Apple has had to perform a fine-tuned balancing act to optimize the number of features it can offer within its first foldable, tentatively dubbed the iPhone Ultra, against the physical constraints emanating from its desire to retain an overall slim profile.
And now, as per the latest metal dummy units, those compromises apparently extend to the iPhone Ultra's lack of MagSafe charging support and a dedicated LED flash.
Despite costing around $2,000, Apple's iPhone Ultra is likely to come without MagSafe charging support and an LED flash
The tipster Vadim Yuryev has now leaked the metal dummy units for the upcoming Apple iPhone Ultra.
As is evident from these images, the Apple iPhone Ultra is expected to sport a sizable camera bump. Also, notice the lack of MagSafe charging support (no coils) and a dedicated LED flash. These are hefty compromises in a device that is expected to cost around $2,000.
Elsewhere, the tipster notes that the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro duo will also sport a sizable camera bump, with the total thickness (including the camera bump) of the iPhone 18 Pro Max increasing to 13.77mm vs. 12.92mm on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. This might be a function of the variable aperture camera setup that is expected to debut within the upcoming Pro series.
Everything that is known about the iPhone Ultra right now
Foldables develop a display crease due to tiny misalignments in the neutral display layers that gradually worsen with time, leading to stress concentration in the folding area that then causes micro-cracks and permanent deformation.
Apple is trying to tackle this challenge in a number of ways. First, the Ultra-Thin Glass (UTG) used within the iPhone Ultra's foldable display is likely to sport variable thickness, with the folding area rendered thinner than the rest of the display.
Also, to stabilize the display's neutral layer, Apple might use a special type of glue: Optically Clear Adhesive (OCA). This adhesive exhibits viscoelasticity, which means it remains malleable during slow bending, thereby reducing stress, while immediately hardening when force is applied. It also has micro-fill properties to fill microscopic cracks, further reducing the progressive aggravation of the display crease.
Additionally, Apple is reportedly mulling sandwiching the actual display layer between a dual layer of UTG/UFG (Ultra-Thin Glass/Ultra-Thin Flexible Glass) to prevent the mechanical wear-and-tear from repeated contact with the hinge and to better distribute the stress during the folding process, nearly eliminating the dreaded crease in the process. According to Taiwan's Economic Daily, the depth of the crease on the iPhone Ultra would be a minuscule 0.15mm.
Apple will also reportedly apply a color filter - called the CoE (Color Filter on Encapsulation) - onto the protective encapsulation layer of the iPhone Ultra's OLED panel, rendering the resulting displays thinner, lighter, and much more efficient
Under a CoE regime, the more conventional, thick circular polarizer layer is replaced with a thinner, directly deposited color filter layer. When combined with a black pixel definition layer (PDL), the combo results in significantly higher light transmittance and reduced power consumption. Of course, for a foldable, thinner displays result in markedly reduced stress, which improves longevity and allows for a smaller folding radius.
Meanwhile, according to another report out of South Korea, Apple is apparently eyeing a base price of around $2,000 for the upcoming iPhone Ultra, which, if realized, would constitute a substantial discount to the heretofore rumored price of between $2,300 and $2,400.
This comes as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported recently that the iOS version on the foldable iPhone will sport "iPad-like layouts and side-by-side apps, enhancing the device’s appeal for multitasking," albeit with a simpler multitasking system instead of the more desktop-like UI introduced in iPadOS 26. Also, the internal screen on the device is expected to be the size of an iPad, replete with a wider aspect ratio, while the outer screen would resemble "the size of the display on a small iPhone." This aligns with previous reports that had postulated a passport-like, wide form factor for the device.
According to Gurman, the foldable iPhone's external display will sport a small hole-punch cutout, albeit with the Dynamic Island UI for viewing notifications. Also, Apple has removed the Face ID system in its entirety and instead integrated Touch ID into the side button. As for the inner display, while Apple is still experimenting with an under-display camera, ongoing tests have only produced images with subpar quality, dramatically reducing the tech's probability of showing up on production-ready iPhone Ultra units. The device will also feature a dual rear camera setup, with previous reports alluding to a 48MP resolution for both cameras.
Other details:
- A dedicated vapor chamber.
- A 2,713 x 1,920 resolution, with a 4:3 aspect ratio.
- Side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID.
- A20 Pro SoC, 12GB RAM, in-house C2 5G modem.
- A 48MP resolution for the rear dual-camera setup.
- A selfie camera with a resolution of up to 24MP.
- A battery with a capacity of 5,400-5,800mAh.
- To launch as an eSIM-only variant.
About the author: Writing is my one incontrovertible passion. Over the past six years, he has authored over 2,200 distinct articles on financial and tech-related topics, spanning nearly 1 million words. And he has been a member of Wcctech mobile team since 2025. As an alumnus of the University of Toronto, Rotman Commerce Program, I bring nuance, in-depth knowledge, and a unique perspective to every topic that I cover. When I'm not writing, I'm traveling the world, exploring hidden confectionaries and restaurants as an aspiring food connoisseur.
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