Apple’s expected foldable iPhone Ultra could bring back Touch ID through a side-mounted fingerprint sensor while prioritising a slimmer design.
iPhone Ultra Touch ID could become one of the biggest changes to Apple’s smartphone lineup in 2026, if current reports about the company’s first foldable iPhone prove accurate. Apple is widely expected to introduce a book-style foldable iPhone, potentially under the iPhone Ultra name, and the device could reportedly bring back Touch ID after years of Face ID being Apple’s primary biometric authentication system.
The reported iPhone Ultra Touch ID implementation is particularly interesting because Apple is said to be prioritising a slim form factor for its first foldable. Instead of placing Face ID hardware underneath the display, Apple could reportedly use a fingerprint sensor integrated into the device’s side-mounted power button.
It is important to note that Apple has not confirmed the iPhone Ultra name, Touch ID return, specifications or pricing. The details currently come from reports and industry leaks, including Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
iPhone Ultra Touch ID Could Return With Side Sensor
The biggest reported change is the possible return of iPhone Ultra Touch ID.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple could use a side-mounted fingerprint sensor on its first foldable iPhone. The approach would allow Apple to avoid the additional hardware required for an under-display Face ID system while keeping the device relatively thin.
This would represent a significant departure from Apple’s recent iPhone strategy.
Apple introduced Face ID with the iPhone X in 2017 and subsequently removed the physical Home button from its premium iPhone models. Since then, Face ID has become the company’s primary biometric authentication technology on flagship iPhones.
The iPhone Ultra Touch ID implementation would therefore mark the first major return of fingerprint authentication to Apple’s flagship iPhone range in years.
However, this does not necessarily mean Apple would completely abandon Face ID across its products. The reported approach appears to be specific to the foldable iPhone’s design requirements.
Why Apple Could Choose Touch ID Over Face ID
The reported iPhone Ultra Touch ID decision appears to be closely connected to Apple’s efforts to make its foldable as thin as possible.
A book-style foldable has considerably more complex internal engineering requirements than a conventional smartphone. Apple needs to accommodate two displays, a hinge mechanism, a flexible inner screen and other components within a body that remains comfortable to hold.
Every millimetre matters.
An under-display Face ID system could require additional space and engineering complexity. A fingerprint sensor integrated into the side button, by comparison, could provide biometric authentication without occupying significant space on either display.
For Apple, the iPhone Ultra Touch ID solution could therefore represent a compromise between security, usability and the physical limitations of a foldable smartphone.
It could also make unlocking the device convenient when it is folded, particularly if the fingerprint sensor is positioned where a user’s thumb naturally rests.
iPhone Ultra Could Focus on a Large Internal Display
The iPhone Ultra Touch ID story is only one part of the expected foldable iPhone’s design.
Reports suggest Apple’s foldable could open into a significantly larger internal display, creating a tablet-like experience while retaining a more conventional outer screen for everyday use.
This could allow iOS to provide a larger application layout when the device is unfolded.
The internal display is expected to be one of the major reasons customers would consider the device over a conventional iPhone. Rather than simply offering a larger screen, Apple could adapt its software experience to make better use of the additional display area.
For users who frequently read documents, browse websites, edit photos or work with multiple applications, the larger screen could provide a more useful experience than a standard iPhone.
This is also where the iPhone Ultra Touch ID approach could make sense from a usability perspective. A side-mounted sensor could remain accessible regardless of whether the device is folded or unfolded.
Apple Employees Are Reportedly Testing the Foldable
The expected iPhone Ultra Touch ID device is reportedly already being tested internally by Apple employees.
According to Gurman’s reporting, early testers have responded positively to several aspects of the product, including its feel, durability and how comfortably it fits into a pocket.
The large internal display has also reportedly received positive feedback because of the tablet-like application layout it enables.
These reports should still be treated as early-stage information rather than confirmation of the final retail product.
Apple routinely tests prototype hardware internally, and the specifications of an engineering sample can change before commercial launch.
Nevertheless, internal testing would indicate that Apple’s foldable development has progressed considerably.
If the company remains on its expected timeline, 2026 could finally mark Apple’s entry into a category where Samsung, Google and Chinese smartphone manufacturers have already established products.
iPhone Ultra May Sacrifice Telephoto Camera
One potential compromise with the iPhone Ultra Touch ID device could be its camera system.
Gurman’s reporting indicates that Apple’s foldable iPhone may not feature a dedicated telephoto camera.
That would be an unusual decision for a device expected to occupy Apple’s highest-end smartphone category.
A telephoto camera is particularly useful for optical zoom and portrait photography. Premium foldables from competitors have increasingly included dedicated zoom cameras, making the absence of one on Apple’s device potentially noticeable.
However, Apple’s decision could again be linked to internal space.
Foldable smartphones have to accommodate complex hinges, displays and batteries while maintaining manageable thickness. A large camera system can consume considerable internal volume and increase the thickness of the camera module.
Apple may therefore prioritise a thinner body over dedicated long-range optical zoom.
For consumers, this creates an important trade-off. The iPhone Ultra Touch ID could offer Apple’s foldable experience and a large internal display, but customers who place a high priority on telephoto photography may find the camera configuration less compelling.
Samsung and Chinese Brands Already Offer Premium Foldables
The iPhone Ultra Touch ID device will not enter an empty market.
Samsung has already established itself as one of the leading foldable smartphone manufacturers, while companies including Vivo and Oppo have developed premium foldable models with sophisticated camera systems.
Many of these devices combine large internal displays with dedicated telephoto cameras.
This could make Apple’s approach particularly interesting.
Apple will be competing not only on hardware specifications but also on software integration, ecosystem connectivity, build quality and brand positioning.
The company could potentially argue that its foldable offers a more refined overall experience even if it does not match competitors feature-for-feature.
The iPhone Ultra Touch ID could consequently become a product where Apple’s design and software decisions are more important than simply matching a specification checklist.
iPhone Ultra Price Could Be Extremely High
Another major concern surrounding the iPhone Ultra Touch ID is pricing.
Some reports and industry estimates have suggested that Apple’s first foldable could start at around $2,000, while higher storage configurations could potentially reach $2,500.
These figures have not been confirmed by Apple.
If such pricing becomes reality, the iPhone Ultra would sit well above Apple’s conventional Pro Max models and compete directly with the most expensive foldable smartphones.
For Indian consumers, the final price could be considerably higher after taxes, import-related costs and Apple’s regional pricing strategy.
A device priced around $2,000 in the US cannot simply be converted into an equivalent Indian price using the current exchange rate.
Apple’s India pricing takes several additional factors into account, meaning Indian buyers would need to wait for the official launch price.
iPhone Ultra Touch ID Could Be More Than a Design Experiment
The return of iPhone Ultra Touch ID could have broader implications for Apple’s biometric strategy.
Touch ID remains popular because fingerprint authentication is quick and convenient in several situations. A side-mounted implementation could also work particularly well on a foldable because users could unlock the device without relying on the front-facing camera system.
However, Apple has spent years building its ecosystem around Face ID, including authentication for Apple Pay, password management and other secure functions.
It therefore remains unclear how extensively Touch ID would be integrated into the foldable’s security architecture.
Apple could potentially use the side-mounted fingerprint sensor as the primary biometric system for the foldable, but the company has not confirmed how authentication will work.
iPhone Ultra Touch ID Could Help Apple Keep the Foldable Thin
The central theme behind the iPhone Ultra Touch ID reports is Apple’s apparent focus on thickness.
Foldables have historically been criticised for being thicker and heavier than conventional smartphones. Apple is reportedly trying to address that challenge with its first entry into the category.
Removing or avoiding certain hardware components could help the company achieve its desired dimensions.
The reported absence of a telephoto camera and the use of a side-mounted fingerprint sensor could both contribute to this strategy.
The trade-off is that Apple may have to sacrifice some features that competitors already offer.
That could make the final product particularly interesting because Apple would effectively be choosing which specifications matter most for its first foldable generation.
When Could the iPhone Ultra Launch?
The iPhone Ultra Touch ID device is expected to arrive in 2026, with reports pointing towards Apple’s traditional September launch window.
However, Apple has not officially announced the product or confirmed its launch date.
The company has also not confirmed that the device will actually be called iPhone Ultra. The name is currently based on reports and speculation surrounding Apple’s product plans.
A launch in 2026 would nevertheless represent a major change in Apple’s smartphone strategy.
Apple has watched Samsung and other manufacturers develop foldables for several years. Entering the market now would allow the company to study what has worked and what has not before committing to its own design.
What the iPhone Ultra Touch ID Could Mean for Apple
The reported iPhone Ultra Touch ID combination could make Apple’s first foldable one of the company’s most unconventional iPhones in years.
A side-mounted fingerprint sensor would bring Touch ID back to the flagship iPhone range, while the large internal screen could provide a more tablet-like experience. At the same time, Apple may reportedly compromise on the camera system to maintain a thinner body.
The expected price could also make the device a luxury product rather than a mainstream iPhone.
For Apple, the challenge will be convincing consumers that the foldable experience justifies the premium.
For Indian smartphone buyers, the iPhone Ultra Touch ID device could become an important addition to the premium foldable market, particularly if Apple can deliver the thin design, software optimisation and durability that consumers expect from the company.
For now, however, the iPhone Ultra Touch ID remains based on reported information rather than Apple’s official specifications. The final hardware, name, pricing, camera configuration and biometric system will only be confirmed when Apple formally unveils its first foldable iPhone.
