What's in a name? A lot if Apple is involved. Monikers like "Pro," "Ultra," and "Air" tell you a lot about where the device sits on the spec hierarchy. That's precisely why not everyone thinks Apple's first foldable device will carry the Ultra badge.
Call it the iPhone Fold
The foldable iPhone isn't high-end enough to be called the Ultra. | Image by Instant Digital
From "iFold" to "iFlip," many nicknames have been attributed to Apple's mysterious bendable device. Journalists had mostly settled on "iPhone Fold," until leaker Digital Chat Station claimed in April that it was to be called the iPhone Ultra.
Fellow Weibo tipster Instant Digital has rebuffed that leak, claiming the Ultra designation is being reserved for the 20th anniversary iPhone and its successors.
It's not just a case of running out of appellations either. Apparently, the foldable phone won't be high-end enough to earn that title.
Sure, the folding screen will make it stand out, but its specs won't place it in the same tier as the high-performance Ultra chips and the rugged Apple Watch Ultra.
How does this change your perception of the iPhone Ultra?
Can't even touch the Pros
Unique but not Ultra. | Image by X
A few days ago, Creative Strategies analyst Max Weinbach stirred up a similar debate, arguing that while the foldable iPhone will be unique, it will slot below the iPhone Pro.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman responded that the device is internally called the iPhone Ultra.
It's not clear if Instant Digital is just regurgitating those claims or has first-hand intel about the naming scheme.
Come to think of it...
While the foldable iPhone's unique design and multi-tasking features are bound to win it fans, that doesn't detract from the fact that it won't be the most specced-out iPhone on the market. It will trade Face ID for Touch ID, make do without a telephoto camera, skip MagSafe, and leave out the Action Button.
Foldable trade-offs
The complex design of foldable phones demands compromise, so most iOS diehards will happily forgo features they are used to for a foldable screen.
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Per Instant Digital, while the hinge assembly is still giving Apple a tough time, production lines are still chugging along. Still, initial inventory will be limited, with Apple forecasted to produce only about 10 million units this year.
Here's why the foldable iPhone will still be special
Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.
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