Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra to lack telephoto lens, Action button, Face ID, MagSafe and physical SIM
The upcoming foldable iPhone, rumored to be called iPhone Ultra and priced above $2,000, is expected to omit several features including a telephoto camera, an Action button, Face ID, MagSafe charging and a physical SIM slot.
Apple is preparing to launch its first foldable iPhone, possibly branded as the iPhone Ultra, in about two weeks. The device, projected to cost more than $2,000, will reportedly omit a number of features found on current models.
The phone is expected to carry only two 48-megapixel cameras—a main sensor and an ultra-wide lens—without a telephoto lens, a limitation noted by analysts. Leaked mock-ups also show the left side of the handset empty, indicating the absence of an Action button and even the traditional mute switch; volume controls are said to be placed on the top edge, similar to an iPad mini.
Instead of Face ID, the Ultra will reportedly rely on Touch ID integrated into the side power button, marking the first iPhone since 2017 to forgo facial recognition. The change is attributed to the device’s ultra-thin design, which would otherwise require dual Face ID components for both outer and inner displays.
The foldable model is also expected to lack Apple’s MagSafe magnetic charging system, offering only standard wireless charging comparable to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. Additionally, sources including Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg indicate the Ultra will be eSIM-only worldwide, eliminating the physical SIM slot.
These omissions raise questions about the trade-off between the novel folding form factor and the loss of established iPhone functionalities.