Next week, Apple is widely expected to reveal its 2026 premium smartphone lineup, and this time the company may make an unusual change: instead of two high-end iPhones, there could be three. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are likely to be joined by an all-new flagship called iPhone Ultra. As the name suggests, the Ultra is expected to sit above the Pro models in price and positioning, with a foldable form factor and software features that are designed to make the most of a larger screen.
At the same time, the iPhone 18 Pro family will not be easy to overlook. Apple's traditional Pro lineup is expected to retain its advantages in several key areas, including camera hardware, availability, and ecosystem familiarity. Shoppers who want a proven premium slab will have no shortage of options. But for certain buyers, the Ultra may be the more compelling choice. Here are three advantages that the iPhone Ultra is expected to have over the iPhone 18 Pro.
1. A larger and smaller display experience
The most obvious advantage of the iPhone Ultra is its screen. According to the current rumors, the Ultra will feature two displays: a 5.5-inch cover display on the outside and a 7.8-inch inner display when the device is unfolded. Those dimensions compare with a 6.3-inch screen on the standard iPhone 18 Pro and a 6.9-inch panel on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
For people who want the biggest possible iPhone canvas, the Ultra wins simply by offering 7.8 inches. That is almost an inch more than the Pro Max, and the full-screen foldable display should allow apps, video, games, and documents to feel much more expansive. But the bigger surprise is on the other side of the device. The 5.5-inch cover display is smaller than both the iPhone 18 Pro and the Pro Max, which means the Ultra gives owners a genuinely large screen when they need it and a more compact screen when they do not.
This dual-display setup could benefit two different groups. First, there are users who have wanted an iPhone with a tablet-like interior for years; they will finally get a canvas large enough for split-view work, reading, or watching video without relying on an iPad. Second, there are users who still miss the iPhone mini. Apple discontinued the mini line after the iPhone 13 mini because sales were lower than other models, but a vocal group of customers continued to ask for a more pocket-friendly device. A folded iPhone Ultra cannot be described as truly small, but its 5.5-inch cover screen is close to the mini-era 5.4-inch display and the overall footprint may be much easier to handle than a 6.9-inch slab. It will not be the same as a classic small iPhone, but it is a reminder that foldables can be both large and compact in one product.
2. Better pocket fit and a more comfortable shape
The iPhone 18 Pro and especially the iPhone 18 Pro Max have become less predictable when it comes to carrying them in everyday clothing. The iPhone 17 Pro models already caused complaints from users who found that the devices were difficult to fit in certain pockets, especially with protective cases attached. Since reports suggest the iPhone 18 Pro series may be slightly thicker or feature a larger camera plateau, the problem could become worse. A taller glass-and-metal slab with a prominent camera bump does not always slide smoothly into a jean pocket, and the Pro Max often forces users to adjust how they sit or stand when the phone is stashed away.
The iPhone Ultra should not have that issue to the same degree. When the phone is folded, it becomes a compact object with roughly the same front-to-back dimensions as a traditional phone but with a much smaller footprint. It is designed to be carried shut, which means it can slip into front pockets, jacket pockets, and small bags that would not comfortably hold the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The shape of the Ultra may also be easier to handle. Apple has reportedly taken design cues from its Air devices, which emphasize thinness and reduced visual bulk. Because the Ultra is a foldable, the external surfaces need to feel smooth and refined, and the cover display should allow people to check notifications, reply to messages, or make calls without ever opening the phone.
That pocketability advantage should not be underestimated. Many buyers choose a Pro Max because they want battery life and a large display, but they spend every day dealing with the physical compromises of a huge slab. The Ultra represents a possible escape from that trade-off: you can carry a relatively small device, then unfold it when you need a bigger screen. It may be thicker than a regular Pro when folded, as all foldables are, but the overall footprint remains more manageable. In hand, the phone should feel less like a monster phablet and more like a polished mini tablet that opens into a larger workspace. The compact cover display also gives one-handed users a practical way to stay connected when a two-handed unfolded screen would be too much.
3. Exclusive multitasking features in iOS 27
Hardware will define the first impression of the iPhone Ultra, but the software experience may be what earns the Ultra name. Apple is expected to introduce iOS 27 alongside the new model, and several of its marquee features are reportedly designed for the Ultra's large inner display.
The most notable rumored addition is side-by-side multitasking. On an unfolded iPhone Ultra, users may be able to keep two apps active on screen at the same time. That is something iPad users take for granted, but it would be a first for the iPhone in this form. A typical use case could be having Messages open on one side while checking an email on the other, or comparing calendars while writing in Notes. The feature becomes especially powerful when drag and drop is involved. Apple is reportedly building drag-and-drop support between apps, so users could pull an image from Safari and place it into an email, or move an address from a message into Maps without switching back and forth.
iOS 27 is also expected to introduce landscape support for many system apps for the first time. That may sound like a modest change, but it is an important sign of Apple's intent. The current iPhone version of many Apple apps is optimized for a portrait display, with lists, tab bars, and navigation that feel awkward in landscape. By adding landscape views to system apps, Apple can make the iPhone Ultra feel more like an iPad when opened. The 7.8-inch display will have enough room to show a wider layout with sidebar navigation, richer content, and multi-column screens. Those improvements may also reach regular Pro models, but they will be most relevant on the Ultra's wider canvas.
If these rumors are correct, the Ultra will differentiate itself through productivity in a way previous iPhones never could. The Pro models may still have faster chips, excellent cameras, and all the core iPhone capabilities, but they will not be able to display two apps at once. That single software boundary could be enough to make the iPhone Ultra feel like an entirely different device category, somewhere between an iPhone and an iPad.
What shoppers should consider before choosing Ultra
It is also important to acknowledge that the iPhone Ultra will not automatically beat the iPhone 18 Pro in every area. Rumors point to several potential compromises, including possibly a heavier folded body, a more limited set of camera features, and a price that could put it in a category of its own. The Pro models are likely to keep some exclusive capabilities as well, and Apple may reserve certain camera or display technologies for the more traditional flagships. Not every person needs side-by-side apps or a tablet-size phone. Someone who does most of their work on a Mac or iPad may be perfectly happy with the iPhone 18 Pro. The Ultra is best suited to users who want one device that can do double duty as a compact communicator and a mini productivity machine.
The Ultra's success may also depend on app compatibility. Third-party developers will need to update their apps to take advantage of new split-screen sizes, and the first generation of any new form factor usually has rough edges. Buyers should think about whether their favorite apps will support two-pane layouts. If they mostly use social apps or single-task apps, the value of the Ultra may be less clear. Apple's own apps will set the example, but the broader ecosystem might take time to follow.
The launch is only a week away, and the full details of both phones will become clear very soon. What already seems likely is that the iPhone Ultra will not be a simple alternative to the iPhone 18 Pro. It will be a more specialized product with a distinct reason to exist. For shoppers who value a large unfolded display, a small cover screen, a body that fits more easily in pockets, and exclusive multitasking features, the Ultra is shaping up to be the most interesting iPhone Apple has made in years.
Source:9to5Mac News