Apple's (AAPL) Foldable iPhone Ultra, 4.5mm Thin, to Launch in September with Under-Screen Touch ID

Apple Inc. (AAPL) will launch its first foldable iPhone, tentatively called iPhone Ultra, in September 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, according to a MacRumors report on Monday. Supply chain sources said mass production may begin as early as June 25, despite low SMT assembly yields and production ramp-up pressures. The device will feature a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch outer screen, with a closed thickness of just 4.5mm. To achieve this slim profile, Apple will omit Face ID, a telephoto lens, MagSafe wireless charging, a custom physical button, and a physical SIM tray, instead integrating under-screen Touch ID and a dual rear camera. It will also include a vapor chamber cooling system that improves heat dissipation by 40% compared to graphite sheets, a feature absent in the thinner iPhone Air. Powered by an A20 processor and Apple's second-generation C2 modem, the foldable phone will debut only in black and white. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warned that tight supply could persist through late 2026, with an estimated overseas price of $2,000 and no additional color options in the first year.