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No sooner has Apple's first foldable iPhone reached the finish line than its successor is reportedly already decided: According to a well-known leaker, Apple has officially given the green light for the development of the iPhone Ultra 2. The second generation is expected to initially rely on a proven display technology – and fits into a roadmap that extends to the iPhone anniversary models in 2027.
Apple is on the verge of entering a completely new device category with the iPhone Ultra. The first foldable, book-style iPhone is expected later this year – a device with a roughly 7.8-inch internal display and a premium price tag. While attention is focused on this debut, early hints are already emerging about its successor. The latest news specifically concerns the second generation – and it's coming sooner than one would expect for a first model that hasn't even been released yet.
Project apparently officially approved
According to Weibo - based leaker Digital Chat Station, Apple has formally approved the "iPhone Ultra 2" project. This would officially launch development of the second foldable generation, even before the first model hits the market. For Apple, this isn't an unusual step: new device generations are typically prepared in parallel with the launch of their predecessor. What is remarkable, however, is that such an approval status has leaked at all.
Same display as the first model
The iPhone Ultra 2 is expected to initially use the same screen solution as its predecessor. According to reports, the first model will utilize a foldable 7.8-inch OLED panel from Samsung. Its design is considered unique: one of the traditional display layers is eliminated because the color-filtering layer is integrated directly into the display stack. This makes the screen thinner, lighter, and more energy-efficient. How Apple plans to address the visible crease is one of the biggest technical challenges of the folding design.
Launching in 2027 alongside the anniversary iPhones
A report by Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman from last weekend provides a timeframe. According to the report, Apple plans to launch the second foldable generation in the fall of 2027 – along with two anniversary models celebrating the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, possibly named iPhone 20 Pro and iPhone 20 Pro Max. The iPhone Ultra 2 would thus be part of a particularly symbolic product year, in which Apple could celebrate its most important product twice over.
The iPhone Air 3 depends on the success of the Air 2.
Beyond the foldable iPhone, Digital Chat Station also commented on the slim iPhone Air series. An iPhone Air 3 has not yet reached the prototype stage; whether it will even be released depends on how well the iPhone Air 2 sells. This is expected in spring 2027 and, according to Gurman's report, should feature a second camera and longer battery life. Other innovations rumored for the iPhone Air 2 range from a new chip to vapor chamber cooling.
How reliable are the indications?
All of this should be interpreted with the usual caution when dealing with leaker reports. Digital Chat Station has over three million followers on Weibo and has frequently been correct in its Apple predictions in the past – for example, this source was the first to suggest that Apple would call its foldable model the "iPhone Ultra." However, official confirmation is still pending. As with all information of this kind, plans, timelines, and even product names can change before the announcement. (Image: Shutterstock / satoshinpi)
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