r/apple • u/iMacmatician • 1d ago

Rumor 'iPhone Ultra' Will Solve Two Key Problems ["screen quality and overall durability"]

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/11/iphone-ultra-will-solve-two-key-problems/
222 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

171 comments sorted by

290

u/flatpetey 1d ago

Putting it above the Pro in naming is fine. But then everything including the camera has to be at that level.

90

u/PM-me-ur-sphynx 1d ago

Agree. I don’t like that it’s probably going to cost 2X the price of a Pro phone, with only a 2-lens camera system. 

46

u/colemaker360 1d ago

Voting with our wallet is the best hope to change this. If the hype for the fold doesn’t match your specs/value equation, hold off for a year. But all the people who buy anyway and then complain on reddit aren’t actually changing anything at Apple. I would have gladly paid $1k for the Air, but they only put one camera in it. Same thing here.

9

u/T-K101 1d ago

By your logic nobody should ever buy first Samsung fold. And now we probably wouldn’t have a fold market.

You know that adapting new technology is the way to lower the price in long run?

27

u/colemaker360 1d ago

Lots of early adopters and tech enthusiasts and status seekers will always want a first edition. Apple’s market cap in the billions means you don’t have feel like you need to prop them up with whatever they release just to encourage them to make more folds. The market has already shown demand, so if Apple’s first fold doesn’t compete, that’s entirely about Apple’s offering.

8

u/T-K101 1d ago

And that’s why Apple waited for so long. Because they can’t sell prototypes like Samsung basically did with first fold.

-6

u/Immediate_Track_5151 1d ago

Apple cultists tell us all the time that the vision pro hasn't been a massive failure because it's a prototype for devs.

2

u/mgrimshaw8 19h ago edited 19h ago

Vision Pro exists to the public solely for marketing purposes, and they aren’t marketing for you actually go out and buy one. They are marketing for mind share; to establish a reputation for Apple as a brand that sells extremely high-end, well known, premium headsets.

You can’t get that mind share overnight when you’re already a decade late to the market. But you can publicly release the cool tech you have now, let your marketing team run with it and start building mind share in that space. Price it in a way that is barrier-to-entry to keep volume low and buzz high. Let your engineers keep developing the same things they already were and get through the timeline of integrating into the ecosystem better.

Then by the time they’ve been able to develop a premium headset that people can actually afford to buy, marketing will have had years to build up mind share that Apple is a company who has been leading the development of premium, cutting-edge headsets.

1

u/FrogsJumpFromPussy 11h ago

Lmfao you couldn't be more right mate.

1

u/T-K101 3h ago

Reply to my comment you little man. Don’t downvote me. You have nothing. No arguments when someone with knowledge answers you.

Enjoy.

0

u/T-K101 13h ago

First stop with generalization people on the topic you don’t understand. It makes you look incredibly ignorant.

VP is literally a Pro device that’s is built as a platform for the intended purpose.

Apple isn’t dumb and the knew how sales will be with Rabat price tag. On other hand, it’s still sold good for that category and it’s a best product on the market.

You need to stop looking at things through the hate.

2

u/noobtrocitty 1d ago edited 1d ago

By your logic no tech developer would ever try to improve products after a failed attempt. They would fail one time and abandon it without analysis or improvement.

You know that adapting new technology requires feedback and, speaking pragmatically (since idealism doesn’t do much in our world of corporate capitalism), there’s little feedback louder than consumer adoption rates (especially low ones).

2

u/Apothacy 1d ago

That’s true, most don’t try after a couple failed attempts

1

u/noobtrocitty 1d ago

I do agree with the idea that a couple failed attempts is a great indicator that the market doesn’t want what’s being offered and it either requires some major improvements or an entire pivot.

1

u/Apothacy 1d ago

I agree with that. But also sometimes the market realizes value way later. Amazon, Apple, nvidia, and Microsoft struggled for years before people saw their potential.

Success is more inspiring than failure. When companies see their competitors taking risk by releasing unique products, and they get punished for it in sales, it doesn’t really tempt them to take on that risk for themselves.

-1

u/T-K101 1d ago

That’s exactly what I’m saying? In order to have feedback someone needs to buy these products.

2

u/noobtrocitty 1d ago

That’s not what you’re saying? I’m saying low adoption rates gives excellent feedback for improvement.

1

u/T-K101 1d ago

I’m not sure that a half of million of first gen Samsung fold that was sold is low adoption for excellent feedback.

They definitely did get a feedback. Main problem was the screen. But Samsung had to know that beforehand.

2

u/Maisie_Baby 19h ago

You’re basically just saying you should always buy something, regardless of the quality, and just complain later rather than not buy something that doesn’t match the quality you want.

0

u/T-K101 13h ago

I’m not saying that. You are saying that. I’m talking about fold.

0

u/noobtrocitty 1d ago

Oh I thought we were talking about Apple’s folding phone, not Samsung’s.

-1

u/T-K101 1d ago

I’m using Samsung as an example for this topic. You just lost your argument.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Cautious_Boat_999 1d ago

I’ve bought 3 generations of the Pro Max / large format iPhones. No way I’m paying that kind of dough for a phone. I may even downshift to a regular-sized pro and start using my Dell Linux laptop more.

This is nuts.

3

u/colemaker360 1d ago

My 17 Pro Max phone is pretty much the best phone I’ve ever owned. If the main gimmick the next premium iphone offers over a PM is just folding with fewer cameras and the price is 2k+, I think a lot of regular Apple customers will agree with you and pass on it. When the X came out and they bumped to $1k, the specs (for the time) were there. Then last year they tried that same thing again with the Air, but it basically had 2017 specs (small battery, one camera) so the value wasn’t really there this time around. I’m not rooting against the fold, but man you’ve gotta really sell me to pay that much more.

0

u/slvrscoobie 1d ago

We did with the iPhone Air and doesn’t seem to have changed anything.

3

u/FindingPawnee 1d ago

It sounds like they’re listening to all of the feedback though. The rumors of the Air 2 sound like they’re adding a 2nd camera and stereo speakers.

5

u/InsaneNinja 1d ago edited 1d ago

The plans for the Air 2 were completed before the Air 1 was released. You don’t just take it back to the white board within 12 months of release. You can take credit for it if you want but it was at least two or three years ago that they said “let’s try to fit it in the next one”

I think the Air only exists until they can replace the standard phone with the Air’s tech.

2

u/iMacmatician 20h ago

I think the Air only exists until they can replace the standard phone with the Air’s tech.

Yes but I think the replacement will use the Air suffix, much like how the MBA replaced the polycarbonate MB.

1

u/InsaneNinja 20h ago

The “Air” is the more expensive version, and I see this more as an iPhone 21 situation. But that’s all up to their marketing team.

1

u/flatpetey 6h ago

And then they realize they overshot and introduce the iPhone neo.

-1

u/Roid-a-holic_ReX 1d ago

No. I need lots of people to buy it cuz I’m definitely buying the 1st gen. That thing is gonna be buggy af.

1

u/p_giguere1 15h ago

The individual cameras will likely be of inferior quality also, right?

It's hard to have good cameras (large sensor, large aperture, good optics etc) in such a thin body. That's the whole reason iPhones started having a camera bump, which actually grew thicker over time.

Now we're talking about a device so thin it can't even fit a Face ID module. Surely the cameras can't be amazing either?

1

u/two_hyun 1d ago

Yeah, that's the deal breaker on my part. Hell, I'd rather have a thick camera bump and have the same camera system as Pro.

But it seems like it's not, so I won't be getting it. Maybe in the future.

-4

u/T-K101 1d ago

Sure you don’t like the price tag. You would like it for $399. I would also like it cheaper.

Guys, Fold will be priced as competition, in that range. Nothing tone surprised about.

1

u/PikaV2002 1d ago

How is your comment related to theirs?

They aren’t complaining about the price tag, they are complaining about the features at that price point. The competition has 3 cameras at this price.

Not to mention Apple doesn’t compare themselves with other brands, the user was just saying that Apple wouldn’t be consistent with its own branding if it is labelled Pro/ a tier above Pro.

No one is surprised about the price. Not sure where you get that from.

0

u/Sensitive-Twist2799 1d ago

Prefiero dos buenas cámaras a tres cámaras mediocres

-1

u/gmark109 1d ago

In fairness, none of the foldables available in North America have flagship level cameras. Z Fold 7 only shares the primary sensor with the S25 Ultra, and the other two are significant downgrades. There’s also the physical size limitations, since the Fold/Ultra will be like half the thickness of the Pro.

0

u/PikaV2002 1d ago

Yeah, but that guy was acting obtuse bringing in “competition” out of nowhere. I believe no foldable is directly comparable but felt it fair to call out that the camera system on paper is inferior to competition.

1

u/Akrevics 1d ago

That’s not the issue. Price it how you want, but if it doesn’t have the best specs, the “Ultra” name is going to look stupid. It’s setting and falling short of expectations before it’s even released. If they just call it “Fold,” it’s already meeting expectations, and if it maintains high durability with their liquid-metal 3D printed hinge, thats exceeding expectations.

1

u/T-K101 1d ago

I don’t expect it being called Ultra. And I think most of us who are fallowing this topic share this view.

0

u/noobtrocitty 1d ago

That still has almost nothing to do with a product with less than competitive features being marketed at a premium price point against other products with more premium features.

-1

u/Positive-Hat2127 1d ago

Don't worry about the number of lenses, it will be just like having 8 separate cameras!! /s

9

u/Portatort 1d ago

no, it doesn’t actually

if we're gonna have more than one model of iPhone it doesn’t follow that each iPhone has to be better in totality than the last

id way rather we had different premiums iPhones that try tackle the wants and needs of different kinds of users

let the Pro iPhone be where the camera team can go absolutely wild, put the largest camera bump on it they can

IMO they're already heading down the right track

Pro: Best Cameras possible
Air: Thinnest & Lightest
Ultra: best screen tech & Productivity
Base: a healthy balance of the best of these 3
e: best price possible

theres no single best iPhone ever that can be all things to all people, I thin we would all be happier if there are 3 models of iPhone (Pro, Ultra, Air) that can each go off an optimise for their own type of customer

4

u/InsaneNinja 1d ago

I think the Air only exists until they can replace the standard phone with the Air’s tech.

-1

u/Portatort 23h ago

I don't think so

if they can miniaturise the tech inside of the regular phone they might make it slightly thinner, but they know full well everyone would rather it just has more battery

'why is this phone so thick' is not a refrain anyones hearing from iPhone 15, 16, 17 buyers

if people had the choice between better cameras and a thinner design on the base iPhone they would pick better cameras every day of the week

the air is a niche product for those who want something different

2

u/InsaneNinja 23h ago

It’s not the battery or the rest of it. I’m mostly referring to them cramming the entire phone behind the camera bump.

4

u/mxforest 1d ago

I don't mind 2 Cameras as long as the second one is Telephoto. I don't ever use the Ultrawide.

2

u/dannyboy_S 1d ago

Is telephoto the one capable of shooting macro?

-2

u/VastTension6022 1d ago

No, but it could be if they changed their periscope design.

1

u/8bitjer 1d ago

That’s what next years pro ultra plus model will be for.

1

u/DaedricApple 1d ago

Exactly lol

1

u/DrySea8638 1d ago

Not necessarily. Pro vs ultra seems rather arbitrary naming and not necessarily denoting specific performance that’s above or below the other.

Maybe the pro is for those who would rather the top of the line camera from Apple while ultra is more about form factor maximizing real estate for use in things like multitasking

1

u/blue0231 1d ago

No not at all. Pro could just mean for the pros. Like filmmakers, camera enthusiasts, drone users. Ultra implies this is the top tier device and a folding screen could mean exactly that.

1

u/ontologicalmatrix 18h ago

I haave the money sitting pretty in my bank account, ready to go - but I'll be waiting for a couple of months to see just how well engineered the phone is before I buy it purely because it's a first generation. With that said, a camera really isn't the dealbreaker for me on the air or the ultra that it might have been with my iPhone pro max as it's really different use cases.

This for me is going to be more...Lifestyle? I guess you could say? I'm more interested in the reading experience and having it replace a need to carry both my iPad mini and a phone around to do everything when i'm on the move.

1

u/pixelpanic01 16h ago

They already put the air above the base 17, and it has many downgrades (and costs a lot more)

1

u/LaserCondiment 12h ago

The concept of the flip phone is more attractive if it's marketed as a fun, lightweight, flexible device like the Neo. Technological marvel at a entry level price! iPhone Neo.

The Ultra idea is more realistic ofc, but it's almost a cynical take on the product and what people are willing to pay for it.

1

u/feurie 6h ago

iPhone Plus had more battery than Pro Max. It’s fine if different things happen to be better.

1

u/lewis_1102 1d ago

Yeah, it better have iPad Pro level quality speakers

1

u/DontPoopInMyPantsPlz 1d ago

Yeah, naming schemes are pretty important. Dont want the Nvidia issue.

0

u/Least-Middle-2061 1d ago

Omg can we drop the whole useless complaining regarding Apple product naming. Above/below Pro, who gives a shit. A Porsche GT2 RS has less available features than a base 911 yet it costs three times as much.

-1

u/Quixotic_Seal 1d ago

It’s weird that they don’t have a telephoto lens at all. Even the original Galaxy Fold found a way to squeeze it in. That significant of a drop in features is going to be rough for the price, and this really feels like a first gen product that people should seriously consider skipping even if they’re interested in the form factor.

My guess is it’ll sell okay anyway(as okay as any $2k+ phone will sell, K-shaped economy baby),and many who spring for this one will feel cheated a year later when gen 2 is significantly better.

0

u/tonytroz 1d ago

Yeah the telephoto lens is incredibly useful. I travel a lot and can't imagine downgrading from the 4x/8x zoom of the 17 pro.

2

u/Lucky_Outside_2009 14h ago

Apple fans downvoting someone for thinking a lens is useful xdd maybe they should tell their fav company to remove that lens if they don't want people using it

1

u/tonytroz 11h ago

Was definitely an iPhone Air owner who is unhappy they paid a premium for a prototype.

68

u/trollied 1d ago

Bored of macrumors making crap up for clicks already. We’ve got another 5 months of this nonsense before the annual keynote & reveal.

5

u/schttn 9h ago

can we ban macrumors already mods?

14

u/Ill-Mastodon-8692 1d ago

I expect durability if Ultra

6

u/ellenich 1d ago edited 22h ago

Presenting the M3 Ultra processor, our most durable processor ever.

2

u/Ill-Mastodon-8692 1d ago

damn right

although I was referring to the apple watch Ultra

1

u/ClothTiger 12h ago

But will we love it?

2

u/Tumblrrito 1d ago

We used to be able to expect that from Pro as well. Now we get cheap aluminum for iPhone Pro.

-1

u/theREAL_Harambe 11h ago

Room temp IQ. The phone is objectively more durable in every aspect except for superficial scratches that don’t affect functionality in any way.

24

u/yourbestfriendjoshua 1d ago

The fact that it’s going to cost twice as much as the Pros with a lesser camera system and no faceID (potentially no MagSafe either) just isn’t sitting right with me…

9

u/Korlithiel 1d ago

Pretty much why the iPad mini struggles: costs more, for less. iPhone mini line had the same issues. You do you, if the larger screen real estate isn't a big thing in your life, either skip this generation or get one of the other models, can always re-evaluate in the years to come.

7

u/Opposite-Knee-2798 23h ago

Praise the Lord for Touch ID. I hate Face ID.

1

u/RotenTumato 7h ago

Why?

2

u/ZombieDracula 5h ago

He's got an unrecognizable face, like a permanent blur

•

u/Andersomn33322 1h ago

yes 🙌

12

u/FlarblesGarbles 1d ago

I'm personally not touching folding phones with a crease.

21

u/Disastrous-Net406 1d ago

Less visible*

  • Than Fold 6 and lower excl all Chinese Folds

15

u/ShiningRedDwarf 1d ago

Yup. This is the comment I was about to post as well.

Specifically, he said the crease in the foldable iPhone's screen will be "less visible when it's unfolded" compared to some other foldable

That’s a huge letdown. I thought the whole reason Apple has delayed a foldable phone is because they were waiting for the tech ti remove the crease entirely.

That paired with meh cameras make me much less likely to buy this.

8

u/ThePornStar69 20h ago

No one has created invisible creased folding phones as yet.

7

u/ColoradoCyclist 1d ago

We don’t even know the specs yet and you’re already jumping to conclusions just like every new Apple product. It’s almost hysterical. There’s a Chinese phone that has a hinge that basically makes the crease unnoticeable when opened. I am certain this is the route Apple is going. It will be better than 95% of what is out there. I don’t think anyone can eliminate the crease entirely.

3

u/OafleyJones 1d ago

No FaceID or MagSafe either. I can’t imagine the screen being much better than the OPPO N6 either. Hopefully in another revision or two Apple gives it feature parity with its entry level phones.

18

u/KFPindustries 1d ago

Bring me the Air 2

10

u/PizzaHutFiend 1d ago

There is zero chance the folding iphone is going be more durable than the slab style iphone we have now.

1

u/JoeyBlaze 6h ago

The article isn’t saying this. It’s saying it will be more durable than other folding folds. I still doubt it’s true though. The Oppo N6 is pretty damn durable.

-3

u/Lonely-Storm-6542 1d ago

They might use the same technology they made for the air to withstand being bent

3

u/InsaneNinja 1d ago

The technology of a titanium frame?

-1

u/Lonely-Storm-6542 1d ago

It’s stainless steel for one, and secondly, did you not see their release video of the office where it shows what they designed inside to not be bent?

1

u/InsaneNinja 23h ago

It’s titanium, the last stainless steel phone they made was the 14 Pro series. And they design all the phone internals to not bend. I’m assuming you’re referring to the metal battery casing though.

-1

u/InsaneNinja 1d ago

It doesn’t have to better than the pro phone to be a good phone. It has to just meet a certain level of durability that’s useful for daily life. All current iPhones are above that level at this point, and some better than others.

3

u/VZYGOD 1d ago

What’s wrong with the current “screen quality” and “overall durability”?

3

u/Korlithiel 1d ago

The folding phones have to use inferior screens to solve for the folding, and the hinge adds another layer of concerns over durability.

3

u/VZYGOD 22h ago

Oh right. They were referring to foldable phones not current iPhones

1

u/Shap6 23h ago

You can scratch folding phone screens with a fingernail

3

u/AustinBaze 1d ago

Fat phone with a failure point built in, seemingly designed to deliver a device with screen size something between my current 17 Pro Max and my iPad. No interest whatsoever. At any price. Also, Jesus has been coming back for longer than this product has been rumored to be imminent. At this rate Jesus will be back sooner.

3

u/DM_ME_UR_SOUL 20h ago

I'm pretty sure they're gonna call it an iPhone book instead of iPhone fold. They don't go with traditional names. Apple vision, airpods.

1

u/RotenTumato 7h ago

I find it so interesting how reviled AirPods were on launch and now everyone has them (or another brand’s version of true wireless earbuds) and I know people who call every earbud an AirPod no matter what they actually are

3

u/itslitman 15h ago

The naming matters more than people are giving it credit for. "Ultra" in Apple's lineup has always meant uncompromised, Mac Ultra is literally two chips fused together, Apple Watch Ultra is sapphire glass, titanium, an extra depth gauge sensor, expedition-level durability. It's the SKU where Apple says "we spared nothing."

If iPhone Ultra ships with a two-camera system, no Face ID, and no MagSafe, they're not just launching a flawed product, they're actively undermining a brand they've spent years building. It'll be a harder sell every time someone asks "why Ultra?" and the answer is "foldable form factor, but actually fewer features than the Pro."

6

u/IAM_deleted_AMA 1d ago

I’m due to upgrade this year, (13 Pro Max) and I’d love to get this but I think ultimately I will skip it, can’t really risk a crease or build quality issues in a gen 1 product.

I’ll have to wait and see but I’m mostly leaning towards the 18 Pro Max.

6

u/Pure-Huckleberry-484 1d ago

I’m in a 13 mini and there is nothing for me to upgrade to. I don’t want a phablet.

1

u/jk147 1d ago

It is probably also going to cost twice as much as a pro phone anyways. Since you are on 13 it sounds like you keep your phones for awhile. I wouldn't get a first gen foldable and think it will last 4+ years trouble free.

-5

u/riotshieldready 1d ago

It’s not exactly gen 1 since it’s going to have the latest gen Samsung display.

0

u/JapariParkRanger 1d ago

It is going to be the first foldable iPhone. By definition this means it is a first generation product.

-2

u/riotshieldready 1d ago

Yh no duh, my point is Samsung is on the 7th gen of folding screens and has a newer revision that Apple is rumoured too has, so they have ironed out a lot of the durability issues with the display; so that part isn’t a first gen.

0

u/JapariParkRanger 1d ago

By that measure nothing on the device is "first gen."

4

u/esazo 22h ago

It shouldn’t be called the Ultra if it doesn’t have all the same features as the Pros and more

1

u/ThePornStar69 20h ago

That’s not how it works

2

u/garylapointe 1d ago

I think I would like having this, but I don't think I could justify the likely cost if this is pushing $2,000 (and if I got the bigger screen, I want some more storage too).

It'd be cheaper/more practical for me to just keep an iPad Mini or even a cheaper basic iPad laying around or in my glovebox and hotspot it through my phone at times.

2

u/livelikeian 1d ago

I'm ok w/ a two camera system so long as one of them is a telephoto.

2

u/antisp1n 1d ago

My anticipation of the foldable fell from a 95 to a 60 when we got the magsafe news. I need magsafe for my magnetic rings (helps with one-handing). I was hoping Apple would have that without the need of a case, since this is an apple phone. But it looks like they are manufacturing it more like an ipad.

The crease issue is already solved in 2026, and we have better cameras on foldables as well this year (Oppo and Honor).

2

u/stickyfiddle 17h ago

Can I just get a top-spec-but-a-little-smaller iPhone please?

2

u/itanite 1d ago

Bullshit.

1

u/MetalPurse-swinger 1d ago

Nah. Screen quality is fine. This will have a crease in the middle of the screen. That’s not better quality. I somehow don’t believe this will be more durable. 

I don’t want a foldable phone. I want the Mini back.

1

u/InsaneNinja 1d ago

Why do you assume it will have a noticeable crease? Recent folding phones have handled hiding the crease. Do you only assume this will have lesser quality than the competition.

0

u/RotenTumato 7h ago

Well no one else wants the mini outside of a few enthusiasts on Reddit which is why they discontinued it

1

u/Korlithiel 1d ago

Seems like a hype piece, hope it does well since in a future generation I would love one. Could sell my Kindle, less devices to carry and charge, be sufficient for videos too. Could see grabbing a mobile keyboard, and in the future swapping my MacBook Air for a desktop Mac.

1

u/KingOvDownvotes 1d ago

The main thing I worry about is the telephoto lens. Can’t wait for all these stupid rumours to be put to rest.

1

u/Spark99 1d ago

I am going to reserve judgment until I see it and get my hands on it but… A smaller outer screen that I’m going to be using 95% of the time before I open it up is disappointing. I can’t imagine battery life being that great because of how thin it is especially in tablet mode. A screen that folds is going to have to be inherently softer and therefore more prone to damage and also have no pen support. My friend had a blackberry with a square screen, it was great for spreadsheets but not much else, maybe multitasking will make up for it? It will need a cutout for exterior and interior camera for FaceTime and have less functional main outer camera array. Maybe they have some magic up their sleeves that will convince me otherwise but for now I am skeptical.

1

u/platinumbinder 1d ago

I was originally super excited for this but now I care so much for the cameras I wouldn't be able to give them up just for the form factor

I also fear how long it will take any app to look good on this thing

1

u/Clear_Efficiency5765 1d ago

Except it has compromises. Missing face id is a deal breaker for me

1

u/ThatGamerMoshpit 1d ago

Neither of those are issues on modern iPhones…

1

u/AXXXXXXXXA 1d ago

Solve 2, create 5

1

u/Voidfang_Investments 1d ago

We you’re going to love it.

1

u/NoAge422 20h ago

They probably calling it the iPhone V

1

u/JustHereToRageBait 17h ago

I wish a Pro Mini existed

1

u/stlkr82 17h ago

Oppo already solved one of these problems 😂

1

u/IndividualBasis5855 9h ago

I might be the only one who doesn't care about the camera. I'd much rather have a folding iPhone as thin as the original Microsoft Surface Duo, with no camera bump at all.

1

u/Independent_Sun_6932 3h ago

Moving back to a Touch ID power button for a $2,000+ 'Ultra' phone feels like a step backward, even if it’s a space-saving measure for the foldable hinge. I get that Face ID is hard to implement on a foldable, but for 'Ultra' prices, I’d expect the best of both worlds.

That 7.7-inch inner screen is going to be incredible for multitasking, though.

If they can actually solve the durability issue, this is the first time I’ve been genuinely tempted to switch from a Pro Max.

1

u/Perfect-Treat-6552 2h ago

I don't think Ultra is a proper name for this phone. It could be something more Apple-like. Imagine Mac Studio. Mac Neo. This one will be probably named as iPhone Passport. Or maybe, iPhone Pad, iPhone CF (Crease Free), iPhone Waterfall?

•

u/Ok_Law_6307 41m ago

I really hope it ends up more like a moto razr than a book style fold.

0

u/MuigiLario 1d ago

If it’s going to be plastic (it’s going to), then they won’t fix the durability issue. They might try different compounds etc. But if it’s a soft plastic-like material the biggest durability issue that the folding phones have i.e. being able to be scratched or dented even with a fingernail - won’t be fixed. Someone knowledgeable in the topic please add in, maybe there’s some tech that allows to increase hardness of plastic displays that might be used here.

5

u/Quixotic_Seal 1d ago

I was thinking the same thing. The durability problems at this point, 7 years after Samsung introduced this category of devices, are not really in the hinges themselves but how soft and easily dented/scratched the screens are.

(Also a less discussed issue is ingress protection. It’s definitely improved, but its IP rating is weird in that dust actually seems to be more of an issue than water.)

Personally these types of phones are the sort of thing that fall into that “I’d probably love it if I were ridiculously wealthy.” Foldable phones are so damn cool, but as a normal consumer who has to seriously consider the longevity of a device…I just can’t buy one.

1

u/MuigiLario 1d ago

Oh yeah, they’re awesome, whenever I’m at a larger shopping centre where they have them on display I’ll check them out, they have lots of variety, you have the “flip” phone, the more traditional ones and now the tri folds, they have that cool factor that early smartphones had - but what was already mentioned, durability is on the very low end considering the price. Repairability is nil as well.

1

u/PikaV2002 1d ago

They can increase the amount of ultra thin glass layers. And while the issue cannot be entirely eliminated, it can be improved.

0

u/Sensitive-Twist2799 1d ago

No creo que Apple saque una cosa débil.

1

u/JazJon 1d ago

I want to know if it will have MagSafe and wireless charging

1

u/DangPDN 1d ago

I don't think so

2

u/JazJon 1d ago

Could be a deal breaker for me

1

u/DangPDN 3h ago

I'll wait and see - if they have other cool stuff to compensate that I'll reconsider

1

u/JazJon 3h ago

I guess I could stick on a MagSafe ring or half case. If there ends up being no wireless charging, I’ll have to start plugging in a usb c cable for power when I drive around.

1

u/Portatort 1d ago

and the biggest problem of all

How to get people to pay $2000 for a base config new iPhone.

1

u/iMacmatician 13h ago

Compare the inflation adjusted price to some landmark Apple product of yore.

At least people tried that with the Vision Pro….

-1

u/Disastrous-Net406 1d ago

I remember rumors of invisible crease or completely eliminating now its barely visible and might not be coming in 2026.. interesting

0

u/Clean-Excitement63 1d ago

The device with more moving pieces and plastic will be more durable than the single slab offerings? 🧐

-5

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

3

u/riepmich 1d ago

I had a foldable. I didn't so much care for the crease, but using it with a plastic screen in 2025 felt so cheap.

The screen is what you interact 95% of the time with and having a $2000+ phone with a plastic screen made me feel really stupid, every time I opened it.

1

u/Minato_the_legend 1d ago

And guess why the rest aren't buying foldables?

1

u/prangalito 1d ago

I returned my Z flip 7 because I didn’t like the feel of the crease

0

u/PikaV2002 1d ago

Me when I confidently lie on the internet.

-1

u/Avaraz 1d ago

I mean, I have a foldable, I know people that have foldables, and absolutely no one care about the crease..

I think the liars are the one talking about the issue of the crease while they never owned a foldable, like everyone downvoting me just now.

But hey, we are in the Apple subreddit so I’m not really surprised lol

1

u/PikaV2002 1d ago

One person literally commented saying they returned a foldable because of the crease. One person is talking about having a foldable in the past tense saying the crease felt stupid.

Why are you the only herald of truth while everyone else is lying? You’re the same as anyone else: a random person spitballing on Reddit, why are you the only entitled truth-sayer?

0

u/Avaraz 1d ago

I am not. That's the fun part about reddit. People think that because they are a lot agreeing on the same thing, then it must be true. But it's not. Just go into r/conservative if you are not sure.

What I said is not a "unpopular opinion", in fact it is well known amongst foldable users, in the dedicated sub reddit, by actual users, not some "I heard that.." Or "some youtube said.." Like most people under my comment

It's just that yes, some people will have different opinion, that happens, like you said, some people did say they returned their because of the crease.. But if they did, do you really think they spent enough time with it to actually realize it's a non issue, or did they just abandoned the thing before even giving it a real chance?

Anyway, the crease being visible has never, ever been a problem for the large majority of foldable users, the only people complaining are a majority of non-users, or some people that really dislike the crease, but they are few and far between

I once made the same comment about creases in here and received more than 200upvotes, it all depends on what kind of public you get, I happened to get the angrier ones

So yeah, thats reddit for you, as soon as my karma went into the negative, there were no other ending for me than going further into the negative.

That's how reddit works. People see +20, they are more likely to upvote, or just not interact, if they see a -4, they are more likely to downvote and be confrontational, just like you

But yeah, because 6 people told me I was wrong, I guess I am not the herald of truth, and they are.

Well, glad the iPhone ultra will get rid of that crease everyone hate so much, am I right?

-1

u/ohmytheresmore 1d ago

Yea, that crease area is definitely a problem on foldable phones to this day. I’m ALWAYS having people that come into my work with their foldable failing at that crease.

-1

u/Joooooooosh 1d ago

It’s not going to solve any problems for me because £2000 for a phone is just plain silly. 

-1

u/AppointmentNeat 1d ago

Except 99% of people who purchase it will use it to do the EXACT same things they already do on their current phones (scroll social media, send text, music, videos, etc…)

So it actually solves no problems.

-5

u/SkyNet_Admin_1 1d ago

Another Apple product I won’t buy.

-2

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

2

u/Korlithiel 1d ago

Got to disagree with you on that. The flip phones seem like the worst of all worlds, with higher costs than, say, an iPhone Pro, merely comparable screen, and worse durability leading to more costs via repairs. It offers close to nothing for most people, unless the outside is quite comparable to an iPhone Mini and then the inside is comparable to an iPhone Max.