iPhone Ultra case leak reveals tentative design of Apple's first foldable

Apple is expected to roll out its first foldable smartphone this September — iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold. Ahead of its official launch, a fresh leak unveils the images of the case, giving us a clear glimpse of the alleged iPhone foldable design.

In Short

• Leaked images of the iPhone Fold’s case unveiled
• These images hint that volume buttons may sit on the top edge of the device
• The case may be equipped with MagSafe support

Apple is said to unveil its first foldable smartphone this year. The month of September is still a few months away. That is the month Apple generally releases its new devices. Earlier, several leaks already offered us an idea of the purported iPhone Fold, aka iPhone Ultra’s design. Now, a fresh leak is surfacing on the internet, and this one is different. The new rumour shows the alleged case of the iPhone foldable, offering us a clear glimpse of what Apple’s foldable may look like.

Including iFunSmart, several other Chinese websites showcase the leaked case from multiple angles. Based on the image, the case is shown in black colour. Notably, the alleged iPhone foldable may not feature built-in MagSafe support. So, if one wants to use the MagSafe support, they would be required to use the case for magnetic wireless charging.

We can guess from the images that the foldable iPhone may feature volume buttons on the top edge of the device, and the power button sits on the right side. Just below the power button sits a small cutout, likely intended for an antenna band. Flip it over and the rear reveals a dual-camera setup tucked inside a module that draws an obvious resemblance to the iPhone Air's design.

iPhone Fold design

From earlier leaks, we know the iPhone Ultra is rumoured to slim down to just 4.7mm, remarkably thin for a foldable. Fold it shut, and it measures 9.23mm. The cover display is said to come in at 5.5 inches, with a larger 7.8-inch inner screen featuring a wider aspect ratio. Both panels are tipped to feature Samsung's M16 OLED technology.

The most unexpected detail, however, is what Apple may be leaving off the iPhone Fold entirely. Face ID and the Dynamic Island — two features that have come to define the modern iPhone experience — are both reportedly absent. Instead, Apple is said to be going with punch-hole cameras on both displays and a side-mounted Touch ID button for biometrics.

iPhone Fold processor

The iPhone Fold is expected to run on Apple's upcoming A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm process — promising a notable step up in both performance and efficiency over the A19 Pro. It's also tipped to come with 12GB of RAM and storage options going all the way up to 1TB.

iPhone Fold camera and battery

On the camera front, the iPhone Fold is expected to keep things relatively simple with a dual rear setup — a 48MP main sensor and a 48MP ultrawide, but no telephoto lens. Selfies may be handled by 18MP punch-hole cameras on both screens, though there's also talk of Apple exploring an under-display camera option for the inner display.

The iPhone Fold may also pack the biggest battery Apple has ever put in an iPhone, with rumours pointing to a cell somewhere between 5,400mAh and 5,800mAh.

- Ends