Foldable iPhone Ultra May Lack 5 Key Features Despite $2,000 Price
▼ Summary
– The foldable iPhone Ultra, expected to cost at least $1,999, may lack Face ID, requiring a return to Touch ID because the device is too thin for the TrueDepth camera array.
– Dummy models suggest the iPhone Ultra will not have MagSafe, likely due to its ultra-thin 4.5mm design, which may be too slim for the necessary magnet array.
– The Action button and silent switch appear to be absent from the iPhone Ultra, making it the first iPhone model to omit this feature.
– The device is expected to have only two rear cameras (wide and ultra-wide), missing the telephoto lens found on Pro models.
– Additional missing features include no physical SIM card slot (eSIM only), and the volume buttons are relocated to the top edge to maximize internal space.
Apple’s long-rumored first foldable device, tentatively called the iPhone Ultra, is shaping up to be one of the most polarizing releases in company history. Despite an expected starting price of at least $2,000, new evidence suggests it may launch without at least five major features found on the standard iPhone 18 Pro models.
Recent dummy unit images shared by known leakers Sonny Dickson and Vadim Yuryev reveal two previously unconfirmed omissions: MagSafe and the Action Button. These dummy models, which accessory manufacturers rely on for precise case production, show volume buttons relocated to the top edge of the device, aligned to the right , a layout similar to the iPad mini. This placement, first hinted at by Weibo leaker “Instant Digital,” is reportedly due to the motherboard being positioned on the right side. To avoid running cables across the screen, Apple moved the volume controls directly upward, maximizing internal space.
What stands out most is the absence of both a silent switch and an Action Button. Since the iPhone 15 Pro introduced the Action Button as a replacement for the mute toggle, every subsequent iPhone model has included it. The iPhone Ultra would mark the first time Apple has shipped an iPhone without either.
The dummy images also show the iPhone Ultra alongside mock iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max units. Those high-end dummies include precise indentations for the MagSafe magnet array, a detail absent on the foldable version. While still speculative, the device is expected to be just 4.5mm thick , Apple’s thinnest iPhone to date , which may leave insufficient room for the MagSafe components.
Thickness constraints also appear to force a return to Touch ID. The iPhone Ultra is reportedly too slim to house Apple’s TrueDepth camera array, which powers Face ID and sits in the Dynamic Island. If true, this would be the first flagship iPhone to rely solely on Touch ID since the iPhone 7 in 2016. The last iPhone with Touch ID was the budget-focused iPhone SE 3 in 2022, making this a dramatic shift for a premium device.
The camera system also takes a step back. According to the dummy models and multiple rumors, the iPhone Ultra will feature just two rear cameras: a wide and an ultra-wide lens. There will be no telephoto camera, matching the camera setup of the lower-end iPhone 17. By contrast, the iPhone 18 Pro models include a triple-lens system with optical zoom.
Other expected omissions include a physical SIM card slot, limiting the device to eSIM only , a trait shared with the iPhone Air. That device also lacks Ultra Wide and Telephoto rear cameras, a SIM slot, and stereo speakers. Given the design similarities between the iPhone Air and the iPhone Ultra , a super-thin build, titanium frame, and glass back , further compromises are possible. While there is no evidence yet that stereo speakers will be cut, it remains a possibility given the extreme thinness.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to launch later this year alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. With a rumored starting price of $1,999 or higher, it will cost nearly double the iPhone 17 Pro, which starts at $1,099 and includes all the features the iPhone Ultra may lack. That price-to-feature gap could spark significant debate among consumers and analysts alike.
(Source: MacRumors)
