iOS 27 beta 4 reveals dual-battery system for foldable iPhone Ultra

Apple ↗ 0.22% is preparing to unveil its first foldable iPhone this September, and the latest developer beta of iOS 27 has provided the most direct software-level confirmation yet: code referencing plural "batteries" inside an iPhone, a configuration no current model uses but one a foldable device would require.

Software Clues Mount

Macworld discovered new Battery Health strings in the fourth developer beta of iOS 27, released this week, that explicitly describe an iPhone with multiple internal batteries. Among the phrases: "The batteries in this iPhone are performing as expected" and a warning that "one of the batteries could not be verified as a genuine Apple battery." These join earlier iOS 27 code discoveries from June, when developers Sam Henri Gold and M1Astra surfaced variables labeled "foldState" and "angleDegrees" — terms that only make sense for a hinged device — along with routines that check for more than one display.gadgetsnow.indiatimes+6

The dual-battery references align with supply-chain leaks from earlier this month. Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station posted on Weibo that Apple's battery supplier filed regulatory documents for two cells rated at 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh, yielding a combined 4,883mAh capacity. The split design would place one cell on each side of the device's hinge.9to5mac+2

Production and Launch Timeline

Multiple supply-chain reports indicate the device, widely expected to carry the "iPhone Ultra" branding, remains on track for a September announcement alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. According to The Elec, Apple finalized key specifications in late June and began mass production preparations in late July after resolving hinge-related noise issues. A separate China Securities Journal report, cited by DigiTimes, confirmed that component shipments have commenced in small batches.androidauthority+2

However, Macworld reported on June 28 that while the iPhone Ultra will likely be announced in September, it may ship a few weeks after the iPhone 18 Pro models due to production timing. Apple has reportedly increased its initial production target from 7 million to 10 million units.youtube+1

Specs and Pricing

The book-style foldable is expected to feature an internal display between 7.6 and 7.8 inches alongside a 5.3-to-5.5-inch cover screen, an A20 chip with a C2 modem, dual 48MP rear cameras, and a Touch ID power button in place of Face ID. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has reported that the device will "cross the $2,000 threshold," with analyst estimates converging around $1,999 for the 256GB base model — making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Higher-storage configurations could push the price to $2,500 or beyond.tech-insider+6