Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has shared fresh details on Apple’s foldable iPhone. Overall, early impressions sound strong. However, one part of the device isn’t landing as well: the camera.
Gurman covered this in his latest Power On newsletter. In it, he says people who have tried the device — reportedly called the iPhone Ultra internally — like how it feels in the pocket. They’ve also praised the hinge mechanism, both for its feel and its durability. In addition, testers have responded well to the new iPad-style app layouts. These layouts take full advantage of the larger internal display once the phone unfolds.
The device performs well beyond typical use cases, too. For example, testers have complimented its performance for video, gaming, and general productivity. According to Gurman, it even works nicely as a camera viewfinder. Still, the camera setup itself isn’t without flaws. Notably, the device lacks a telephoto lens. Given the phone’s expected price, that gap could turn some buyers away. As it stands, the rear camera system relies on two lenses: a 48-megapixel main sensor paired with an ultra-wide lens.
Apple also appears to be making other trade-offs. For instance, the foldable will reportedly use Touch ID built into the side button instead of in-display Face ID. This choice helps keep the unfolded thickness around 4.5mm. Even so, Gurman notes that some users may actually prefer the more traditional Touch ID setup. Meanwhile, the display specs echo a familiar competitor. Like Samsung’s recently released Z Fold 8, the iPhone Ultra is expected to include a 5.5-inch outer display. Once opened, the inner display should measure roughly 7.8 inches, resulting in a wide, book-style form factor.
A launch date is already coming into focus. Apple plans to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. That event is expected around September 9. As for pricing, reports suggest a starting cost near $2,000. Higher storage configurations, meanwhile, could push the price past $2,500.
Overall, the iPhone Ultra seems to be shaping up as a genuinely ambitious device. Nevertheless, the missing telephoto lens may still give some buyers pause, especially at this price point. Ultimately, real-world reviews after launch should reveal whether the trade-offs are worth it.
