Tech firm sparks legal worries by showing off folding iPhone Ultra hours before official Apple reveal
While our parents tried to teach us that patience is a virtue, that's not enough for those who simply can't wait for Apple to reveal its long-rumored folding iPhone.
Samsung released its first folding phone back in 2019, and while many are surprised it's taken Apple this long to catch up, there are reports it's been struggling to perfect its crease technology.
2026 is tipped to be the year all that changes, with whispers of the iPhone Ultra turning into a tornado of speculation ahead of September 9's Apple keynote.
Alongside the expected reveal of the iPhone 18 lineup, various leaks have ramped up hype for the iPhone Ultra.
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With everything from spec leaks to dummy models making their way online, we'll have to act surprised when the first folding iPhone is finally unveiled to the world.
Unfortunately for Apple, one tech accessory company might've got there first.
Did ESR leak the iPhone Ultra?
Posted on X, accessory manufacturer ESR Tech appeared to show off an actual model of the iPhone Ultra as a way to showcase its new cases designed to protect your pricey smartphone.
With accessory manufacturers having to design their products long ahead of a smartphone's release, it's not unusual for them to be given models ahead of time. Of course, this typically comes with watertight NDAs that mean you can't reveal anything until the device has been officially announced by the manufacturer.
Apple is especially litigious in this respect, famously going after YouTuber John Prosser over his numerous leak videos.
Replying to ESR Tech's video, one person wrote: "ESR: 'what NDA?' 😄 👏."
Another added: "Time for you to get sued 💯."
A third concluded: "Did ESR just stop caring about repercussions or?"
The original post has been removed from X but, at the time of writing, is still up on Instagram. While we won't reveal what the iPhone Ultra looks like (for fear of feeling Apple's wrath ourselves), the screenshot above shows off the cases that ESR Tech has supposedly built for the folding iPhone.
Although some claimed this was an AI creation, the fact that ESR has since nuked the video suggests it could be the real deal. Even if not, the constant threats of being sued and mentions of breaking NDAs were likely enough to get it to take down the original post.
After the post was taken down, someone joked about it being the last ESR case they'd be using before the company was 'sued to oblivion'.
What do we know about the iPhone Ultra?
Despite Apple remaining tight-lipped about the existence of a folding iPhone, those ravenous leakers continue to keep us fed in terms of iPhone Ultra reveals. If you look on X, there are plenty of videos seemingly showcasing the upcoming iPhone Ultra ahead of time.
It's hard to tell what’s the real deal in this era of AI information, but if legitimate, they back up ideas like a wafer-thin 4.5mm thickness when unfolded, as well as a passport design that boasts a 5.5-inch outer OLED cover screen opening into a 7.8-inch inner flexible display.
Apple is also supposed to be making the most of a new Liquid Metal hinge mechanism and dual-layer ultra-thin glass (UTG) that will supposedly make the crease virtually invisible.
Even though this might not matter to some, it seems crease visibility could be a deciding factor for many.
Others think a lack of a telephoto lens could be another dealbreaker for why you might not stump up for the iPhone Ultra.
The jury is also out on whether MagSafe charging will be included, which could give Apple's first folding smartphone an advantage against Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold8.
Either way, it looks like it'll be a battle of the folds in 2026, with Apple and Samsung set to continue their rivalry into the final few months.