This article may contain personal views and opinion from the author.
Not a novel design. | Image by Sonny Dickson
As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't make up your mind before a product is out. Leakers don't know everything, and certain details can't be captured by photos, like how sleek and chic the iPhone Air ended up being. That said, leaks do capture the general vibe quite well. If the current rumors hold true for the iPhone Ultra, I wonder why Apple waited this long to release a foldable.
Design — exists
The Huawei Pura X Max | Image by Huawei
The iPhone Ultra is almost entirely original, if you look past the fact that it's a bolder take on the original Google Pixel Fold. That device was also wide and short, even if it wasn't quite as compact as the iPhone Ultra is expected to be.
Regardless, Apple deserves credit for recognizing that not everyone wants a giant device in the name of a foldable.
By the time the device actually launches, though, the design will have lost its novelty. Huawei has already launched a wide foldable, and Samsung is set to launch one next month.
Crease — not eliminated
An iPhone Ultra dummy unit. | Image by Sonny Dickson
Apple reportedly held out for as long as it did because it wanted its foldable to rise above the competition. That was supposed to mean a non-existent crease and a profile as slim as a conventional handset.
However, if a new leak is anything to go by, the phone will have a fairly prominent crease. Full disclaimer: dummy models aren't built with the same tech as retail units, so they rarely mimic the final design perfectly.
Dummy units aside, most recent reports claim Apple has simply minimized the crease, which, breaking news, pretty much every other manufacturer has already done. The new benchmark was supposed to be higher, but it looks like Apple won't be the one setting it.
What will the iPhone Ultra be like?
Only the best foldable phone ever.
15.74%
Just another foldable phone.
48.15%
A mediocre phone that unfolds into an awkward tablet.
36.11%
216 Votes
Illusion of something special
The iPhone Ultra may not be fundamentally different from other foldable phones on the market, which is fine. Most bendable handsets are already highly capable devices, and Apple getting the technicalities right on its first attempt would be an achievement in itself.
Recommended For You
Still, Apple will do its best to convince you of the iPhone Ultra's uniqueness. Aside from slapping on a massive price tag, one tactic might be restricting it to a single color.
It's a playbook the company has already used with other premium products such as the Apple Watch Ultra and Vision Pro.
The Apple ecosystem will save the day once again
iOS will be the saving grace. | Image by Yarn
Based on what we know, the iPhone Ultra doesn't have a single killer feature. As always, the onus falls on the broader ecosystem to save the device. Apparently, Apple loyalists with a desk full of Apple gear will only buy Apple products (don't come at me; I am platform-agnostic). And that, ladies and gentlemen, will likely be the ultimate saving grace of the iPhone Ultra.
Six-month unlimited plan is now 57% off
$90
$210
$120 off (57%)
Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.
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.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: