Apple said to plan larger screens for third-gen foldable iPhone

Foldable “iPhone Ultra 3” rumors picked up pace this week after MacRumors highlighted a Bloomberg report that Apple is already mapping out a third-generation foldable iPhone with larger displays and a launch window as early as 2028. The detail, shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter and relayed by MacRumors on August 9, hints that Apple’s foldable roadmap now stretches well beyond a first‑generation device.

For Apple watchers and smartphone makers alike, that kind of long-range planning matters. It signals that Apple is not treating foldables as a one‑off experiment, and that screen size will be a key battleground by the time a model informally dubbed “iPhone Ultra 3” comes into view.

What Bloomberg and MacRumors are actually reporting

MacRumors reports that Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, in his Power On newsletter, says Apple is already making plans for a third‑generation foldable iPhone. The device is described as having larger displays than earlier versions in the line, with launch timing suggested as early as 2028.

There are no concrete specs in the reporting so far: no exact screen measurements, no confirmed form factor, and no official name from Apple itself. The “iPhone Ultra 3” label comes from the way rumor cycles typically shorthand future premium models, not from any public branding decision.

The key takeaway is the roadmap. If planning has reached a third‑generation concept with bigger screens and a multi‑year timeline, Apple is treating foldables as a category it expects to iterate on, rather than a single halo product that lives or dies on its first release.

“The real story is the roadmap: Apple is already thinking in generations, not just a single foldable gamble.”

Why a larger foldable iPhone display would matter

Rumors of larger displays on a future "iPhone Ultra 3" point to how Apple may want a foldable to function: less like a slightly bendy phone and more like a pocketable tablet. Bigger screens would matter for the things iPhone users already lean on large displays for, including streaming video, gaming, reading, and multi‑tasking across several apps at once.

A foldable with more generous screen real estate would also better showcase Apple’s services ecosystem, from video and music to productivity tools. While the current report does not detail software features, planning a third‑generation model around larger displays suggests Apple expects people to spend real time doing more than just glancing at notifications on a narrow panel.

For anyone weighing whether a future foldable iPhone might replace both a phone and a small tablet, this early signal is important: display size is emerging as a core part of Apple’s long‑term thinking around the product line, not an afterthought.

“Larger foldable screens hint that Apple wants this device to feel closer to a pocketable tablet than a novelty phone.”

Spinn Radio

Follow live news on Spinn Radio

How a 2028 timeline shapes Apple’s foldable strategy

The Bloomberg report, as cited by MacRumors, points to a launch for this third‑generation foldable iPhone as early as 2028. That timing places the rumored "iPhone Ultra 3" several product cycles away, which in turn implies at least one and likely more earlier foldable entries before it arrives.

A multi‑year horizon gives Apple time to refine hinge durability, display longevity, and software behavior around folding screens, all while watching how early adopters respond to the first models. Even without specifics, the notion of a third‑generation device dated around 2028 underlines that Apple is comfortable moving slowly and iterating in a category where rivals have already made several attempts.

For consumers, the practical takeaway is patience. The eye‑catching larger screens described in this report are not around the corner. Anyone interested in Apple’s eventual take on a big‑screen foldable is looking at a long runway in which the first and second iterations are likely to establish the basics before this more expansive third‑gen concept appears.

What this means for Apple’s rivals in foldable phones

Even without concrete specs, confirmation that Apple is planning at least three generations of foldable iPhones will not go unnoticed by the rest of the smartphone industry. The Bloomberg report, surfaced by MacRumors, effectively tells competitors that Apple sees long‑term value in the category and is already lining up a variant that leans on larger displays as a selling point.

That is likely to influence how other manufacturers pace their own upgrades in screen size, hinge design, and software for big inner displays. Knowing that a future premium Apple foldable is targeting more expansive screens by around 2028 gives rivals a window to differentiate early, or to hold back certain innovations for when Apple finally enters the market at scale.

For users of non‑Apple foldables, the story to watch is how quickly features pioneered elsewhere might nudge Apple’s own plans. The company’s decision to work toward a third‑generation device with larger displays suggests it expects competition in that upper tier to still be active several years from now, rather than fading out.

“Apple planning a third‑gen foldable tells rivals this category is meant to last, not vanish after a single flashy release.”

What to watch next and where to follow foldable iPhone news

The immediate next step for anyone tracking this story is more reporting from outlets like Bloomberg and MacRumors that can firm up details around Apple’s first and second‑generation foldables. Those devices will set the template for what a later "iPhone Ultra 3" with larger displays can reasonably be expected to offer.

Over the coming months and years, watch for patterns in rumors around display suppliers, software changes tailored to folding screens, and whether Apple begins to hint at a new product category in its public events. Each of those would add context to this early signal that a bigger‑screen third‑gen model is on the drawing board for as early as 2028.

For ongoing coverage, analysis, and listener questions about foldable iPhones and the broader device landscape, you can Follow live news and talk on Spinn Radio. Spinn Radio Talk will be tracking how this long‑range plan unfolds and what it could mean for the devices in your pocket by the end of the decade.

Explore more on Spinn Radio: Follow live news and talk on Spinn Radio