Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra expected to debut Sept. 9

Apple ↘ 7.35% is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone next month, with the device rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra. The announcement would come alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at a September keynote event, marking Apple's entry into a foldable market that competitors have occupied for seven years.

A September 9 Event Takes Shape

An updated Apple keynote schedule points to Wednesday, September 9 as the most likely date for the reveal. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman indicated that September 8 or September 9 are the most probable dates for the event, while MacRumors noted that Apple typically provides two weeks' notice, making an announcement around August 25 or 26 likely. With Labor Day falling on Monday, September 7, industry observers have ruled out September 8, as Apple has never held its fall keynote the day after the holiday.forbes+1

The event will be the first led by John Ternus, who is set to assume the CEO role on September 1. If the iPhone 18 Pro follows its usual release cadence, it and the foldable could go on sale as early as Friday, September 18.forbes+1

What to Expect From the Foldable

The iPhone Ultra is reported to feature a book-style design with a 5.5-inch outer display and a roughly 7.6-to-7.8-inch inner display, dimensions nearly identical to Samsung's recently launched Galaxy Z Fold 8. Reviewers have noted that the Galaxy Z Fold 8's 7.6-inch inner screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio is the same size as a previous-generation iPad mini, offering a tablet-like experience that folds into a pocket.9to5mac+2

Pricing is expected to start around $1,999, with features including an A20 chip, Touch ID built into the power button, and a dual-battery system totaling nearly 4,900 mAh. The device may lack a telephoto lens due to space constraints.macworld+3

Market Context

Prediction market Polymarket shows traders assigning high confidence to Apple releasing a foldable iPhone before 2027, with odds reaching 89 percent in recent months and one Polymarket post citing a 97 percent probability that the foldable arrives this year. IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo has predicted Apple could claim 34 percent of the foldable market by value in its first year, a potential turning point for a category that accounted for just 1.6 percent of global smartphone shipments in 2025.theverge+3

The foldable technology, according to The Verge, "is now mature enough for even Apple to trust it," with recent advances in durability, crease reduction, and silicon-carbon batteries making the latest foldables barely thicker than standard flagship phones.theverge