Apple may finally crack the foldable iPhone in 2026, according to a Christmas Eve leak that’s turning heads.
Jon Prosser, a serial Apple leaker and YouTuber, dropped an early Christmas present for Apple enthusiasts when he revealed renders and specs for what he says will be the “iPhone Ultra” on his channel.
The renders feature a 7.8in book-style foldable phone with a 5.5in outer screen. At nearly 9mm thickness, the phone also features what Prosser says is a “metal plate that disperses the pressure of bending the display” and a liquid-metal hinge. This achievement allows the company to finally enter the foldable phone market after years of troubleshooting screen-related mechanical issues.
Prescient predictions and leaks
The leak is significant and believable for the extraordinary circumstances Prosser finds himself in.
He is currently a co-defendant in a trade secrets lawsuit filed by Apple in July 2025 over alleged leaks about the company’s iOS 26 features, including “Liquid Glass.” Prosser’s newest leak carries considerable credibility, given his history of publishing accurate information ahead of official announcements.
Rumors of a foldable iPhone have also been circulating for a while. In a Medium post, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reiterated the existence of the iPhone Ultra in summarizing an interview he’d given in early December, noting that “development of the foldable iPhone is behind earlier expectations, but the product is still expected to announce in 2H26.”
Kuo predicts the phone will ship in 2027 due to ramp-up challenges. But with limited supply, sales should be strong.
Kuo’s prediction dovetails with that of Bloomberg’s Apple analyst Mark Gurman, who says the foldable iPhone will launch in 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, setting up a new hierarchy of iPhones with the Ultra as king.
With independent sources reinforcing the same production narrative and timeline, Apple’s foldable iPhone appears inevitable. If predictions hold, Apple’s entry is set to reshape the premium segment that matured technologically, but as yet has not gone mainstream.
Apple’s foldable effect on the market
The iPhone Ultra will enter the foldable smartphone category that has shown consistent growth, even though it remains a niche segment of the wider smartphone market.
Global shipments of foldables are forecast to rise roughly 20.6 million units in 2025, up year-over-year and setting the stage for broader adoption as more models come to market. Samsung currently dominates shipments, capturing about 64% of foldable units in the third quarter of 2025, with Huawei and other Android OEMs trailing.
As a premium, though small, segment of the market, foldables are expected to grow at double-digit rates through 2026 and beyond, with some forecasts expecting the overall market value and shipment volume to expand sharply as engineering refinements and price adjustments broaden appeal.
Apple’s entry into the category will most likely accelerate growth, as data suggest it will capture a significant share of the foldable segment in its first year and help drive overall category growth toward or above 30% annual expansion in 2026.
For more on Apple’s growing regulatory pressure, see TechRepublic’s breakdown of the company’s appeal of a £1.5B UK antitrust ruling and what it could mean for the App Store.
