3 New Features Expected in the Foldable "iPhone Ultra"
After Apple officially announced the reveal date for its foldable “iPhone Ultra” during its event on September 9, it has put an end to years of speculation about the first foldable phone produced by the American company. This release comes seven full years after Samsung entered this category of devices, having launched its first foldable phone in 2019.
Leading these features is an inner screen that is almost entirely free of any visible crease, after visible creases remained one of the most prominent design challenges facing the foldable phone category since its inception. Leaks suggest that Apple has succeeded in achieving its goal of a screen that appears free of any crease when fully opened, although a very faint crease may appear in certain corners under specific lighting conditions. According to 9to5Mac, users will practically notice no trace of the crease during normal daily use of the device.
The second feature concerns thickness, as foldable phones typically face a dilemma balancing slimness and size on one hand, and battery life and thermal performance on the other. According to the report, Apple’s “iPhone Air,” released last year, represented a preliminary step toward achieving an ultra-slim foldable phone without compromising battery or performance. The “iPhone Ultra” is not expected to match the battery life of the “iPhone 18 Pro Max,” but its physical battery specifications, combined with the efficiency gains provided by the “A20 Pro” and “C2” processors, are likely to deliver adequate performance in this regard. Additionally, the device’s integrated vapor chamber, along with the “A20 Pro” processor, contributes to notable performance despite its extreme slimness.
The third feature is a durable hinge that relies on liquid metal technology, a technology for which Apple obtained a license more than 15 years ago. Numerous predictions in the early part of the second decade of the millennium pointed to the potential of this technology to make the “iPhone” lighter and slimmer; indeed, signals emerged in 2010 linking this technology to Apple’s early efforts to develop a foldable phone.
Experts believe that Apple could have launched a foldable phone earlier, but it appears the company preferred to wait until technologies were available that could deliver the level of quality iPhone users are accustomed to.
