Photo credit: X/@appleinsiderApple may already be looking beyond its first foldable iPhone. According to a new leak, the company has reportedly "confirmed" work on the iPhone Ultra 2, even before the first-generation foldable iPhone is expected to debut. The same leak also suggests the future of Apple's slim Air series is far less certain, with the fate of the rumoured iPhone Air 3 said to depend on the commercial performance of the upcoming iPhone Air 2.Key TakeawaysApple has reportedly greenlit development of the iPhone Ultra 2.The second-generation foldable may retain the same folding display as the first model.The first iPhone Ultra is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series.Work on the iPhone Air 3 has reportedly not started yet.Apple may decide the future of the Air lineup based on iPhone Air 2 sales.Leak suggests Apple is already planning its second foldable iPhoneAccording to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, Apple has already green-lit the iPhone Ultra 2, which means they're working on the follow-up to their first foldable iPhone before the original even hits the market. The tipster didn't get into specifics about what "confirmed" really means here, but the idea is clear - Apple's not waiting around to see how their first foldable does before moving forward. Honestly, it sounds a lot like what movie studios do - renewing shows or sequels before the first one even premieres because they're that confident in their long-term plans. Even though Apple hasn't officially said anything about a foldable iPhone yet, this leak shows they're already thinking a step ahead.Foldable display may remain unchangedThe report says the iPhone Ultra 2 will stick with the same wide folding display as the previous model, maybe even the exact panel that's supposed to launch with the first iPhone Ultra.If that's right, Apple looks like it’s putting more energy into polishing the user experience and software instead of rolling out a bunch of new hardware features right away. Reusing the same display should also make production smoother, freeing them up to work on other upgrades.Beyond these display rumours, neither Apple nor the source revealed any other hardware details or coming upgrades.First iPhone Ultra expected alongside iPhone 18 Pro lineupThe leak indicates that Apple's first foldable smartphone is expected to debut in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.Although Apple has not officially confirmed such a launch, the report suggests the company sees enough long-term potential in foldable smartphones to begin planning the next model even before unveiling the first one.The report does not mention pricing, regional availability or other hardware details for the foldable lineup.iPhone Air lineup faces a different futureWhile Apple's foldable plans appear to be moving ahead, the same confidence may not extend to the iPhone Air series.According to the leak, work on the iPhone Air 3 has not yet started. More importantly, the report claims Apple will decide whether the third-generation Air model moves forward only after evaluating the commercial performance of the upcoming iPhone Air 2.This suggests Apple is taking a wait-and-watch approach toward its slimmer smartphone lineup, with future investment depending on consumer demand.iPhone Air 2 sales could determine the lineup's futureThe iPhone Air 2 is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e next spring, the report says.Its commercial performance is reportedly expected to play a key role in determining whether Apple continues investing in the Air series.This is still rumoured, but it does point to the differing priorities suggested by the latest leak – Apple seemingly speeding up development of its foldables, but remaining cautious about expanding its ultra-thin smartphone line.Frequently Asked QuestionsQ1. What does the latest leak say about the iPhone Ultra 2?The leak claims Apple already gave the green light to work on the second-generation iPhone Ultra, even though Apple hasn’t announced anything official yet.Q2. Will the iPhone Ultra 2 use a new display?From what’s been reported, the foldable iPhone Ultra 2 will stick with the same big folding screen as the first model. It sounds like Apple isn’t making any major changes to the display panel this time.Q3. When is the first iPhone Ultra expected to launch?Leaks point to Apple debuting its first foldable iPhone in September, right alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.Q4. What is the latest update on the iPhone Air 3?Apple hasn’t started building the iPhone Air 3 yet, according to the report. There’s no guarantee it’ll actually launch.Q5. Why is the future of the iPhone Air lineup uncertain?Apple’s apparently waiting to see how well the upcoming iPhone Air 2 sells before deciding whether to keep the Air series going. If the numbers aren’t strong, the lineup might not continue.end of article