Analyst predicts delayed launch for Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra and outlines upcoming product updates

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo warned that Apple is likely to follow the iPhone X rollout pattern for its upcoming foldable device, tentatively named iPhone Ultra. He said the phone will be unveiled at the same event as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but manufacturing constraints could push pre-order availability to the fourth quarter of 2026, mirroring the six-week gap that followed the iPhone X announcement in 2017.

Apple is also advancing its software roadmap, releasing the third developer beta of iOS 27, which adds customizable Siri options, new wallpaper actions, and enhancements to Photos and Shortcuts. A public beta is expected later this month, and macOS 27’s beta features Golden Gate-themed wallpapers usable as screensavers.

In iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, the Home app will generate written summaries of motion alerts from HomeKit Secure Video cameras and support natural-language search. Apple clarified that these Apple Intelligence features require an iCloud+ subscription of at least 2 TB, priced at $9.99 per month.

Regulatory filings from China indicate that the iPhone 18 Pro will carry a 4,056 mAh battery in China and 4,288 mAh in the United States, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have 5,391 mAh and 5,567 mAh respectively. The foldable iPhone Ultra is reported to use two cells of 1,921 mAh and 2,962 mAh, for a combined capacity of roughly 4,883 mAh.

Apple’s Apple TV 4K, unchanged since 2022, is expected to receive a refresh in 2026, potentially timed with the launch of Siri AI in iOS 27. The company’s annual Back to School promotion has not yet been announced for 2026, and details remain uncertain.