Apple officially kicked off its annual fall hardware keynote, titled "Surprise and Shine," marking the first major product showcase presided over by Chief Executive Officer John Ternus. The central highlight of the Cupertino presentation was the unveiling of the long-anticipated foldable smartphone, officially designated as the iPhone Ultra. Engineered around a high-durability titanium frame and powered by the 2-nanometer A20 Pro system-on-chip, the flagship device features a 7.8-inch inner flexible display alongside a 5.3-inch cover screen. Designed to run specialized spatial multitasking features native to iOS, the hardware incorporates advanced thermal management layers and an updated biometric authentication system integrated into the side control button. Alongside the foldable Ultra model, Apple introduced its updated smartwatch lineup, including the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, featuring new health sensors and ceramic chassis options. Technology analysts observe that launching a flexible screen architecture marks Apple’s most radical hardware design pivot in years, aiming to capture growing demand for premium form factors across international mobile markets. A New Form Factor and Leadership Epoch for Cupertino At its highly anticipated "Surprise and Shine" keynote streamed live from Apple Park in Cupertino, Apple officially unveiled its long-rumored first foldable device—the iPhone Ultra. The event marked a dual landmark for the company, serving as the hardware debut of Apple’s first foldable smartphone and the first major keynote hosted by CEO John Ternus following Tim Cook's transition to executive chairman. Positioned alongside the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the iPhone Ultra enters the ultra-premium smartphone market with a starting price of $2,199, targeting high-end power users and mobile professionals. Zero-Crease Engineering and Ultra-Thin Hardware Architecture The iPhone Ultra features a 7.8-inch inner OLED display with a 4:3 aspect ratio resembling an iPad mini when opened, paired with a 5.5-inch outer cover display for standard one-handed smartphone use. Apple eliminated the center display crease by deploying a custom liquid metal hinge mechanism combined with optically clear adhesive to protect the ultra-thin glass from micro-abrasions over multi-year folding cycles. Unfolded, the chassis measures just 4.5mm thick, requiring the engineering team to replace the TrueDepth Face ID system with a side-mounted Touch ID sensor integrated directly into the titanium power button. Performance Benchmarks and Ecosystem Integration Under the hood, the foldable is powered by Apple's next-generation 2nm A20 Pro silicon chip, paired with 12GB of RAM and Apple's in-house C2 5G cellular modem. Software-wise, iOS 20 introduces tailored multitasking capabilities, side-by-side app pairing, and fluid drag-and-drop mechanics designed to bridge the gap between iPhone and iPadOS workflows. Pre-orders for the iPhone Ultra and the accompanying iPhone 18 Pro series open this Friday, with global retail availability scheduled to begin on September 18.