Mark Gurman disputes the red iPhone Ultra renders shared by Evan Blass

The striking red iPhone Ultra renders shared by Evan Blass should not be treated as an authentic Apple leak. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said he heard the images “came from Xiaomi” and called them an illegitimate look at Apple’s upcoming foldable iPhone. He also said the device will not be offered in red or green. 61

What Gurman said about the renders

Blass’s post depicted Apple’s rumored book-style foldable in white, black, and a vivid red finish. The red version attracted the most attention because earlier reporting had generally described more conservative color choices.

Gurman directly rejected the images’ authenticity, writing that they were “renders made by Xiaomi for some reason.” His statement does not merely dispute the red color; it casts doubt on the renders as representations of the foldable’s design at all. 61

That means the images should not be used as evidence for the phone’s final casing, camera layout, software interface, or color lineup.

Why the software shown in the images looked suspicious

Observers also pointed to apparent interface problems in the renders. Reported examples included a status-bar battery indicator associated with an older iOS design, along with other details that did not fit expectations for a device supposedly running the upcoming software.

However, the available evidence does not show that Gurman published a detailed checklist of individual iOS 27 errors. The stronger, supportable conclusion is broader: once the renders’ Xiaomi origin and overall authenticity were challenged, the interface depicted in them became unreliable evidence of Apple’s software plans.

Apple has separately been reported to be preparing iOS 27 references and features connected to a foldable iPhone, but that reporting does not validate the interface shown in Blass’s images. 2

What colors are more likely?

The red render conflicts with the more subdued color picture that has emerged from earlier rumors. Reports have pointed to combinations such as space gray or black and silver or white, while other speculation has suggested indigo as the darker option. 1

There is still disagreement over the exact lineup. One rumor suggested Apple had not finalized whether black would be offered, while other reports described white as the most consistent or only relatively firm option.

So the safest description is not that the foldable will definitely come in black and white, but that the available rumor record favors understated finishes. Gurman’s explicit rejection of red and green makes the bright red render especially difficult to reconcile with those reports. 61

Why the dispute matters despite Blass’s reputation

The claim received attention because Evan Blass is generally regarded as a reliable leaker. That made Gurman’s public rebuttal notable: two familiar names in Apple-leak reporting appeared to conflict over the same images. 1

Reliability, however, does not make any individual post definitive. In this case, the disagreement is a reminder that attractive product renders can circulate widely before their origin, software details, or relationship to a real prototype are established.

When Apple is expected to settle the question

Apple has announced a September 9, 2026 event at Apple Park with the tagline “Surprise and shine.” Bloomberg reports that the company is expected to introduce its foldable iPhone there, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, although Apple had not officially confirmed the full product lineup in the cited reporting. 113

That event should clarify whether the foldable is marketed as an iPhone Ultra, iPhone Fold, or under another name, as well as its actual colors and user interface. Until then, Gurman’s account supports a clear verdict on the viral renders: they are not a reliable preview of Apple’s final device.