iPhone Ultra: New leak reveals battery capacity

A supplier has reportedly already registered two battery cells for Apple's foldable iPhone. Together, they provide a capacity that would make the device perform solidly, but not exceptionally, compared to other foldable devices – contradicting an earlier rumor.

As the expected September launch approaches, details about the iPhone Ultra, Apple's first foldable iPhone, become increasingly concrete. Now, the focus is on the battery: A well-known leaker from China reports on two newly registered battery cells intended for the device. These figures align with the existing picture of the iPhone Ultra, where battery life and efficiency have been key priorities from the outset.

What the leak mentions about battery capacity

According to a post on Weibo, Apple's battery supplier has registered two cells with nominal capacities of 1,921 mAh and 2,962 mAh – together a minimum nominal capacity of 4,883 mAh. The supply chain expects a total capacity between 4,800 and 5,000 mAh, although this range explicitly needs to be confirmed.

Two separate cells are the norm for foldable devices: because the device folds in the middle, the battery is usually distributed across both halves of the casing. The described dual-cell design thus aligns with what is already standard for foldable smartphones in a book format.

Classification in the foldable comparison

A mAh rating alone doesn't tell you much – it only becomes interesting in comparison. The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold has a 5,015 mAh battery, while the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 has 4,400 mAh. With around 4,800 to 5,000 mAh, the iPhone Ultra would be roughly on par with the current Pixel foldable and surpass Samsung's particularly slim model – a competitive, but not record-breaking, figure.

It's also worth taking a look at the specifications of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: 4,288 mAh and 5,567 mAh batteries are expected, respectively. The foldable model would therefore have a noticeably larger battery than the smaller Pro model, but significantly smaller than the Pro Max – which would be understandable given the large, power-hungry internal display and the extremely thin casing.

Contradiction to a previous report

It's noteworthy that this new information contradicts an earlier rumor. Previous reports had mentioned a significantly larger test battery with a capacity of 5,400 to 5,800 mAh. However, that report explicitly described a technical test configuration – so it's possible that Apple has since revised the design, or that the earlier information was simply incorrect.

This information should be interpreted with caution: the figures come from an unofficial source, and even the supply chain describes its forecast as preliminary. For a device that, with Touch ID, an A20 chip, and a 7.8-inch internal display, is being touted as Apple's most expensive iPhone ever, the power supply is likely to remain a subject of conflicting information until the official market launch.

The battery as the key to Apple's foldable debut

Especially with a foldable device, battery capacity is more than just a minor detail. Foldables have to power a large internal display and are traditionally considered a weak point in terms of battery life. Should Apple actually manage to break into the 5,000 mAh range while maintaining the targeted efficiency, it would be a significant selling point for competing in the premium segment dominated by Samsung and Google. However, the reliability of the current figures will only become clear once Apple officially unveils the device. (Image: Shutterstock / tinhkhuong)