As Apple's September 9 "Surprise and shine" event, where it is expected to reveal the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, draws near, you might be having a hard time deciding which one you want. While a foldable phone sounds amazing on paper, trade-offs and durability concerns might make you want to stick with a standard phone. What if you didn't have to make that decision at all?
Not quite the top tier?
The iPhone Ultra may be the center of attention due to its foldable screen and multi-tasking capabilities, but make no mistake, it won't offer the highest-end specs. While it will share the same A20 Pro chip as the iPhone 18 Pro, it won't have a dedicated telephoto camera and might swap Face ID for Touch ID.
For a device expected to cross the $2,000 mark, those cut corners don't feel justified.
Even if you are willing to shell out two grand, a bad drop could leave you with a $1,155 screen repair bill.
The iPhone 18 Pro, or at least the Max model, will be pretty exciting due to a variable aperture camera system. Both models are also expected to feature a smaller Dynamic Island. Those improvements and the current memory crunch could lead to a $300 premium over the current models, though.
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If you have a fairly recent iPhone model, the iPhone 18 Pro isn't going to feel like a huge upgrade, making you wonder once again if you should pull the trigger on the iPhone Ultra.
Why choose just one?
You might soon be able to use the same number on two iPhones. | Image by pfdu
What if you kept your current iPhone and picked up the iPhone Ultra? Sure, you'd forgo a trade-in discount or take on a second monthly payment, but you'd get the best of both worlds.
Sounds wild? Apple seems to be actively guiding you toward that decision.
Don't toss your candy-bar iPhone just yet
Apple quietly teased a new number-sharing feature called "iPhone Handoff" during WWDC 2026. A developer was able to preview how it works. Basically, it will let you share one phone number across two iPhones, though not at the same time. The idea is to allow for seamless switching without the hassle of getting a new number.
Phone reviewers and software developers will obviously love this, but that doesn't mean it will remain a niche feature for power users.
To be honest, I doubt most people want the headache of juggling two phones, even with Apple's new feature.
What's Apple trying to do?
5 Votes
Sinking deeper into the Apple ecosystem
As if the Apple ecosystem didn't already have a chokehold on your Mac, iPad, AirPods, and iPhone, Apple now wants you to have two iPhones.
That's the prevailing theory anyway. By making it easier for you to keep two phones, Apple is incentivizing you to reserve the iPhone Ultra for times when you need a big screen for productivity and entertainment, and a regular iPhone for times when you'd rather not risk using a foldable, such as when you are at the beach or hiking.
Is that the whole story?
Rumor has it that durability was top-of-mind for Apple, but does the number-sharing feature signal a lack of confidence? This is Apple's first foldable after all, and there have been reports of production challenges.
Encouraging you to keep a traditional iPhone around might be Apple's subtle defense against everyday wear and tear. Apple probably isn't fully confident that its foldable phone can handle being an everyday device.
Another piece of speculation is that iPhone Handoff would make it more likely for customers to get the device for a test run, as a layer of friction would be removed.
Either way, Apple is covering every angle to give the iPhone Ultra the best shot at success.
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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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