Looks like we’ll be able to get the folding iPhone Ultra and any color we want, as long as what we want is white.
A noted tipster says Apple’s upcoming handset with a flexible screen could come only in that single color option. It’s not a surprising move for a device expected to be a niche product because of its premium price.
Want a colorful folding iPhone Ultra? Apple may have other plans.
Rumors of the folding iPhone Ultra have been persistent in recent months. The design of the handset leaked out long ago, but little is known about color options. That may have now changed, thanks to tipster Sonny Dickson.
“First look at the iPhone Fold dummy unit,” Dickson posted on X and other social media platforms on Saturday. “It doesn’t look like Apple will offer multiple colors, with white currently appearing to be the only option.”
Another image supposedly showing the device leaked out last week that also shows it in white.
Anyone hoping for a bright orange or cherry red iPhone Ultra may be in for a disappointment.
A folding iPhone Ultra could come in only a single color because foldable smartphones are far more complex and expensive to manufacture than traditional handsets. By limiting the device to one finish, Apple could simplify production, reduce manufacturing costs and avoid supply chain complications.
Reducing production costs as much as possible could be critical because the foldable iOS device is likely to sell in relatively small numbers — somewhere around 10 million, more or less. For comparison, the iPhone 16 Pro Max sold between 33 million and 35 million units worldwide.
One major factor that could keep the iPhone Ultra from becoming a runaway hit could be its price. While this is speculative, the first folding iPhone is likely to cost around $1,999. That’s a sizable jump over the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which starts at $1,199.
Not many configuration options, either
For the same reasons that Apple might limit the color options, Cupertino could limit buyers to just a couple of storage tiers, such as 512GB and 1TB. Doing so would reduce production complexity while ensuring the company can focus on delivering enough units of what is likely to be one of its most technically challenging products to date.
If Apple is entering the foldable market cautiously, as seems to be the case, offering fewer customization options would allow it to focus on perfecting the hardware and meeting demand rather than managing multiple color and storage variants.
