5 flagship features missing from the iPhone Ultra, and why Apple left them out
The iPhone Ultra has been making all the headlines lately, and for a good reason. However, there are five key features that are quite likely to be missing from the $2,000+ device.
The iPhone Ultra has been making all the headlines lately, and for good reason. It's the first foldable iPhone. However, there are five key features that are quite likely to be missing from the $2,000+ device.
1. No telephoto camera on the iPhone Ultra
Latest dummy units give us a better look at the iPhone Ultra's camera system. | Image by Sonny Dickson
For the past couple of iPhone generations, one of the big divides between the regular and Pro models has been the telephoto camera.
Looking at all the dummy models, leaked images, schematics, and renders, the iPhone Ultra is expected to feature only two cameras on its back.
These are most likely a pair of 48MP sensors, one under a wide-angle lens and one serving ultrawide duties.
The camera system could very well be taken straight from the iPhone 17—featuring what Apple calls Fusion cameras: one 48MP, 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 Fusion main camera and a 48MP, 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 Fusion ultrawide.
Giving the iPhone Ultra the same cameras as a $799 iPhone is disappointing, to say the least. Of course, this is pure speculation, and the iPhone Ultra could bring brand-new cameras, but the word around is that the camera system is not very impressive.
Mark Gurman commented last month that some people who were lucky enough to try the iPhone Ultra pointed out the camera system as the weak spot of the device.
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And even though the Galaxy Z Fold 8 lacks a telephoto camera as well, its bigger sibling, the Fold 8 Ultra, has one. The latest passport-style foldable from Huawei, the Pura X Max, also sports a 50MP telephoto, so it's technically possible to add one to such a form factor.
What feature will you miss the most on the iPhone Ultra?
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Why Apple left out the telephoto camera
Apple reportedly decided to skip the telephoto camera on the iPhone Ultra mainly to keep the device slim when folded. The device is rumored to measure roughly 4.5 mm when unfolded, leaving virtually no interior depth for a complex periscope or optical telephoto lens.
Another possible reason is internal space. At this thickness, packing all the hardware components, the powerful A chipset and its cooling system, and the battery — all requires a lot of space.
2. No Face ID
No space for the TrueDepth camera array. | Image by Sonny Dickson
Another big potential omission is Face ID. Apple's biometric system has been an industry standard for many years now, but it seems the iPhone Ultra is going to miss it. It's believed the device is just too thin to physically fit Apple's TrueDepth camera array inside.
The last flagship iPhone to sport Touch ID, not counting the SE models, was the iPhone 7 from 2016.
Apple will still slap on two selfie cameras, both on the cover screen and on the main, flexible one, but no 3D radar magic.
Why Apple left Face ID out
I already touched upon that. Just like with the telephoto camera, there's no physical space to fit the TrueDepth system inside the iPhone Ultra's thin body. Or at least that's what all the reports say. Would you miss Face ID, or are you happy that Touch ID is returning on a flagship phone?
It's the iPhone Air formula all over again. | Image by PhoneArena
We saw that one coming, following the iPhone Air release. There will be no physical SIM card slot on the iPhone Ultra.
The info was corroborated by big names in the business of Apple leaks, such as Mark Gurman and Ming-Chi Kuo.
The iPhone 17 series also relies on eSIM only, but in certain regions such as the US, Canada, Mexico, and Japan, while models for Europe and the rest of the world feature physical SIM slots.
This further cements the earlier rumors that the iPhone Ultra could be a US-only device. Many countries in Europe, for example, require physical SIMs for security and identification purposes, so the iPhone Ultra is not coming to Europe anytime soon, it seems.
Why Apple left the physical SIM slot out
Another case of space constraint. This is getting old, but looking at the battery discrepancies between iPhone 17 series eSIM-only and physical SIM models, it's clear that a physical SIM takes valuable space.
In the case of the iPhone Ultra, that space is severely limited by design. It's not a big deal, especially for the US market, where the latest iPhones are all eSIM-only anyway.
4. No mmWave 5G
The iPhone Ultra will most likely miss ultra-fast mmWave 5G. The C2 modem is the culprit. | Image by WccfTech
According to the latest rumors and leaks, the iPhone Ultra is going to feature Apple's in-house-developed C2 modem. This automatically means the phone will be lacking mmWave capability, as Apple's silicon still doesn't support it.
The iPhone 18 models, on the other hand, are expected to retain Qualcomm's modem, which supports mmWave in the US.
Why Apple left mmWave out on the iPhone Ultra
It's clear that the company is trying to break away from Qualcomm and rely on in-house solutions. The C2 modem serves as a transition point in this strategy, but the decision to use this modem on the iPhone Ultra is a bit strange.
Apple is repeating the iPhone Air formula, but we're talking about a much more expensive and important model here. The lack of high-speed 5G could turn some people away from the iPhone Ultra if the price hadn't done that already.
5. No Action Button
The reason behind the strange button arrangement on the iPhone Ultra (translated from Chinese). | Image by Weibo
Apple is keeping the Camera Control button on the iPhone Ultra, but all the dummy models lack an Action Button.
There are volume buttons and a power button on the right, but the left edge appears to be entirely bare. The lack of an Action Button or a silent switch could make the iPhone Ultra the first iPhone to miss the feature since Apple debuted it on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Why Apple skipped the Action button on the iPhone Ultra
The story here is more complicated than the usual "space-saving" story. According to Weibo tipster Instant Digital, Apple opted for an interesting internal architecture for the iPhone Ultra.
The motherboard is located on the right side, and Apple reportedly didn't want to run cables across the folding screen to minimize the chance of failure.
That's why all the buttons are located on the right side of the iPhone Ultra, and possibly why the Action Button omission was necessary.
iPhone Ultra to be the most expensive iPhone ever
There are a lot of rumors concerning the iPhone Ultra's price tag. The latest leaks put the price somewhere between $2,000 and $3,000. That's a lot of money, even for a foldable, and with these critical omissions, plus all the production problems and rumors of delays, the iPhone Ultra might be in for a tough debut.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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