This Wednesday, Apple doesn’t just unveil a new iPhone—it unveils a new era.
For the first time in 15 years, Tim Cook won’t be center stage. Instead, John Ternus, Apple’s newly minted CEO, will take the spotlight at the company’s “Surprise and Shine” event to introduce what could be the most radical iPhone redesign in history: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra.cnn+2
A High-Stakes Debut
Ternus, 50, officially succeeded Cook on September 1, 2026, after years leading Apple’s hardware engineering division. Now, he faces an immediate and monumental test: convincing a skeptical market that Apple can still innovate at the highest level.cnn+1
The foldable iPhone represents Apple’s boldest hardware gamble since the original iPhone launch in 2007. It arrives at a time when the company is under pressure to deliver another breakout product—especially after the Vision Pro headset failed to gain mainstream traction following its 2024 debut.cnn+1
What to Expect from the iPhone Ultra
Leaks and analyst reports point to a book-style folding design that closes to roughly the size of a passport and opens to a wider display with an estimated 4:3 aspect ratio.cnn+1
Anticipated specs include:
- 7.8-inch inner OLED display with ProMotion (up to 120Hz)
- 5.5-inch outer cover display
- A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process
- 12GB RAM, storage from 256GB to 2TB
- Dual 48MP rear cameras (Wide + Ultra Wide), 24MP front camera bnext.com
- Touch ID instead of Face ID to accommodate the slim folding chassis
Perhaps most controversially, the device may lack a telephoto lens, a first for Apple’s high-end iPhones.
The Price of Innovation
Innovation comes at a premium. Analysts project the iPhone Ultra will start between $2,099 and $2,299, with top-tier configurations potentially exceeding $3,000—making it the most expensive iPhone ever.
Initial availability may be limited due to production constraints, with some analysts predicting a staggered rollout extending into late 2026.bnext.com
Beyond the Foldable: A Full Product Blitz
Ternus’s debut keynote isn’t just about the foldable. Apple is expected to announce:
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max with the A20 Pro chip, upgraded cameras, and new color optionsgsmarena
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with chip upgrades for enhanced fitness tracking
- New AirPods (AirPods 5)bnext.com
- A smart home hub with a display and revamped Siri capabilitiescnn
- iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27cnn
Notably, the standard iPhone 18 and a successor to the iPhone Air are reportedly delayed until spring 2027, as Apple shifts to a split launch schedule.cnn
The Competitive Clock Is Ticking
Apple’s foldable entry comes seven years after Samsung’s Galaxy Fold pioneered the category in 2019. The timing is especially aggressive: just days before Apple’s event, rivals Xiaomi and Huawei unveiled their own new foldable flagships, directly challenging the iPhone Ultra’s anticipated market dominance.globaltimes
The Bottom Line
All eyes are on John Ternus. Can he deliver a product that reignites Apple’s innovation engine and justifies a $2,000+ price tag? Or will the iPhone Ultra be remembered as an ambitious misstep in a crowded foldable market?
Wednesday’s keynote will provide the first real answer—and define the early trajectory of Ternus’s CEO tenure.
