Macworld iconMacworldSep 3, 2026 ~1 min source read

Why Apple’s folding iPhone will be ‘Ultra’ in name only

The designation, currently limited to Apple Watches, M-series chips, and CarPlay, will reportedly come to the iPhone next, with the launch of the first folding iPhone on September 9. Per Apple's nomenclature, an Ultra product is the highest-end of its kind, outperforming the Pro models with high-end features worthy of its name and price.

Why Apple’s folding iPhone will be ‘Ultra’ in name only

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The designation, currently limited to Apple Watches, M-series chips, and CarPlay, will reportedly come to the iPhone next, with the launch of the first folding iPhone on September 9.

Per Apple's nomenclature, an Ultra product is the highest-end of its kind, outperforming the Pro models with high-end features worthy of its name and price.

Nevertheless, it'll miss out on a ton of essential features that users already get with Pro phones and, in some cases, even entry-level iPhones.

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The useful part

The designation, currently limited to Apple Watches, M-series chips, and CarPlay, will reportedly come to the iPhone next, with the launch of the first folding iPhone on September 9. Per Apple's nomenclature, an Ultra product is the highest-end of its kind, outperforming the Pro models with high-end features worthy of its name and price. That, however, won't be the case when the iPhone Ultra launches in a few weeks.

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  • Nevertheless, it'll miss out on a ton of essential features that users already get with Pro phones and, in some cases, even entry-level iPhones.
  • The iPhone Ultra will undoubtedly cost the most and offer exclusive features unavailable on Pro iPhones, most notably a folding display and upgraded iOS multitasking.
  • When evaluating the full packages, one could arguably crown the iPhone 18 Pro Max as this year's actual Ultra model.

Details worth keeping

Macworld Apple is preparing to expand its Ultra line in a big way.

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