Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has disputed the authenticity of iPhone Ultra renders shared by leaker Evan Blass on X, stating the images actually originated from Xiaomi and do not represent Apple’s foldable device. Gurman wrote that the renders, which showed the unreleased iPhone Ultra in striking red colors, are “renders made by Xiaomi for some reason” and that “this isn’t a legitimate look at the foldable iPhone, which also doesn’t come in red or green.”
The disputed images contained technical inconsistencies that suggest fabrication. The status bar displayed an old iOS 26 battery indicator design rather than the iOS 27 interface expected on a 2026 device, a detail that undermines their authenticity.
Hearing these renders came from Xiaomi. This isn’t a legitimate look at the foldable iPhone, which also doesn’t come in red or green. Just renders made by Xiaomi for some reason. Carry on. https://t.co/N2MoWBAKjY
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) August 26, 2026
The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch in silver and a dark blue shade, described in some rumors as indigo, with a possible white variant. Apple is deliberately limiting the foldable to a conservative color palette focused on premium finishes rather than eye-catching options. This represents a stark contrast to the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which will offer a broader range of colors including Cosmic Orange and Dark Cherry.
The iPhone Ultra will face severe supply constraints at launch, with suppliers needing three to five months to reach Apple’s initial target of 10 million units. The initial batch will be extremely limited in stock, and at a starting price exceeding $2,000, scarcity combined with restricted color options may create an exclusive-by-design perception among early adopters.
We are just a few days away from Apple’s official announcement of the much awaited iPhone Ultra. The company sent out invites yesterday for its iPhone 18 Pro event titled ‘Surprise and Shine’, with the event scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026. The company is expected to announce iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra at this event, alongside updates to Apple Watch and Apple TV. The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 are expected to launch early next year.
