Anticipations Surrounding Apple’s iPhone Ultra: Possible Absences of Key Features
Apple’s highly anticipated foldable iPhone, referred to as the “iPhone Ultra,” may exclude at least five significant features found in the iPhone 18 Pro models, despite a considerable price tag of $2,000.
Recent revelations from dummy models circulated by tech enthusiasts Sonny Dickson and Vadim Yuryev have shed light on two previously unreported omissions: MagSafe and the Action Button.
Dummy units serve as stand-ins for actual devices, primarily aiding accessory manufacturers in producing items like cases ahead of official announcements. This practice necessitates exceptional accuracy and manufacturing precision.
These dummy models indicate that the volume buttons will be strategically positioned along the top edge of the device, mirroring the layout of the iPad mini.
This design choice, initially speculated by Weibo leaker “Instant Digital,” implies that the motherboard is located on the device’s right side, avoiding the need to route cables across the screen. This design approach maximizes internal space efficiency.
Notably, while the new locations for the power and volume buttons are clearly delineated on the dummy models, the absence of the Action Button raises eyebrows.
This omission suggests that the iPhone Ultra may be the inaugural model without an Action Button or silent switch—an innovation first introduced in the iPhone 15 Pro and subsequently adopted in all newer models.
The images of the foldable iPhone dummies have surfaced alongside mock-ups of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
These high-end models, like many dummy units, exhibit precise indentations for the internal array of MagSafe magnets, ensuring that accessory manufacturers achieve correct alignment.
However, the lack of such indentations on the foldable iPhone prototypes implies that the device may indeed forgo MagSafe support.
Given its anticipated thickness of just 4.5mm, it is not implausible that such a slim design is incompatible with the MagSafe technology.
Moreover, the design’s slim profile may also hinder the integration of Apple’s TrueDepth camera array, vital for Face ID functionality currently residing within the Dynamic Island.
In light of this, Apple is likely to revert to Touch ID for authentication—a notable move, as the last iPhone featuring Touch ID was the 2022 iPhone SE 3, primarily positioned as a budget model, while the last flagship model to incorporate this feature was the 2016 iPhone 7.
The dummy models reinforce various rumors indicating that the iPhone Ultra will house only two rear cameras, specifically wide and ultra-wide formats akin to the iPhone 17, eschewing a third telephoto lens commonly found in the Pro variants.
Additionally, prior insights suggest that the iPhone Ultra may lack a SIM card slot, aligning it with the iPhone Air and transitioning solely to eSIM functionality. Consequently, the device might be devoid of the following:
- Face ID/TrueDepth camera array
- Telephoto camera/third rear camera
- MagSafe support
- Action Button
- Physical SIM card slot
The iPhone Air similarly lacks ultra-wide and telephoto capabilities, a physical SIM card slot, and stereo speakers.
Owing to its ultra-thin profile, titanium frame, and glass back, the iPhone Ultra is anticipated to closely resemble the iPhone Air in design; thus, it is plausible that additional feature sacrifices may accompany its launch later this year.
While there are no confirmed reports regarding the absence of stereo speakers, this possibility remains on the table, given the overall design concessions Apple has opted for.
Initial price estimates for the iPhone Ultra vary, but the consensus suggests it will not fall below $1,999. In comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro commences at $1,099, boasting all the aforementioned features that the iPhone Ultra is predicted to lack.
Such compromises have the potential to incite controversy, particularly given the premium pricing. The device is expected to debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in the fall, setting the stage for intense market scrutiny.
Source link: Macrumors.com.
