- A leaker claims that Apple is having issues with the long-term durability of the iPhone Ultra's hinge
- As a result, the phone could be delayed
- However, the company has apparently completely solved the issue of a visible crease
Apple’s long-awaited foldable iPhone (which could be called the iPhone Ultra) has been widely tipped to finally launch this year, but now that’s not looking so certain after all, as a leaker claims the company has run into issues.
According to Momentary Digital posting on Weibo (via NotebookCheck), the iPhone Ultra could be “indefinitely delayed” due to hinge reliability issues, with it apparently failing to meet Apple’s quality control standards.
Specifically, it sounds like the phone doesn’t hold up to long-term use, with its hinge experiencing too much wear after being opened and closed a lot. It’s not clear whether Apple is struggling with this particular component more than other foldable phone brands, or whether its standards are just higher, but either way, if Apple can’t solve the problem, then the iPhone Ultra will apparently be delayed.
We think it’s unlikely that Apple would ditch the iPhone Ultra project entirely, though, especially this close to the finish line, so while Momentary Digital claims the delay could be indefinite, we reckon there’s still a good chance it could land in 2027 — giving Apple an extra year to find a solution.
Of course, there's also a chance that Apple could solve this issue in time for its annual September showcase. Or perhaps Apple will still debut the phone in September, but hold its release until 2027 — there are a few possibilities here.
One problem solved
We certainly hope the iPhone Ultra will still launch this year, though, especially as the same leaker also claims that Apple has largely solved the issue of a visible crease in the phone's screen, saying that it’s “visually creaseless” even after long-term use.
Other foldable phones do tend to have visible screen creases, although they’ve gotten smaller in recent years, and this was long believed to be unacceptable to Apple, which is perhaps why a foldable iPhone has taken so long. So, at least one problem might have been solved.
If the iPhone Ultra does still land this year, it will most likely do so in September, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
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