Apple is expected to introduce its long-rumoured foldable iPhone next year with only a small selection of colour options, according to multiple reports and industry leaks surrounding the company’s first foldable smartphone.
The device, widely referred to online as the “iPhone Ultra,” is tipped to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series in September 2026. Reports suggest Apple plans to focus on premium finishes rather than a wide range of bold colours for the highly anticipated device.
One of the earliest claims came from Weibo-based leaker Instant Digital, who said the foldable iPhone could initially arrive in just two colours. At the time, white was reportedly the only confirmed option, while details surrounding the second finish were unclear.
More recent supply-chain reports cited by technology publications suggest Apple may offer the device in a silver-and-white version along with an indigo finish similar to the Deep Blue shade expected for the rumoured iPhone 17 Pro lineup. Sources familiar with the plans also indicated the company is unlikely to release brighter or more experimental colours during the first generation of the foldable phone.
Industry observers say the strategy mirrors Apple’s earlier approach with the iPhone X, which launched in 2017 with only Silver and Space Gray colour choices despite marking one of the company’s biggest iPhone redesigns at the time. Apple later expanded colour selections in subsequent models, and analysts believe the same approach may be taken with the foldable iPhone in future releases.
Reports suggest production challenges could also be shaping Apple’s cautious launch strategy. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently warned that manufacturing yields for the foldable device may remain constrained through late 2026, with supply shortages potentially extending into 2027.
Limiting the number of colour variations would simplify production and inventory management for what is expected to be one of the most technically complex iPhones Apple has produced.
The foldable model is also expected to carry a significantly higher price than existing iPhones. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has reported that the device could cost more than $2,000, potentially making it the most expensive iPhone ever released.
While Apple has not officially confirmed the project, leaks suggest the foldable device will feature a book-style design similar to foldable phones already offered by rivals including Samsung Electronics. The phone is also expected to include flagship-level cameras and upgraded hardware aimed at competing in the growing premium foldable smartphone market.
The foldable segment has expanded rapidly in recent years, though Apple has so far remained absent from the category while competitors introduced multiple generations of flexible-screen devices. Analysts say Apple’s eventual entry could significantly reshape competition in the high-end smartphone market.
