The first folding iPhone will support MagSafe, according to a new report that may finally settle one of the last open questions about the rumored device.
Apple reportedly found some space for MagSafe’s magnetic array despite the thin design of the foldable, likely called the iPhone Ultra. New details also surfaced about pricing, launch timing and where Apple’s folding phone is expected to excel.
iPhone Ultra MagSafe support looks confirmed
We’ve been hearing rumors about the first folding iPhone for years now, and all should be revealed next Wednesday during Apple’s Surprise and Shine event.
Previous rumors revealed many details about the iPhone Ultra, a device that reportedly will make some trade-offs despite its premium price tag. However, not everything is nailed down.
For instance, dummy units leaked earlier this year suggested Apple skipped the magnetic ring found on most modern iPhones. That raised doubts about the iPhone Ultra’s MagSafe support. But some leaked cases told a different story, showing the familiar magnetic array.
In an interview with Tom’s Guide published Tuesday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman cleared up the confusion.
“All indications that I’ve heard is that MagSafe is in for this foldable phone,” Gurman said. He added that Apple managed to pack the popular feature into the super-slim iPhone Air, so the foldable shouldn’t be any different.
The iPhone Ultra reportedly will measure just 4.5 mm thick when unfolded. That thinness reportedly forced Apple to drop the Face ID sensors and instead opt for Touch ID. Gurman predicted that won’t be a problem, since likely iPhone Ultra buyers are already familiar with Touch ID on their Macs and iPads.
What the foldable will cost
Gurman said the iPhone Ultra will cost upward of $2,000. And he isn’t backing off from that number. Some higher-storage iPhone 18 Pro models may also approach that number, he said.
If true, the sky-high price would make the iPhone Ultra the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. The new Apple Upgrade program should salve the sting of the high price, though. It lets buyers lease the phone monthly, softening the blow for early adopters. Release date rumors point to a single launch
For months, speculation has swirled over whether the iPhone Ultra might slip past Apple’s September event. Gurman isn’t buying that.
He said the device will arrive alongside the iPhone 18 Pro Series. But that could either mean it ships on the same day or within a few weeks of the Pro’s launch. Rumors about a delay into late October or November aren’t panning out, according to Gurman’s reporting.
Camera and display trade-offs, but big screen provides advantages
The iPhone Ultra won’t match the iPhone 18 Pro when it comes to camera hardware. Rumors point to a wide and ultra-wide lens pairing, with no telephoto in the folding phone. That means you’ll get digital zoom only, a limitation the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 shares.
Multiple rumors and leaks indicate Apple’s foldable will pair a 5.5-inch cover screen with a 7.8-inch inner display.
Gurman said that widescreen display, nearly the size of an iPad mini, will be Apple’s main focus when it comes to marketing the high-end foldable.
“They are going to position this as a device that’s excellent for web browsing, a device that’s excellent for a big camera viewfinder, and the biggest thing they’re going to advertise it for is watching video,” he said.
Apple’s app advantage from day one
Android foldables are great, but they have struggled with apps that either look stretched or awkwardly scaled on larger screens. Gurman said Apple fixed that problem by pushing developers hard before launch.
New developer tools help apps resize automatically, so they can adjust across the iPhone Ultra’s two displays. Gurman argued this head start could be the foldable’s biggest advantage over Android when it ships.
Folding iPhone and more at Apple’s Surprise and Shine event
Apple’s Surprise and Shine event on September 9 should showcase the iPhone Ultra, the iPhone 18 Pro and other new products.
You can watch Tom’s Guide’s full video with Gurman below:
Anurag Chawake is a tech-focused writer specializing in smartphones, apps and consumer technology. His interest in computers began during the Windows 98 era, eventually leading him to explore everything from operating systems to mobile devices and PC hardware. Anurag previously contributed to The Indian Express, covering Apple, Android, gaming and the broader technology landscape.
