Apple’s fall keynote is only one week away, and this year’s event is set to be more dramatic than any in recent memory. Reports have long suggested that Apple is preparing to introduce a foldable iPhone after years of internal experimentation and patent filings. That device, expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, will join the more conventional iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at the September launch. This is a major lineup change for Apple, because adding a new flagship tier complicates the simple Pro naming structure that has existed for years. The Pro and Pro Max are likely to remain the best choices for people who want improved cameras, but the Ultra will be Apple’s boldest statement about the future of the iPhone. Here are three distinct advantages the Ultra is expected to offer over the iPhone 18 Pro.
1: Larger (and smaller) displays
The first advantage is the physical display. The iPhone Ultra is expected to have two screens. The exterior cover screen will measure 5.5 inches, and the interior flexible display, which is exposed when the phone is unfolded, will measure 7.8 inches. By contrast, the iPhone 18 Pro is expected to ship with a single 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max will grow to 6.9 inches. That means the iPhone Ultra will deliver two different screens in one product. When closed, it is a genuinely compact handset. When opened, it becomes the largest-screen iPhone that Apple has ever made.
This puts the iPhone Ultra in a unique position. For consumers who have always wanted a truly large iPhone, the 7.8-inch inner display is even bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max. For people who fondly remember the short-lived iPhone mini, the 5.5-inch cover screen is close to that old form factor and is significantly smaller than any of Apple’s current Pro models. The Ultra can therefore appeal to two very different audiences at the same time. It brings the benefits of a tablet-sized canvas without forcing you to pocket a large slab. The cover screen is also useful for alerts, quick messaging, and calls, which means you do not always need to unfold the phone to get something done.
For years, Apple argued that folding a display creates visible creases and reliability concerns, but the company has been working on its foldable technology for a long time. The expectation is that the display mechanism will use a durable hinge and a design that limits wear. The result could be the most thought-through foldable experience on the market. Having both a small and large display also makes the Ultra much more versatile than the static 6.3-inch screen of the standard Pro model.
2: Fits in any pocket, comfortable in-hand
The second advantage is the physical footprint. The traditional iPhone 18 Pro and especially Pro Max have become increasingly difficult to carry in everyday clothing. This problem isn’t new. It started with the early Plus models and has continued through the iPhone 17 Pro generation. The next Pro models are expected to have very similar overall dimensions, but the camera bump could protrude even further because of the new camera hardware. A larger camera bump makes a phone less comfortable to slide into tighter pockets and contributes to an overall bulkier feel. The iPhone Ultra, thanks to its folding design, is different. When closed, it has a much smaller footprint than the Pro Max and even than the regular Pro. It is a compact rectangular device that can be carried easily in a front pocket, a briefcase, a purse, or even a small clutch.
The reason this matters is that a phone is always with you. When you are walking through a crowded city, riding public transit, or hiking, a heavy and bulky phone can be annoying. The Pro Max, which has a huge screen, often sticks out of pockets and can be uncomfortable when you sit down. The iPhone Ultra solves that problem because the screen folds in half. It is also expected to use a light, air-inspired design language inspired by Apple’s ultrathin MacBook Air and iPad Pro. This means the body will have a sleek, low-profile feel that makes it more comfortable in the hand than the thick, rectangular Pro models. Even the buttons and edges are likely to be refined to make everyday handling easier.
Of course, the Ultra will need to be thick enough to include the camera components, the battery, and the hinge mechanism, but a folding phone can distribute its components differently. The compact closed form factor should feel more natural in the hand compared with a giant 6.9-inch single-panel glass phone.
3: Exclusive multitasking features in iOS 27
Hardware differences are only part of the equation. The iPhone Ultra’s greatest advantage might be found in the software experience. According to recent software leaks, iOS 27 will include new multitasking capabilities designed exclusively for the Ultra. The biggest feature is the ability to run two apps side-by-side on the inner 7.8-inch display. Apple has already developed a strong multitasking system for the iPad, but it has never brought true split-screen multitasking to the iPhone. The Ultra’s large unfolded display gives it enough room to make that possible.
Side-by-side apps will be useful in a number of real-world scenarios. You can watch a video on one half of the screen while browsing the internet on the other. You can join a FaceTime call from one side and take notes on the other. Or you can read a recipe while messaging a friend at the same time. This kind of simultaneous interaction is not available on the iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Apple is also expected to support drag and drop between apps on the Ultra. For example, you might drag an image from your Photos app into an email, or highlight text from a web page and drop it into a note-taking app. This interaction style is second nature on an iPad, and it requires a larger canvas to be usable with a finger. On the Ultra’s 7.8-inch screen, there will be enough space to manipulate content without accidentally triggering another app. The combination of side-by-side apps and drag-and-drop creates an environment in which the Ultra truly acts like a tablet, something no previous iPhone could do.
iOS 27 will also include landscape orientation support for a large number of stock applications for the first time. On current iPhone models, some apps only work in portrait orientation, which is a limitation when you have a device as large as the Ultra. Once you unfold the device and hold it horizontally, apps like Mail, Calendar, Music, and even Settings are expected to rotate into landscape and make better use of the available width. Although Apple might bring landscape support to non-Ultra iPhones as well, the feature is clearly designed to make the Ultra feel like a mini iPad. The combination of a 7.8-inch display, split-screen apps, drag-and-drop, and full landscape layout means the Ultra experience will be closer to an iPad than any previous iPhone. That is the kind of software benefit that is difficult to replicate on a regular Pro handset.
There is, of course, a tradeoff to consider. The iPhone 18 Pro is still likely to provide slightly better camera optics, possibly including a more advanced telephoto zoom and lower-light sensors, while the Ultra could have a relatively conservative camera layout due to internal space constraints. The Pro Max might also offer longer battery life because a non-folding phone can provide more space for a larger battery. But for those who value flexibility and convenience above all, the Ultra’s trio of display versatility, easy portability, and exclusive software tools may be enough to make it the most compelling iPhone of the year. The upcoming launch will soon reveal whether Apple can balance those advantages without sacrificing the fundamentals that have made the Pro line so popular.
Source: 9to5Mac News