Compare Vodafone iPhone Ultra deals ahead of Apple's first foldable phone, expected alongside the iPhone 18 Pro range in September 2026 at a premium price close to $2,500.
1. In this guide
- When is the iPhone Ultra coming out on Vodafone?
- How much will the iPhone Ultra cost on Vodafone?
- iPhone Ultra specs: what's rumoured
- Why buy the iPhone Ultra on Vodafone
- iPhone Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you choose?
- iPhone Ultra deals: what to expect at launch
- Should you wait, or buy an iPhone 18 Pro Max instead?
- Vodafone iPhone Ultra FAQs
In short: Previously referred to under the placeholder name iPhone Fold, Apple's first foldable device has settled into the iPhone Ultra branding ahead of a expected September 2026 reveal alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It's tipped to open into an iPad-mini-sized display for multitasking, use Touch ID rather than Face ID, and launch at a steep price reportedly around $2,500 — making it comfortably Apple's most expensive iPhone to date. Camera hardware looks set to lag behind the Pro Max, with leaks suggesting no dedicated telephoto lens.
Vodafone iPhone Ultra deals will appear on this page the moment the handset is available. Until then, here's a full breakdown of what's expected from Apple's most ambitious iPhone yet.
2. When is the iPhone Ultra coming out on Vodafone?
The iPhone Ultra is expected to share its launch event with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, pencilled in for 8 or 9 September 2026 based on Apple's usual post–Labor Day keynote pattern. Some reporting suggests the foldable could actually reach shelves slightly later than its Pro siblings if Apple needs extra time to finalise production, so treat the same-day on-sale date as the more optimistic scenario rather than a certainty.
Vodafone typically brings in new iPhone models within days of Apple's own launch, though given the Ultra's complexity and expected limited early supply, don't be surprised if allocation is tighter than usual in the first few weeks.
3. How much will the iPhone Ultra cost on Vodafone?
This is where the iPhone Ultra breaks from the rest of the range entirely. Reports point to a starting price around $2,500 — several hundred pounds more than the iPhone 18 Pro Max once converted and adjusted for UK pricing, and a step up even from rival foldables like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line. Some analysts also expect limited initial availability, which could push resale and grey-market prices higher still in the first few months.
On a Vodafone contract, that translates to a noticeably higher monthly cost than any current iPhone, even when spread over 36 months. Given the premium involved, it's worth comparing SIM-free pricing against Vodafone's contract options carefully once real figures land, since the total cost of ownership gap between the two can be larger on genuinely premium devices like this.
4. iPhone Ultra specs: what's rumoured
As Apple's first folding iPhone, the Ultra takes a different approach to almost every part of its design compared with the rest of the range:
| Specification | iPhone Ultra (rumoured) |
|---|---|
| Form factor | Book-style fold, similar in concept to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold |
| Inner display | iPad mini-sized screen for multitasking |
| Security | Touch ID (fingerprint), not Face ID |
| Rear cameras | Two lenses, no dedicated telephoto |
| Battery | Roughly 5,000–5,500mAh |
| Cooling | Vapor chamber, shared with the standard Pro range |
| Software | iOS 27 with iPad-style multitasking layouts |
| Starting price | Around $2,500 |
Why Touch ID instead of Face ID?
Fitting Face ID's sensor array into an ultra-thin folding chassis is reportedly one of the toughest engineering challenges Apple has faced with this device, and leaks suggest the company has opted to bring back a fingerprint sensor for at least this first generation rather than compromise on thickness. It's a genuine departure after years of Face ID being the default across every current iPhone.
A camera that trades off long-range zoom
Design leaks point to just two rear cameras on the Ultra, missing the dedicated telephoto lens that's been a fixture on Pro-tier iPhones for several generations. That would leave the Ultra behind the iPhone 18 Pro Max for anyone who relies on long-range zoom, even though its main and ultra-wide lenses are expected to remain strong performers.
Software built for the fold
Apple is reportedly reworking parts of iOS 27 specifically for the Ultra's inner screen, borrowing iPad-style app layouts and side-by-side multitasking to make proper use of the larger canvas — features that won't appear on any of the standard iPhone 18 models.
5. Why buy the iPhone Ultra on Vodafone
A phone at this price point deserves a network that can keep up, and Vodafone's expanding 5G coverage helps make the most of the Ultra's multitasking-focused software, which leans more heavily on a stable connection than a typical iPhone. VeryMe Rewards and optional EU roaming bundles add ongoing value that partly offsets the size of the initial outlay, and Vodafone's eSIM support fits neatly with a device this modern.
Given the price and expected limited early supply, it's worth getting in touch with Vodafone directly about pre-order allocation as soon as the Ultra is confirmed, rather than waiting until general availability.
6. iPhone Ultra vs iPhone 18 Pro Max: which should you choose?
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | iPhone Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Traditional single screen | Folding, iPad-mini-sized inner display |
| Security | Face ID | Touch ID |
| Cameras | Three lenses, including telephoto | Two lenses, no telephoto |
| Battery | ~5,391–5,567mAh | ~5,000–5,500mAh |
| Starting price | Expected rise over iPhone 17 Pro Max | Around $2,500 |
If long-range zoom and Face ID matter to you, the Pro Max remains the stronger all-round camera phone. The Ultra's appeal is squarely about the folding form factor and extra screen real estate for multitasking — a genuinely different use case rather than a straight upgrade.
7. iPhone Ultra deals: what to expect at launch
Given the Ultra's price and positioning, expect a different pattern from a typical iPhone launch:
- Contract pricing will likely be Vodafone's highest for any current iPhone, even on longer 36-month terms
- Stock may be tighter in the first few weeks than for the standard Pro range, given the complexity of a first-generation folding device
- Trade-in offers on high-end outgoing phones are worth checking closely, since they can meaningfully offset the Ultra's starting price
8. Should you wait, or buy an iPhone 18 Pro Max instead?
For most people, the iPhone 18 Pro Max will likely remain the more practical choice — a stronger camera system, Face ID, and a considerably lower price. The Ultra makes sense mainly for anyone specifically drawn to the folding form factor and the extra screen space it brings for multitasking, and who's comfortable paying a significant premium — and losing the telephoto lens — for that novelty.
Compare the latest Vodafone iPhone 18 Pro Max deals → to weigh it up against the Ultra.
9. Vodafone iPhone Ultra FAQs
When is the iPhone Ultra coming out on Vodafone?
Most likely alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max around 8–9 September 2026, though the foldable could see availability trail its siblings slightly.
How much will the iPhone Ultra cost?
Reports point to a starting price around $2,500, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone by a clear margin once it reaches Vodafone.
Does the iPhone Ultra have Face ID?
Leaks suggest not — Apple is expected to use Touch ID instead, at least for this first generation, due to the engineering challenges of fitting Face ID into a folding chassis.
Is the camera as good as the iPhone 18 Pro Max?
Likely not for zoom photography — the Ultra is expected to ship with two rear cameras and no dedicated telephoto lens, unlike the three-lens Pro Max.
Everything on this page is based on leaks and rumour and will be updated as Apple and Vodafone confirm official details.
