Apple is reportedly planning to unveil its first foldable iPhone this September, and early leaks suggest the device is being designed to address two of the most persistent drawbacks in today’s foldable smartphone market.
While Apple has not officially confirmed the device, multiple reports indicate that the company’s entry into the category will focus heavily on refining both durability and display quality—two areas where existing foldables still face criticism.
One of the biggest issues with current foldable smartphones is the visible screen crease that forms along the fold line over time. Apple is said to be working on advanced display engineering and materials—potentially including improved ultra-thin glass and optically clear adhesive layers—to significantly reduce or even nearly eliminate the crease effect. This would help create a smoother, more tablet-like viewing experience when the device is unfolded.
The second major challenge Apple is expected to target is long-term hinge reliability and structural durability. Foldable devices undergo constant mechanical stress due to repeated folding and unfolding, which can lead to wear over time. Apple’s design is rumored to incorporate a highly engineered hinge system intended to distribute stress more evenly across the display and frame, improving overall lifespan and reducing the risk of damage.
Together, these improvements suggest Apple is aiming not just to join the foldable smartphone market, but to refine it—similar to how the company approached earlier product categories by focusing on polish, consistency, and user experience.
If the reports are accurate, the foldable iPhone could debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September, positioning it as one of Apple’s most significant hardware launches in years.
In case you missed it, a leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo recently suggested that Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone could be marketed under the name “iPhone Ultra.” While Apple has not confirmed any branding, the claim has added another layer of speculation around the company’s long-rumored entry into the foldable smartphone market.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is placing a strong emphasis on improving both screen quality and overall durability, two areas that continue to challenge existing foldable devices on the market. Gurman reports that Apple engineers believe they have made meaningful progress in addressing these long-standing issues.
One of the key improvements reportedly focuses on the visibility of the display crease. Gurman notes that while the crease will not be completely eliminated, it should be significantly less noticeable when the device is unfolded compared to many current foldables. This aligns with Apple’s broader goal of refining the user experience rather than simply matching existing designs.
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has gone even further, previously stating that the device could feature a near “crease-free” inner display. However, Gurman later clarified that Apple is instead using display technology designed to reduce the crease rather than fully remove it, suggesting a more realistic but still improved approach.
Design-wise, the foldable iPhone is expected to open in a book-style form factor, revealing a large 7.7-inch internal display intended for media consumption, gaming, and multitasking with side-by-side apps. When closed, the device is rumored to feature a 5.3-inch outer display for quick interactions.
Additional hardware leaks suggest the device could include two rear cameras, a single front-facing camera, and a Touch ID sensor integrated into the power button, rather than relying on Face ID. This combination of features indicates Apple may be optimizing for space and internal design constraints unique to foldable hardware.
If the reports prove accurate, Apple’s foldable iPhone—possibly branded as the “iPhone Ultra”—could represent one of the company’s most ambitious hardware redesigns in years, aiming to refine the foldable category rather than simply enter it.