Apple’s highly anticipated first-generation foldable phone, expected to launch as the foldable iPhone Ultra, has leaked in a new photo showing a pristine white dummy model, indicating that Apple might stick to a minimalist range of color options for its debut foldable device.
Well-known leaker Ice Universe shared the leaked image on Weibo, showcasing the white dummy model of the foldable phone for the first time. The device has reportedly entered small-scale pilot production, though the unit in the photo is highly likely a non-working dummy model. Another source, DigiTech, claimed that white is currently the only finalized launch color for the upcoming phone.
While the second color has not been officially confirmed, recent supply chain reports highlighted by Macworld suggest a deep Indigo color will be offered to match the aesthetic of the iPhone 17 Pro. The same source mentioned that the foldable iPhone Ultra will have far fewer color variants than the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, completely avoiding highly saturated, bright shades.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reported that Apple plans to skip flashy gradients, opting instead for classic Space Gray/Black and Silver/White color palettes. This conservative aesthetic strategy mirrors the approach Apple took with the iPhone X back in 2017, which debuted with only Silver and Space Gray options.
This streamlined selection of color options is likely driven by conservative supply chain estimates for the foldable iPhone Ultra. Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously warned that manufacturing hurdles are expected to constrain supply through late 2026. Introducing more color variants would only compound production complexity and raise manufacturing costs for a device that is already difficult to mass-produce.
Furthermore, Gurman noted that Apple expects the initial launch volume to be limited, with a price tag expected to exceed $2,000. Given the premium price point, Apple has little incentive to expand color varieties early on, and consumers in this ultra-premium bracket rarely prioritize color variety over cutting-edge hardware design.
The foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to be officially announced this September alongside the standard iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
