Apple’s long-rumoured foldable iPhone is shaping up to be one of the company’s biggest hardware launches in years. However, if you were hoping for flashy colours, you might want to lower your expectations.
According to multiple leaks, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, widely tipped to launch as the iPhone Ultra, could arrive in just two colour options when it launches later this year. That’s a surprisingly limited selection for a premium iPhone, especially at a time when Apple has leaned heavily into bold finishes across its Pro lineup.
Weibo leaker Instant Digital previously claimed the foldable would launch in only two colours, with white reportedly already locked in. More recently, a supply chain source cited by Macworld suggested the second option could be an indigo-style finish similar to the iPhone 17 Pro’s Deep Blue colourway. Moreover, the same report claimed Apple is deliberately avoiding brighter or more experimental finishes for the device.
It sounds restrictive, but there’s some precedent here. Back when Apple launched the iPhone X in 2017 — another major redesign moment for the company — it only came in Silver and Space Gray. Apple later expanded the lineup with the iPhone XS, which added Gold as a colour option a year later. The foldable iPhone could follow a similar strategy.
There’s also a practical reason behind the smaller colour lineup. Reports suggest Apple is expecting a relatively tight supply for the foldable, with analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warning that production challenges could continue well into 2027. Thus, fewer colour variants mean fewer manufacturing complications and fewer SKUs to manage during launch.
And then there’s the price. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously claimed the foldable iPhone could cost more than $2,000, putting it firmly into ultra-premium territory. At that level, Apple may see colour variety as less important than simply getting enough units onto shelves.
The foldable iPhone Ultra is currently expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September 2026. Beyond the foldable display itself, rumours point to a wider screen format and a thinner design. Additionally, there will be a major focus on reducing the visible crease, though Apple still hasn’t officially acknowledged that the device exists.
