The slogan used by Apple in China for the special event to be held on September 9 has added new material to the foldable iPhone rumors, thanks to the extraordinary translation of Google Translate. Reading the phrase “亮新篇，来耀眼。” on the Apple China page through the visual, Google Translate translates the slogan into English as “A new chapter unfolds, dazzling and brilliant”, and especially the word “unfolds” directly evokes the foldable design. Apple, on the other hand, has not yet officially confirmed a foldable iPhone or the “iPhone Ultra” name.
Apple, event September 9, 2026 at 20.00 will make it happen. While the company’s English invitation includes the slogan “Surprise and shine”, Apple directly uses the phrase “亮新篇，来耀眼。” on the Chinese page. When we check Apple’s China page, we see that the company displays this text as the main slogan of the event. Local news sources in China interpret the “亮新篇” section mainly as meaning “opening a new page, a new chapter”. When we check the Turkish translation, we see a translation that means this.
Google Translate is the most interesting part of the story here. In the experiment reported by 9to5Mac, when the user gives a screenshot of the China event visual to Google Translate’s visual translation tool, the system produces the phrase “A new chapter unfolds”. Since the English verb “unfold” means both “to emerge, develop” and physically “unfold”, the translation turns into a play on words in terms of Apple’s foldable phone, which has been talked about for years. However, 9to5Mac specifically states that other translation tools do not produce the same result, so we do not have enough evidence to say that Apple consciously prepared an English “fold” reference here.
The Chinese slogan itself supports this cautious approach. Chinese media treats “亮新篇” as the beginning of a new era or a new chapter and does not associate the slogan solely with the foldable iPhone. Apple’s management change also strengthens the “new page” comment, because the company’s new CEO, John Ternus on September 1 will take over, and the September 9 event will be his first major product launch as CEO. Therefore, seeing Google Translate’s choice of “unfolds” as a pleasant coincidence or a double-meaning machine translation offers a more solid approach at this stage.
Foldable iPhone rumors are now much more concrete
Putting the translation debate aside, news about Apple’s first foldable iPhone has become distinctly concrete in recent months. The Information reports that Apple plans to launch the foldable model, codenamed V68, in the fall of 2026, and that the device will use a book-type design that resembles a small iPad when opened. According to the measurements previously shared by the source, the device is approximately An external display smaller than 5.7 incheswhen opened An internal screen approaching 8 inches will present. MacRumors’ current compilation also brings together different sources that indicate that the device will use an external screen of approximately 5.3-5.5 inches and an internal screen of 7.6-7.8 inches.
The name “iPhone Ultra” is still in the rumor stage. MacRumors and 9to5Mac sources indicate that Apple may present the foldable phone with this name, but Apple does not mention the iPhone Ultra name nor a foldable product in its invitation. Details such as a design that carries Touch ID to the power button for the device, a titanium body, dual rear cameras and a new hinge structure that reduces the screen footprint as much as possible are also included in various sources. Price estimates are approximately Starting at $1,999 and up to $2,500 comes out.
Apple’s slogan raises expectations before September 9
The foldable model may not be the only big change in Apple’s 2026 iPhone plan. The Information’s supply chain sources report that the company plans to push out the more expensive Pro models and foldable phone in the fall and release the standard iPhone 18 to spring 2027. Such a schedule would significantly change Apple’s traditional fall iPhone layout. MacRumors also expects the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first foldable iPhone to take center stage at the September 9 event.
In fact, the play on words in the Chinese slogan does not prove the foldable iPhone claim, but rather shows how easily the uncertainty created by Apple before the event can be interpreted into different meanings. Google Translate’s choice of “unfolds” is a really fun coincidence, but the original expression used by Apple in China does not contain a word that directly means “fold” or “unfold”. The real strong evidence about the foldable iPhone is not the translation, but the supply chain and product road map news that support each other in recent months. The definitive answer is September 9 at 20.00 Apple will give it.
Join Channel