The foldable space could be getting a bit more crowded, and maybe more interesting, if the latest leaks are anything to go by. There’s fresh chatter around Apple’s first foldable, and more specifically, what it might be called.

According to Weibo tipster @DigitalChatStation, Apple’s upcoming wide-format foldable may actually launch as the iPhone Ultra. That’s not confirmed, of course, but the name alone is enough to get other brands thinking. The same leak suggests that some Chinese manufacturers are already considering using “Ultra” branding for their own wide foldable devices.

No specific brands were named, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation. Names like a possible “Huawei Pura Ultra 2” or “Xiaomi MIX Fold Ultra” have already started floating around online. Unofficial, obviously, but not entirely unrealistic given how naming trends usually evolve.

The mention of a “wide foldable” is also interesting. It lines up with earlier reports about Huawei working on a new model, possibly called the Pura X2. That device is said to feature a 7.69-inch WQHD+ inner display with a wider aspect ratio, along with a 5.5-inch outer screen. The goal seems to be better usability both when folded and unfolded. There’s also talk of a newer Kirin 9030-series chip and an upgraded telephoto camera, though details are still a bit thin.

As for Apple, its foldable iPhone is still expected sometime in the second half of 2026. A lot of the interest around it isn’t just about hardware; it’s also about how Apple might approach software and durability. If the “Ultra” branding does stick, it would clearly place the device at the very top of Apple’s lineup, both in terms of features and pricing.

At this point, the direction is becoming clearer: foldables are moving further into the premium space, and “Ultra” might just be the next label everyone wants to use.

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(Source: @DigitalChatStation on Weibo | Image)

The post Apple’s first foldable could be called iPhone Ultra, says tipster appeared first on Gizmochina.

Apple is locking in its foldable future and it’s doing it the Samsung way. The first foldable iPhone, tentatively named iPhone Ultra, will solely rely on Samsung Display and Apple might have already banned the entry of any other firm for three years.

Multiple industry sources confirm that Apple has agreed to source iPhone Ultra phone’s foldable OLED panels exclusively from Samsung Display for the next three years.

Samsung Display reportedly pushed for the deal first. Supplying a critical component to a direct rival like Apple always needs justification, especially when Samsung’s MX Division is competing head-on in premium phones.

BOE has made progress in foldables, shipping panels to Chinese OEMs; however, yields and durability remain sticking points at Apple’s quality thresholds. LG Display is even further behind with no commercial track record in foldable panels.

Production is expected to begin in Q2, with initial shipments pegged at around 3 million units this year. Even with Apple entering the segment, scaling too fast carries risk.

The foldable OLED panels will use CoE (Color filter on Encapsulation). It removes the polarizer, reducing thickness and minimizing stress in the folding area. Apple is also sticking with the M14 OLED material set, the same as iPhone 17 Pro.

Related article:

• Samsung spent years fixing foldables, now Apple is learning why that was so hard

The post iPhone Ultra foldable to rely fully on Samsung Display, no rivals allowed for 3 years appeared first on Sammy Fans.

The news follows a report from Nikkei Asia on Tuesday that raised concerns the company’s foldable iPhone could be delayed due to challenges during the phone’s engineering test phase.

The first Apple foldable iPhone appears to be delayed again: details surfacing from the supply chain suggest serious engineering problems during the test phase.

We’re talking core design validation failures, the kind that force teams to tear back to fundamentals before the device moves toward mass production. Apple had lined up an initial production target somewhere between 7 and 8 million units.

Worth remembering that the number exists because Apple believed demand would be there. It probably still is, but demand doesn’t matter if the hardware isn’t ready to ship, as per the NikkeiAsia report (via Jukan).

Here’s the thing about building a foldable: the problems are always the same.

• Hinge durability
• Crease visibility
• Internal display reliability over thousands of cycles
• Structural integrity after real-world abuse

Samsung knows this intimately because the company bled for it publicly. The company spent years perfecting foldables with each generation. The current foldable lineup operates on a foundation that took years to stabilize.

• You may like: Galaxy Z Fold 8 could get thicker; Samsung fans may still welcome it

The first foldable iPhone has to be close to perfect. Apple’s entire market identity depends on it. A stumbling debut isn’t just bad PR; it’s a category-defining mistake that competitors will reference for a decade.

A late entry into a mature category requires something more than polish. It requires a genuinely different product, and right now Apple is still figuring out if its product can even survive testing.

The post Samsung spent years fixing foldables, now Apple is learning why that was so hard appeared first on Sammy Fans.