across both screens in both portrait and landscape modes, that polished software experience could easily help justify the markup.

History can’t afford to repeat itself

Apple is playing a delicate game when it comes to pricing. I can’t help but think about the lukewarm adoption of the Apple Vision Pro, which many attribute directly to its exorbitant starting price. The iPhone Ultra could easily run into a similar wall if it launches at $2,500.

I’ve long argued that foldables drive the most meaningful hardware innovation today, and consumers are often willing to pay a premium for a genuinely extraordinary experience. Yet, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold proved that pricing can be fatal, with its $2,899 sticker shock largely to blame.

That’s why I can't emphasize enough that $2,300 is the real sweet spot for the iPhone Ultra. It isn't so astronomical that it scares away buyers accustomed to paying $1,000+ for standard flagships, while still allowing Apple to command a premium that reflects the engineering behind it.

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Choosing whether or not to upgrade from the excellent iPhone 17 Pro to the forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro may give some Apple fans pause for thought this year. Why? Because Apple is heavily expected to debut the brand-new iPhone Ultra at its 'Surprise and shine' event next week.

The decision becomes whether or not to remain with what's tried and tested, or jump ship to a new form factor that could result in greater productivity and a host of other benefits the best foldable phones have to offer. On the other hand, you're likely going to sacrifice camera performance, which is typically something Pro users value highly.

In fact, the photography improvements Apple is allegedly making could be your biggest incentive to switch up from last-year's iPhone 17 Pro to iPhone 18 Pro. And even though the Pro phones aren't cheap, you're still going to save money based on what the Ultra is rumored to cost.

Although we now have a fixed date for the iPhone 18 Pro event, Apple's phones are still a while away from hitting shelves. Thankfully, we've got a pretty good idea of what's coming and I'm here to provide your iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 18 Pro comparison so if you do decide to skip the Ultra, you can see what improvements you'll get by staying with the Pro model.

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: specifications

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Price

Let's start with release dates first. Apple's "Surprise and shine" event is on September 9 and pre-orders typically open on the Friday after the event. However, Apple's iPhone 18 Pro event is on a Wednesday this year, rather than a Tuesday. The latest rumors claim pre-orders will open on September 12 with sales beginning September 18.

Pricing is less certain but it's almost universally accepted that Apple is going to raise prices this year. The iPhone 17 Pro held the line nicely at $999 for its base configuration, but reports suggest Apple may increase the price of its Pro models this year due to rising memory and component costs.

Globally, some analysts have predicted increases of up to $100 or even $200 depending on the model and storage configuration. If you're on a strict budget, the slightly older 17 Pro might soon see some excellent carrier discounts.

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Design and display

At a glance, you might have trouble telling the iPhone 18 Pro apart from the iPhone 17 Pro. Both phones are tipped to retain the ergonomic 6.3-inch form factor, a size that nicely balances usability and screen real estate. The iPhone 17 Pro made waves with its aluminum unibody design and Ceramic Shield 2 back, and the 18 Pro is expected to maintain that unified look.

The most notable design shift could be on the front. Apple is reportedly working on a smaller Dynamic Island for the 18 Pro, finally freeing up a bit more display space.

Furthermore, the 18 Pro's screen is rumored to receive an efficiency upgrade through newer LTPO+ technology, delivering improved outdoor brightness and better energy efficiency compared to the standard LTPO XDR OLED panel on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Where you're of course going to see a change is in the color scheme. The iPhone 17 Pro is hard to miss thanks to its Cosmic Orange finish but the rumor is the iPhone 18 Pro will be a little more elegant.

The iPhone 18 Pro (and 18 Pro Max) are likely to feature the rumored Dark Cherry and Light Blue options tipped for this year's lineup. Other color options will very likely include silver and dark gray.

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Cameras

The camera system could be the single biggest upgrade on the iPhone 18 Pro and your main reason for switching up from last year's model. While the iPhone 17 Pro boasts a phenomenal 48MP main lens with a fixed f/1.78 aperture alongside a 48MP ultrawide and 48MP telephoto, the iPhone 18 Pro is set to take mobile photography to the next level.

Apple is reportedly outfitting the iPhone 18 Pro with a variable-aperture main camera. This would give users true hardware-level control over depth of field and how much light reaches the sensor, heavily outclassing the digital portrait blur we've relied on for years. Add in a new stacked image sensor that improves dynamic range and low-light noise performance, and the 18 Pro could be the undisputed champion for smartphone photographers.

The only sticking point in that is there have been some rumors that variable aperture could be exclusive to the Pro Max. The hypothesis is the mechanics required for a variable lens will only fit in a larger phone, ruling out the smaller Pro. This would undoubtedly be a huge blow for those of us that prefer Apple's smaller phones and could be a big reason why you choose to remain with the iPhone 17 Pro over its successor.

One more thing to mention is that there have been claims Apple will remove the capacitive capabilities of the Camera Control button for the iPhone 18 Pro. This is due to some users accidentally launching the camera app inadvertently and could be very helpful if you use your iPhone as your main camera.

Bottom line is that variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro could make or break whether or not a lot of people decide to upgrade from the 17 Pro.

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: performance and battery

The iPhone 17 Pro is no slouch, thanks to the A19 Pro chip built on a 3-nanometer process. However, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be powered by Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip, manufactured using TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm process.

This move to a smaller manufacturing process should allow Apple to significantly improve both raw performance and power efficiency.

Because of this newfound efficiency — and a slight physical battery increase from the 17 Pro's 4,252 mAh up to roughly 4,288 mAh on the 18 Pro — battery life could take a leap forward.

You can expect the iPhone 18 Pro to easily outlast its predecessor, when it comes to both longevity and overall performance. As always, anyone who wants the fastest possible speed and the most power will always benefit from upgrading to the newest model.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Software and Apple Intelligence

Both the iPhone 17 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro will have access to Apple's latest software tricks, but this year's model will run iOS 27 out of the box. The 17 Pro, meanwhile, launched with iOS 26 but will be eligible for the update in the coming weeks.

The real difference lies in hardware integration for Apple Intelligence. With 12GB of RAM on both devices, the AI playing field looks level on paper. However, leaks suggest the A20 Pro mentioned earlier features advanced packaging that integrates RAM more closely with the processor, freeing up bandwidth for lightning-fast on-device AI tasks.

The 18 Pro will simply handle complex generative prompts and on-the-fly photo editing faster than the 17 Pro.

We'll have to wait to find out if there are any iPhone 18 Pro-specific software or AI features (perhaps around the variable aperture) but for the most part, the 17 Pro will remain able to use almost all the software features Apple has to offer for at least a few more years yet.

iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Final thoughts

If you're already rocking an iPhone 17 Pro, I feel it's going to be tough to justify an upgrade based on what's already at your disposal. Apple's 2025 effort has a gorgeous 6.3-inch display, a triple 48MP camera setup, and 12GB of RAM to power Apple Intelligence. It’s an incredibly capable device that still has years of top-tier life left in it.

That said, if you’re a power user or a serious smartphone photographer, the iPhone 18 Pro’s rumored variable aperture, highly efficient 2nm A20 Pro chip, and significantly larger battery might just be too tempting to pass up. Just keep in mind that the variable aperture and longer zoom could be limited to the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

We'll find out for sure once new Apple CEO John Ternus takes the stage to make these phones official and reveal what the final prices are going to be. In the meantime, let me know in the comments below whether you think an iPhone 18 Pro upgrade is a must-have or if you're content to hold on to the iPhone 17 Pro for a few more years.

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• iPhone 18 Pro camera upgrades — everything we know about the new sensor
• iPhone Ultra and 18 Pro Max unboxed ahead of Apple event — these could be the final designs

Apple will debut the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next week, and a new leak from a regular tipster names three new colors for the new phones.

On Monday, an unboxing video purported to reveal dummy units of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone Ultra. That video showed the phone in four colors: a maroon-ish color, black, silver and blue.

However, today's leak from Weibo user Fixed Focos Digital only highlights three shades. Mostly, FFD seems to confirm previous rumors that the highlight color this year will be dark cherry which replaces last year's bright Cosmic Orange.

They predict these iPhone 18 Pro colors:

• Dark Cherry/burgundy
• Sky Blue
• Black

In a follow-up post, they claimed that they had seen no evidence of a silver variant being released this year. Last year, the iPhone 17 Pro was released in three colors: cosmic orange, deep blue and silver.

If this rumor holds up, Apple is looking to replace the full lineup of shades with all-new options this year.

Outside of black, sky blue isn't a new color. We've seen it before in the iPhone Air and MacBook Air, which tended to be more subtle and somewhat silvery depending on the lighting.

Ditching a black or space grey colorway was controversial last year, so bringing it back might be Apple throwing a bone to our more goth-minded neighbors.

We'll know more about the colors, the new iPhones, and a slew of other potential devices on September 9 when new CEO John Ternus hosts his first major Apple event. It should be an interesting spectacle.

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Today is John Ternus's first day as Apple CEO, taking over from Tim Cook, who led the company for 15 years following the death of co-founder Steve Jobs. Ternus will have his first big test in just over a week, when Apple hosts its "Surprise and shine" event to officially reveal the foldable iPhone Ultra.

Tim Cook's time at the helm of Apple will likely be looked back on as a masterclass in supply chain management, product optimisation and building out Apple's services business. There were some misfires, but over the course of a decade-and-a-half, Cook built Apple into the technological juggernaut it is today.

As he left office yesterday, Cook penned a heartfelt and emotional memo to all Apple staff. As well as reflecting on his time as leader, he also expressed supreme confidence in John Ternus, the former senior vice president of Hardware Engineering.

Here is Tim Cook's memo in full:

Team,

Today is my last day as CEO of Apple. This is a moment I always knew would come one day, and yet it is still hard to believe it has arrived and I am writing these words. I love this company and the team behind it, and I couldn’t let this day pass without sending a note to you, to tell you how grateful I am for the outpouring of affection you’ve sent my way, for the way you’ve shown up each and every day, and most of all, for the privilege of a lifetime serving as your leader.

The truth is, whatever there is to say about my success, I know it is all because of you. You have brought out the best in me. In all my life, I have never seen or been with such an extraordinary team of people before, and every day I get to see more examples of that.

There is something truly special about Apple. I am most proud of what an annual report could never capture. This place is proof that culture triumphs over everything. We share a belief that what we build matters, and that we have both the opportunity and the responsibility to leave the world better than we found it. That purpose is part of what makes this place extraordinary. Apple helps nurture it, but I believe it lived within each of you long before you arrived here. It is what brought you to this company and what continues to drive the work you do every day. Together, we have created something far greater than any one of us could have imagined or accomplished alone. And that’s the secret to our success. We bring out the best in each other. We lift each other up. We have made it possible to leave our “dent in the universe,” as Steve once described it, because of who we are and what we believe, because of what we value and how we see the world. How fortunate we are. How fortunate I am.

As you know, I am not leaving Apple. But I am stepping away from a role that I have loved deeply. I will miss this work in ways I can only begin to imagine, even as I remain completely at peace with my decision. I will miss leading you and being with you for every step, even as I take enormous comfort in handing the helm to someone as brilliant and wonderful and capable as John. Few people understand what it takes to build products that change the world the way John does and I could not be more excited for his leadership.

I hope you know how much I appreciate you and what an honor it has been to be your CEO. Most of all, I hope you will continue to be proud to be part of this remarkable place we call Apple and always give it your very best. When we bring our whole selves to this work, with care for one another and for the people we serve, there is no limit to the profound difference we can make.

I look forward to seeing you in my new role at Apple Park and around the world.

With all I have and all I am, I am always

Yours,

Tim

As well as the memo, Cook also posted a tweet yesterday, thanking Apple's global community for the inspiration it gave him.

Ternus, meanwhile, will have the springboard of Apple's "Surprise and shine" event with which to launch himself into the role. But it won't be without challenges. Apple has a lot of catching up to do in the AI race and, earlier this year, the company was forced to raise prices across most of its products due to the memory crisis buffeting the tech industry.

Days before he was named the new CEO of Apple, Tom's Guide had the chance to speak with Ternus about the company's next chapter. Check it out below and let me know in the comments how successful you think Ternus will be as Apple CEO. Will he measure up to Tim Cook? I'd love to know your thoughts.

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Apple has officially confirmed that its annual iPhone event will kick off on September 9 under the tagline "Surprise and Sunshine."

The much-rumored iPhone Ultra will steal all the headlines, but we're also expecting to see the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models as well — the base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Plus are reportedly making their debut in spring of 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e.

The iPhone 18 series may be a small upgrade over the iPhone 17 lineup, but we are expecting some updates, including to the cameras. Here's what we expect to see:

iPhone 18 Pro cameras

From every report we've read so far, the iPhone 18 Pro should feature the same triple 48MP camera setup as the current Pro models. Those three cameras will cover the main, ultrawide, and 4x telephoto lenses.

Plus, there should be an 18MP Center Stage front camera, the same as the iPhone 17 Pro.

One big change is a Camera Control adjustment. Since being introduced with the iPhone 16 Pro, the Camera Control button has proven controversial. There is no shortage of Reddit threads filled with both praise and criticism of the new button.

However, rumors suggest that Apple is refining it for the 18 Pro by removing its capacitive capabilities but retaining its ability to change settings.

But there is one feature the iPhone 18 Pro might not get.

Only for the iPhone 18 Pro Max

The cameras on the Pro Max version of the iPhone 18 could enjoy at least two advantages over the standard Pro models: a longer zoom and a variable-aperture camera.

Rumors hint at a 6x optical zoom for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the Pro model would only feature a 5x zoom.

The bigger change is the rumor that Apple is going to add a variable aperture camera to at least one model this year. This would give you more manual control over the size of the aperture. What that means in practice is that you get better control over the depth of field in your shots, so you should get sharper close-ups and better performance in low-light situations.

However, it's not clear if this will come to both Pro models or just the Max. Some rumor mongers have posited that it will be locked to the Pro Max. The speculation is that the thinner iPhone 18 Pro won't be able to fit the mechanics required for a variable lens.

We'll find out in less than a fortnight. In the meantime, keep Tom's Guide in your tabs, and we'll keep you updated with all the latest Apple news and rumors.

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• iPhone Ultra and 18 Pro Max unboxed ahead of Apple event — these could be the final designs
• iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — Here's how Apple's and Samsung's flagships could compare
• iPhone Ultra tested with Apple Pencil but not happening at launch — this is how it could work

A new video popped up this week that purports to show off potential final designs for the iPhone 18 Pro Max and foldable iPhone Ultra just nine days before Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event.

The video comes from the tech-focused Unbox Therapy, a YouTube channel that features unboxing and first looks at both official new products and leaked designs and dummy units.

In the video, host Lewis Hilsenteger shows off the high-end Pro Max and the much-rumored foldable iPhone. He also shows off previous dummy units, which include an all-aluminum version and one with faux displays for the Ultra.

Allegedly, the devices he received came from China.

Compared to the previous units Hilsenteger has, the Ultra is more "finished" with an Apple logo, buttons, speakers, and usable buttons. The device doesn't actually turn on, and the folding screen has pronounced creases despite leaks claiming that Apple has largely eliminated the crease.

Otherwise, we can see the passport style, à la the Galaxy Z Fold 8, a two-lens camera array, and a mix of rounded and sharp corners.

iPhone 18 Pro Max revealed

Hilsenteger followed the Ultra with a look at the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The first one he pulled out is in a dark cherry color, which should be the highlight color this year. He also pulled out a metallic blue hue, as well as a silver and a black version.

As expected, the 18 series shouldn't be much different design-wise from the iPhone 17 lineup. It's got the same edge-to-edge camera plateau with multiple lenses and the LED light on the right side.

Similar to the Galaxy S26 Ultra compared to Samsung's foldable, the Pro Max is significantly taller than the folded iPhone Ultra.

As noted by Hilsenteger, these devices appear to be close to finalized, but he hints that he might get more dummy units ahead of the Apple event that could be even more finalized. So slight changes could happen between these revealed units and the final final design.

Apple's September event

Apple has officially announced that its next big event will take place on September 9 at 10 a.m. PT/1:00 p.m. ET. This will be the first event hosted by new CEO John Ternus, as former head Tim Cook stepped down on August 31.

Alongside the iPhones, we expect Apple to announce at least eight new products, including new AirPods, the next-generation Apple Watches, and potentially several new Apple smart home devices.

We also expect an upgraded Siri and AI integration to be a major part of every device discussed next week, since Apple announced Siri AI at WWDC 2026 back in June.

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I’ve spent the last few months testing some of the best foldable phones ever made. From Motorola’s impressive first stab at a notebook-style design in the Razr Fold to the thin and light construction of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and the Pixel 11 Pro Fold’s focus on content creation, they prove just how much innovation and competition exist in the space.

Yet, despite all their efforts, I always run into the same frustrating wall with these Android-powered devices. I genuinely believe that Apple’s long-rumored iPhone Ultra has a golden opportunity to instantly sweep the competition — and it won’t need to rely on a triple-lens camera setup or an entirely creaseless display to do it.

The killer feature that could crown Apple the undisputed leader of the segment is the exact software hurdle Google and Android manufacturers still haven't cleared: seamless app scaling and truly dynamic layouts. Here’s the proof.

Age of Origins — stretched out look

To be fair, most core native apps are well-optimized for both the inner and outer displays of the foldable phones I’ve tested. Apps like Gmail, Google Calendar, and YouTube dynamically adapt their layouts and scale seamlessly between screens.

However, third-party games tell a completely different story. In Age of Origins, you can see how poorly the interface scales when transitioning between the displays. The result is an aggressively distorted, stretched-out layout that makes playing nearly impossible — and the only way to fix it is by force-closing and restarting the game entirely.

TikTok — black bars and a crop

TikTok is one of the most popular apps around, but my patience is always tested whenever I run it on a foldable. As shown above, the app loads nicely when launched on the outer screen, maintaining the familiar vertical layout of any standard slate phone. But when I unfold the device to view it on the main display, it aggressively adds the video with thick black bars on the left and right — wasting a massive amount of prime screen real estate.

If I take the opposite approach and launch TikTok directly on the main display, the app forces a zoom-crop to fill the entire square aspect ratio. While that eliminates the dead space, it severely cuts off the top and bottom of the video, often hiding essential visual details and on-screen text. Either way, you are left with a compromised experience.

Castlevania Symphony of the Night — even more retro

Lately, I’ve been enjoying some retro gaming thanks to a new MagSafe gaming pad I’ve been using — and the current title I’m pursuing is Castlevania Symphony of the Night.

When I unfold the phone, the game doesn't dynamically expand or scale its rendered canvas to take advantage of the extra real estate. Instead, I get massive black bars flanking the gameplay window, with touch controls floating awkwardly across the letterboxed borders.

Even worse, switching between the outer and inner displays can trigger an aggressive shrink-to-fit behavior, leaving the active game screen stranded in the center surrounded by dead black space on all four sides. For an experience meant to feel expansive, poor aspect ratio scaling makes it feel more cramped than playing on a standard phone.

Apple’s chance to shine

This is where Apple can completely alter the foldable landscape. While Android makers have spent years refining hardware hinges and striving for ultra-thin designs, they’ve consistently struggled to get third-party developers to treat foldable aspect ratios as a priority. Apple, by contrast, enforces stringent guidelines that guarantee unified, responsive app layouts across its entire ecosystem.

By ensuring proper app scaling and dynamic layouts in iOS 27, the iPhone Ultra has the potential to deliver a foldable experience that simply works right out of the box.

Instead of letterboxed retro games, squashed interfaces, or awkwardly cropped video feeds, Apple can offer seamless layout transformations between phone and tablet states. By solving the software continuity and dynamic scaling issues that have eluded Google and its hardware partners for years, Apple wouldn’t just be releasing another foldable — it would establish the gold standard.

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September is just around the corner, and that can only mean one thing: It’s time for Apple to reveal its latest iPhones.

For the past seven years, the Pro Max has been Apple’s most expensive (and arguably desirable) model, but in 2026 we’re expecting the company’s first foldable to eclipse it in terms of media coverage.

You can see how the iPhone Ultra is lining up against the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 in the battle of the foldables here, but what about the non-folding flagships? Both remain big hitters, so here’s how the iPhone 18 Pro Max is set to stack up against the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra as we approach Apple’s September launch date.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Specifications

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Release date and price

For over a decade, Apple has released almost every new numbered iPhone in September (with the exception of the iPhone 12 because of the coronavirus pandemic), and 2026 will be no different.

Scratch that, it will be slightly different. While the company has announced its “surprise and shine” event for Wednesday September 9, where it’s set to reveal the iPhone 18 Pro family, as well as the new foldable iPhone Ultra, the regular iPhone 18 has reportedly been pushed back to 2027.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max will be there, however, but the bad news is that it’s facing a price hike. The mild good news is that it’s now expected to be $100, given we were potentially bracing for more than double that at one point.

Going by Apple’s previous pricing, that would see the 256GB model starting at $1,299, rising to $1,499 for the 512GB model, $1,699 for 1TB and $2,099 for 2TB.

That’s actually pretty similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra — or at least its MSRP when it was new in March 2026. It cost $1,299 for the 256GB model, $1,449 for 512GB and $1,799 for 1TB.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Design and screens

Given the iPhone 17 Pro series introduced a couple of new design tweaks — the raised camera section and the two-tone colorways — we’re not expecting major changes this time. At a glance, the iPhone 18 Pro Max may be barely distinguishable from the iPhone 17 Pro Max, right down to the 6.9-inch OLED display.

There will reportedly be a couple of minor changes, mind. To make space for a larger capacity battery, it will apparently be about 0.25mm thicker and seven grams heavier. The Dynamic Island will apparently also be around 35% smaller.

It would be a big surprise if the screen specs were any different, given the 6.9-inch size. So we’re likely looking at a resolution of 2,868 x 1,320, or around 460 pixels per inch (ppi). ProMotion will offer adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz.

We know the exact screen specifications of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and they’re pretty similar. It also has a 6.9-inch OLED panel, capable of 120Hz, though the top resolution is higher at 3,120 x 1,440 meaning a sharpness of 505ppi (though it defaults to a lower 2,340 x 1,080 resolution to save battery).

This year, Samsung introduced a new feature called Privacy Display. When enabled, this prevents others from seeing what’s on your phone screen by switching to dedicated narrow pixels that can only be seen head on. This can be automatically enabled on a per-app basis, so you can have it magically enable itself for your banking apps, but not for YouTube, say.

That innovation aside, there’s little difference between this and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra — both in terms of screen technology and looks. Though that design does allow for a built-in S Pen for note taking and doodling — a real advantage over the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Performance

Let’s start with the one we have already benchmarked. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy and backed by either 12 or 16GB RAM depending on the model, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a truly impressive performer. It even has a vapor chamber for heat dissipation, which keeps it running cool even when running graphically demanding content.

Here’s how it benchmarked compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max:

A modest lead on multi-core and gaming benchmarks, but a huge one when it comes to AI performance.

But, of course, this is against last year’s iPhone and its A19 chipset. It stands to reason that Apple will at least close the gap and more than likely go further, especially as the A20 Pro is rumored to be built using the 2nm manufacturing process, meaning a step change in terms of performance. We’re reportedly looking at 18% speed boost and 30% better power efficiency, which would see it blow past the S26 Ultra (though with the Galaxy S27 Ultra likely to regain the throne in early 2027).

On the subject of efficiency, Apple is set to gain another big advantage over Samsung with the iPhone 18 Pro Max: stamina. While the iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted an impressive 17 hours and 54 minutes in our tests, the next generation is likely to last even longer. That’s not just thanks to the 2nm chip’s efficiency savings, but because Apple is reportedly including a larger battery. This will reportedly be 5,391 mAh for models with a SIM tray, and 5,567mAh for those without — a big step up from the 4,823 mAh/ 5,088 mAh cells found in the 17 Pro Max.

By contrast, the Galaxy S26 Ultra packs a 5,000 mAh battery. It lasted a respectable 16 hours and ten minutes in our review test.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Cameras

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra currently tops our list of the best camera phones. A big step up from the previous generation, the 200MP main camera and 50MP 5x telephoto lens have wider apertures, allowing for 47% and 37% brighter images respectively.

Add in a supplemental 10MP 3x telephoto lens and a 50MP ultra wide camera, and you’ve got an incredibly flexible camera setup that takes great shots whatever the environment. At the time of writing, it can’t be beat.

On raw specs alone, it doesn’t look like the iPhone 18 Pro Max will be challenging for the title, given leakers point to the same trio of 48MP lenses (regular, ultra wide and 4x optical zoom) again.

But the iPhone 18 Pro Max does reportedly have an ace up its sleeve: variable aperture. This lets you adjust the amount of light entering the lens, rather than having to rigidly stick to presets decided by Apple. While this is a feature that will only appeal to experienced photographers, in the right hands, it could make a huge difference to photographic composition.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Outlook

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is the best Android phone you can buy right now. It will probably remain so until the Galaxy S27 Ultra replaces it in early 2027.

But if you’re open to iOS, then it looks like the iPhone 18 Pro Max will eclipse it in a few key ways. It’s set to be faster, last longer, and while the camera specs will likely be weaker, keen photographers will have a lot of fun with the variable rate aperture.

Of course, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra has a few key advantages, and not just in its overall camera layout. Privacy Display is a marvelous innovation beautifully implemented, the S Pen is really handy, and as it's been out for nearly six months, it can be had for less than its high $1,299 asking price.

It’s worth considering, however, that we only have iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors and leaks to go on at the moment. While they’ve been pretty reliable in the past, we won’t know for sure what Apple has up its sleeve until September 9th’s iPhone 18 event.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max's launch event is coming up fast, and with it should come all the details on what Apple has planned for this new Max-sized phone. The biggest question most people have isn't just what the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have, but rather what it will offer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max does not.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is an excellent phone, it's actually our pick for the best phone thanks to its design, strong battery life, excellent cameras and some of the best performance in a smartphone. Raising that bar is going to be a challenge, but it seems as though Apple could ensure the success of the iPhone 18 Pro Max compared to its predecessor with these five major upgrades.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: Rumored Specs

Variable aperture

The biggest upgrade rumored to be coming to the iPhone 18 Pro Max is a variable aperture camera. Multiple other phones have offered adjustable or variable aperture through the years, but it's never actually happened on an iPhone. Essentially this upgrade means that, rather than having a fixed aperture, users would be able to control how much light actually enters the camera.

While it may not mean much for novice photographers, this could enable a way for the iPhone 18 Pro Max's camera to adapt its light intake based on the surrounding conditions. It may also allow experienced photographers even more control over what the camera can do — much like they can with standalone camera equipment.

The cameras themselves are expected to have more or less the same hardware as last year, but the addition of variable aperture could be the thing that helps the 18 Pro Max steal the title of best camera phone from Samsung.

Even bigger batteries

iPhone battery life has made massive improvements over the past several years, but it's still dwarfed by batteries from the likes of OnePlus, Asus and Motorola. So news that the iPhone 18 Pro Max may have an even bigger battery pack this year is quite exciting, especially when you remember that the iPhone 17 Pro Max was already able to last almost 18 hours in our custom battery test.

There are conflicting reports on how large the iPhone 18 Pro Max's battery will actually be. We assume that there will be two variants, with larger batteries afforded to devices that don't have a physical SIM card, but it's unclear what the upper limit will be. Still, reports suggest it could be somewhere between 5,321 mAh and 5,567 mAh.

Whichever way you look at it, that's a huge upgrade compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which topped out at 5,088 mAh in eSIM-only models. Combine that larger power pack with Apple's continual push for efficiency, and you have the makings of a massive increase in battery life.

Under-display Face ID

The long-awaited under-display selfie camera isn't expected to arrive with iPhone 18 Pro Max; that's reportedly being saved for the 10th anniversary iPhone. However, we could still see Apple finally hide the last visible remnants of Face ID below the screen — nine years after the first Face ID-equipped iPhones went on sale.

It's unclear what this might mean for the Dynamic Island. Apple may opt for a hole-punch camera design, which almost every Android phone has used for several years. However there are reports that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will still feature an obvious Dynamic Island pill — albeit one that's smaller than the one on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Regardless of whether Face ID goes fully under the display, we may still see a smaller version of the Dynamic Island pill. This means slightly more screen space on your phone, and less of a black void seemingly doing nothing when your phone is idle.

2nm A20 Pro chipset

Performance has become Apple's bread and butter, and we don't expect that to change with the release of iPhone 18 Pro Max. Qualcomm's Snapdragon chips may have caught up with Apple's A-series, but we can still expect the new A20 Pro chipset to offer a big leap in performance compared to iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro.

The new chips are widely expected to utilize TSMC's 2nm process. The smaller size compared to the current crop of 3nm chips means higher transistor density, which translates into improved performance and better energy efficiency.

According to reports, we could see an 18% increase in performance compared to the A19 Pro chipset, and a 30% boost in power efficiency. In other words, we can expect a more powerful iPhone that doesn't need as much energy to run — which can only be a good thing for the battery life.

C2 modem

It's not often that you can get excited about a new modem in a phone, but 2026 is full of surprises — and the possible addition of the C2 modem could be quite important. The original C1 was the first modem Apple built in-house, and debuted on the iPhone 16e, which was followed by the C1X modem in iPhone Air and iPhone 17e. However this could be the first time an Apple modem is utilized in a flagship iPhone model.

We don't know a lot about the C2 modem, but the fact it's built and designed by Apple means it should be better optimized for the iPhone system and software. Much like we saw with the A- and M-series chips, this should ensure better performance, while reducing the amount of power the modem draws from the battery.

Or, in other words, it's another thing that could help the iPhone 18 Pro Max increase its battery life even further.

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A casemaker is going viral for a stunt video involving its RhinoShield AirX iPhone case and a 100,000-foot drop from space in which an iPhone 17 Pro survived. The attempt even garnered a Guinness World Record.

The stunt took place when RhinoShield dropped the phone from a high-altitude balloon at 30,607 meters (or 19 miles) above Kiruna, Sweden. The phone didn't have a parachute or any kind of safety net.

The phone fell for 25 minutes through temperatures measuring between -40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees. It took a recovery team 5 hours to find the phone. Allegedly, it still worked and could make calls and take photos.

Guinness confirmed it with the title of “Highest Drop of a Mobile Phone in a Phone Case (Natural Landforms).” According to the company, it took a year to prep for the drop and they teamed up with a professional aerospace company.

How the case protected the phone

The stunt is fun, but it didn't really need to be done. They could have dropped the phone from a 30-foot-tall tree and achieved the same results.

A smartphone has a relatively low mass, and coupled with high aerodynamic drag, the iPhone hits terminal velocity very early in the drop. After hitting maximum falling speed, the height doesn't really matter anymore.

Plus, the phone landed on a relatively forgiving forest floor with lots of plant life to cushion it even more.

Still, the AirX is built from thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) plastic with a 360-degree air-cushion chamber and a three-point compression structure that RhinoShield calls ShockSpread. In a MacTrast review from March, the company claimed that internal testing showed the compression feature could reduce a 4,000-gram impact down to just 775grams. Allegedly, it survived 24,000 tumble impacts without any phone cracking.

If this stunt got you interested, the RhinoShield AirX costs $62 (or over 8,000 cases to recoup the alleged stunt price). It should survive your bog-standard daily life drops like parking lots, kids, and even a random fall from a balloon.

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"Dark Matter" is the thrilling small screen adaptation of the popular Blake Crouch novel starring Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Connelly. Now they're back for more with a second season.

Below, we’ll show you how to watch "Dark Matter" online, plus how to stream it from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

The second season of "Dark Matter" will actually expand beyond Blake Crouch's original story to focus on the aftermath of the unleashing of the Box technology in season one, and the impact this has on the Dessen family amid a multiversal conflict.

Jason, as we know, is a little bit obsessed with the Box, which really will start break apart his family. Meanwhile, Daniela grows increasingly paranoid , which is fair, given alternate versions of her husband could show up at any moment. It's all about survival this season, with ten fresh episodes to sink your teeth into.

Ready for more? Here's how to watch "Dark Matter" season 2 from wherever you are — and potentially even catch a couple of episodes for FREE.

How to watch 'Dark Matter' season 2 on Apple TV+

Watch 'Dark Matter' season 2 from anywhere

Traveling and locked out of your Apple TV account or your usual apps? A VPN can make your device appear to be back in your home country, so you can securely access the streaming services you already pay for while abroad.

We have tested plenty of options, and NordVPN is still the best VPN out there..

'Dark Matter' season 2 trailer

'Dark Matter' season 2 cast

• Joel Edgerton as Jason Dessen
• Jennifer Connelly as Daniela Dessen
• Alice Braga as Amanda Lucas
• Jimmi Simpson as Ryan Holder
• Dayo Okeniyi as Leighton Vance
• Oakes Fegley as Charlie Dessen
• Amanda Brugel as Blair

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Considering the foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to come with a gargantuan price tag that could start as high as $2,500, I've often asked myself whether people are actually going to buy it. Especially when you remember all the sacrifices you'll need to make compared to something like the iPhone 18 Pro Max. But one expert doesn't think this will stop the iPhone Ultra from being "wildly successful".

Previously we've heard that Apple is aiming to ship 10 million iPhone Ultra units in its first year. It's a lofty goal, but IDC analyst Nabila Popal believes (via Bloomberg) that Apple can hit that target and "rescue that segment of the smartphone market from decline" in the process.

Popal says that "a very elite set of consumers are being targeted" and that those people "will be lining up to buy the device." In fact, IDC believes that the iPhone Ultra will be so successful it will account for 40% of all foldable shipments in 2027.

Those consumers will no doubt include the super rich who can afford to drop $2.5k on a brand new smartphone, but it will also likely include the Apple superfans who are desperate to use a foldable iPhone.

That sounds like a huge jump for a first-time foldable, but you have to remember this is Apple we're talking about. It commands the kind of brand loyalty that you just don't see from other phone makers, and the fact it's attempting to ship 10 million iPhone Ultra units for $2,500 shows the company knows that.

Especially considering Samsung started 2026 with the goal of producing 6.3 million foldable phones — later adding another million Galaxy Z Fold 8 units after positive reception at launch. Bear in mind that Samsung has been in the foldable phone business for almost a decade, is arguably the biggest producer outside of China and just released three new foldable models.

The fact that Apple is still being predicted to ship 10 million units, and outsell Samsung, is testament to how it's managed to capture the smartphone market. Especially if predictions are correct and the Ultra does manage to reverse a decline in foldable sales.

10 million units isn't actually a lot

The crazy thing is that 10 million units pales in comparison to the number of non-foldable iPhones Apple manages to sell. Apple doesn't reveal the exact number of units sold, but analyst estimates suggest Apple is targeting 85 million new iPhones for the latter half of this year — including 70 million iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Maxes.

10 million iPhone Ultras almost feels like a conservative goal in contrast to the non-foldable iPhones that are due to be announced.

That relatively low figure may also play into reports that the iPhone Ultra will be hard to find. There have been multiple claims that the Ultra will be in high demand, despite the extreme price tag. When you factor in trade-ins, payment plans and the people willing to spend whatever it takes to have the next must-have device, that isn't a huge surprise.

But at the same time there have been reports that Apple may not be able to produce enough iPhone Ultras to satisfy demand. One such report claimed that Apple may only have somewhere between 0.5 and 1 million units ready to go, which is a fraction of that 10 million goal.

While we still don't know whether that will be the case, there should come a point where supply and demand normalize. In other words, don't go paying even more money to scalpers, because you're too impatient to wait a few weeks or months for your own iPhone Ultra.

Though that may be easier said than done if reports that Apple could stagger the global release are true. That means American buyers may get first dibs at the device, followed by other regions around the world — including China, Australia, the U.K. and parts of Europe.

Thankfully we don't have that long to wait to see what's going on with the iPhone Ultra. Apple has confirmed it will host the next iPhone launch event on September 9, and with it should come a smorgasbord of details about its first foldable.

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Ultra — 11 things you need to know about the foldable iPhone ahead of the Apple Event
• iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max price rumors — here's how much more you could pay this year
• New report reveals what early testers love most about iPhone Ultra — here’s what I think

The iPhone Ultra will easily be the star of the Apple September 9 event, eclipsing the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. That’s because this device will be Apple’s first foldable phone, launching several years after the Android competition.

Apple hopes to stand out in several ways, including software and apps that are fully optimized for the foldable experience, a display that’s nearly crease free, and the first 2nm chip in a phone. But it’s expected to have some trade-offs, too. Here’s everything you need to know about the iPhone Ultra.

It’s the thinnest iPhone ever

You thought the iPhone Air was thin? That phone measures 5.6mm, while the iPhone Ultra/Fold is expected to be just 4.5mm thin when open. That would make it the thinnest iPhone ever. The foldable could be 9 to 9.5mm when closed.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is 4.5mm when open and 9.7mm when closed, so the foldable iPhone could be on par with Samsung’s device.

You get a 5.5-inch and 7.8-inch screen

The whole appeal of the iPhone Ultra is that you’ll get a compact device when closed with a wide 5.5-inch display that’s great for using apps, scrolling TikTok and responding to messages.

But when you want a more immersive video and gaming experience you can unfold the phone and get a relatively massive 7.8-inch display. It will have a 4:3 aspect ratio that’s optimized for media, but you’ll be able to flip it around to 3.4 portrait mode for surfing the web and reading.

The crease is nearly invisible

Thanks in part to a Liquid Metal hinge, Apple has reportedly worked very hard to minimize if not eliminate the crease in the middle of the iPhone Ultra display.

As reported by MacRumors, Apple has developed a new material property that makes the crease practically disappear. Apple is also reportedly working with Samsung Display, which collaborated on the Flex Titanium breakthrough on the Fold 8 series to minimize the crease.

The iPhone Ultra design is passport-like but kinda weird

The good news is that the iPhone Ultra should be short and squat and easily slip into a pocket, just like a passport. The bad news is that the look when closed is somewhat odd.

If the leaks are to be believed, the left side of the front will be square and the right side will be rounded off. Also, the front camera might not be centered and instead be located in the top right corner. This asymmetry may irk Apple purists, but we’ll have to see how the final foldable iPhone design looks (and feels).

You get just two rear cameras (and two selfie cams)

Assuming the iPhone Ultra costs over $2,000, there’s a major camera trade-off you need to know about. The foldable is expected to feature just two rear cameras: a wide lens and ultra wide. That means you won’t be getting a telephoto zoom. Early testers of the iPhone Ultra seem to concur that this is a major drawback.

To be fair, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 doesn’t offer an optical zoom either, but there’s something about having just a 10x digital zoom that rubs me the wrong way on such a premium device. Especially since the iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped for a 6x telephoto.

These are the two iPhone Ultra colors

Initially leakers believed that the iPhone Ultra would come in just silver/white and gray/black. But now based on a parts leak it appears the foldable iPhone could come in indigo instead for the darker color. So basically white and blue.

You’ll get multiple modes and split screen multitasking like iPad mini

The iPhone Ultra is still expected to run iOS 27, but it will offer some key optimizations for Apple’s foldable. The iOS 27 code has already shown that the foldable iPhone will have different modes based on the angle of the display. This would be similar to the Flex Mode on the Galaxy foldable devices.

In addition, apps on the iPhone Ultra will have so-called app adaptability, which means they should be well optimized for the larger display when open. And just like iPadOS, the foldable iPhone should enable you to run two apps side by side.

Touch ID but no Face ID

It looks like there simply won’t be room for the TrueDepth hardware necessary for Face ID on the iPhone Ultra, so Apple is reportedly offering a Touch ID sensor and building it into the side button. This is just like the iPad.

I consider this a bummer, but at least Touch ID is usually consistent and accurate.

It will have Apple’s first 2nm chip

Just like the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, the iPhone Ultra should be powered by the A20 Pro chip. This should be the first-ever chip in a phone using a 2nm manufacturing process, which means Apple can pack more transistors onto the chip.

As a result, the iPhone Ultra should be plenty fast (up to 15 percent faster than the A19 Pro) while also being more efficient (up to 30 percent).

The dual-cell battery should last a long time

While estimates have varied, the latest leaks point to the iPhone Ultra offering a 4,883 mAh split battery. This would be less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored 5,567 mAh but comparable to the Fold 8’s 4,800 mAh.

I would expect the iPhone Ultra to last most of the day on a single charge, but we’ll see if it has what it takes to make our best phone battery life list.

It will have MagSafe (we think!)

There's been some debate over whether the iPhone Ultra will have MagSafe support built in, but according to an interview I conducted with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone should indeed have the magnets needed embedded in the design. So, hopefully, you won't have to spring for a case just to get MagSafe support, but I would still suggest getting a case anyway.

The iPhone Ultra price is going to be super high

Foldable phones typically command a premium, but the iPhone Ultra could be the most expensive one yet. Some leakers and analysts say the device will cost at least $2,000 and as much as $2,500.

By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 costs $1,900 and the Fold 8 Ultra $2,100. The Pixel 11 Pro Fold is also $1,900. Apple will likely try to ease the sting by promoting its Apple Upgrade leasing program.

More from Tom's Guide

• The hidden iPhone setting stopping your mobile carrier from tracking your every move
• iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Which could be the superior flagship?
• Apple just announced the new Mac Studio with M5 Ultra — and it will be a local AI powerhouse

Just as the rumors predicted, Apple’s "surprise and shine" fall event is officially slated for Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET. If that sounds slightly unusual, it's because the company has historically favored Tuesdays. However, with the date falling right after Labor Day, pushing it back a day makes complete sense.

Regardless, anticipation is running high for what Apple will reveal at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. While there's plenty of buzz surrounding flagship models like the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, they may be eclipsed by the debut of Apple’s first foldable: the iPhone Ultra.

That’s not all. The keynote has always served as a launchpad for the broader portfolio, including the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and more. Here’s everything we expect to see.

Everything to expect at Apple’s September 9 event

If past events have proven anything, it’s that this keynote will continue to focus on the iPhone. While there’s a strong likelihood we’ll finally see the long-awaited iPhone Ultra, Apple may break from tradition if rumors pan out that the standard iPhone 18 is being pushed to an early 2027 event — potentially alongside an iPhone 18e.

While we already have a sense of what Apple won't announce this fall, here’s everything we do expect to see.

• iPhone Ultra: Apple’s first foldable smartphone is expected to steal the spotlight, featuring a wide passport-style design, dual cameras, the A20 Pro chip, and a crease-free main display.
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: The top-of-the-line flagship is tipped to introduce cutting-edge 2nm A20 Pro silicon alongside a mechanical variable aperture camera, a larger battery pack, and a longer optical zoom.
• iPhone 18 Pro: While it’s the smaller, more compact flagship, you can still expect it to flex its muscles by packing the same high-performance A20 Pro chip, a reduced Dynamic Island, and a 48MP triple-lens camera setup.
• Apple Watch Series 12: Slated to arrive with a more refined, thinner chassis, the Series 12 is expected to debut an updated S12 chip and enhanced health sensors for sleep and recovery.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: Geared toward endurance athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, the Ultra 4 looks to bring brighter display technology, improved battery endurance, and deeper Siri AI integration.
• iOS 27: The next major OS rollout will arrive with deep Apple Intelligence optimizations, refined visual interfaces for Siri, and perhaps a sneak peek at apps optimized for foldables.
• Apple TV 4K (2026): Rumored to receive a new chip, the updated streaming box should deliver faster navigation and could add an integrated camera for FaceTime calls and gesture-based controls.
• HomePod mini 2: The compact smart speaker is poised for its first true refresh, featuring an upgraded processor and improved audio performance.
• HomePod Home Hub: Apple’s rumored smart display device is set to blend HomePod-quality audio with an integrated touchscreen, acting as a dedicated command center for the home.

More from Tom's Guide

• The hidden iPhone setting stopping your mobile carrier from tracking your every move
• iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 18 Pro: Which could be the superior flagship?
• Apple just announced the new Mac Studio with M5 Ultra — and it will be a local AI powerhouse