Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone could arrive with a surprisingly small selection of colours when it reportedly launches next year, with the company expected to focus on premium finishes rather than a wide range of brighter options.
The device, often referred to in reports as the iPhone Ultra, is widely expected to be introduced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro range in September 2026. Apple has not confirmed the product, but a series of leaks and supply-chain reports have provided possible details about its design and launch plans.
One of the earliest claims came from Weibo leaker Instant Digital, who said Apple could initially offer the foldable iPhone in only two colours. White was reportedly one of the finishes under consideration, while the identity of the second option was unclear at the time.
More recent supply-chain information cited by Macworld has pointed to silver and white versions, along with an indigo finish resembling the Deep Blue colour reportedly planned for Apple’s upcoming Pro models.
The reports suggest Apple is unlikely to offer the bold and vibrant colours that have appeared on some of its standard iPhone models. Instead, the company may choose subdued finishes that reinforce the premium positioning of its first foldable smartphone.
The strategy would not be unprecedented for Apple. When the company launched the iPhone X in 2017, one of its biggest smartphone redesigns at the time, it offered only Silver and Space Gray. Apple later expanded the colour choices with subsequent iPhone generations.
A limited colour range could also help Apple manage the manufacturing challenges associated with the new device. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has warned that production yields for the foldable iPhone could remain limited through the end of 2026, potentially contributing to supply shortages into 2027.
Producing fewer colour variants could make it easier for Apple and its suppliers to manage manufacturing and inventory while demand for the new device is assessed.
The foldable iPhone is also expected to sit at the top of Apple’s smartphone range in terms of price. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the device could cost more than $2,000, equivalent to about Dh7,345 in the UAE.
Rumoured specifications include a book-style folding design, high-end cameras and upgraded hardware intended to compete with established foldable smartphones from companies such as Samsung Electronics.
Apple has yet to confirm the device, its name, specifications or launch date. If the reports prove accurate, the foldable iPhone would represent one of the company’s biggest product changes in years, combining a new form factor with a premium price and a deliberately limited choice of finishes.
