Thanks to a special hinge, Apple's first foldable iPhone may solve the crease issue that many other manufacturers have struggled to overcome.
Since the debut of foldable smartphones in 2019, the crease in the middle of the screen has been a contentious issue in the tech industry. Brands such as Samsung, Google, Honor, and Xiaomi have strived to improve their designs, yet the crease remains a noticeable feature. Now, Apple is reportedly set to resolve this problem with the design of the iPhone Ultra.
Will the iPhone Ultra launch in about two weeks?
According to leaks from Fixed Focus Digital and Weibo, the iPhone Ultra will utilize a liquid metal hinge developed in collaboration with Liquidmetal Technologies. Specific engineering details have not yet been disclosed, though the hinge reportedly features a design that adjusts the curvature at the fold axis—combined with a flat screen when unfolded—to eliminate the visible crease.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone Ultra on September 8 or 9, with a projected price range of $2,000 to $2,500. The device's design includes Touch ID integrated into the power button, marking the return of the fingerprint sensor to a high-end phone after it was replaced by Face ID on previous iPhone models.
The phone is expected to cost over $2,000.
The iPhone Ultra features a 7.8-inch internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, bearing a closer resemblance to the iPad mini than a typical foldable phone. This allows users to run two apps side-by-side without compromising the user experience. The A20 Pro chip and 12 GB of RAM will provide ample power for applications to run smoothly on the large screen.
With a price point comparable to a MacBook Pro, Apple is betting on bold design choices—ranging from the elimination of the crease to the optimization of Touch ID and the screen aspect ratio. However, supply at launch will be severely limited, and consumers may face a wait of three to five months to get their hands on the device. The September 18 launch date marks only the beginning of a challenging journey.
