The technology world is eagerly awaiting Apple’s entry into the foldable device market, but it seems that the intriguing device, which has been given the temporary name "iPhone Ultra", will present fans with a not-so-simple dilemma. Images of dummy units shared by leakers Sonny Dickson and Vadim Yuryev reveal that the premium device, expected to be priced at about $2,000, may arrive without five key features currently found in the iPhone 17 Pro models. These dummy units, used by accessory manufacturers to fit cases ahead of the official launch, are considered highly accurate and provide an early glimpse into the structure of the future device.
One of the most prominent changes revealed is the absence of the "Action Button". While Apple has implemented the button across all recent iPhone models as a replacement for the traditional mute switch, in the iPhone Ultra it simply does not exist. In addition, the volume button positions have changed and moved to the upper part of the device on the right side, similar to the structure of the iPad mini. According to reports, the move stems from internal constraints: The motherboard is located on the right side, and Apple chose to route the cables directly upward to save valuable internal space, instead of routing them beneath the screen to the left side as is customary.
Beyond the physical changes to the buttons, it appears that the foldable iPhone will be too thin for Apple’s core technologies. With an estimated thickness of just 4.5 mm, the device is expected to be the thinnest iPhone ever, which likely leads to the omission of MagSafe – as the familiar magnet markings were absent from the dummy units. Another dramatic compromise concerns the security array: The iPhone Ultra is expected to be too thin to contain the TrueDepth camera system required for Face ID. As a result, Apple may bring back Touch ID as the main authentication method, an unusual move for a flagship device since the days of the iPhone 7.
The compromises continue in the photography and connectivity departments. The dummy units display only a dual rear camera system – a wide and ultra-wide lens – without the telephoto lens that characterizes the Pro models. In addition, the device will not include a physical SIM card slot and will rely solely on eSIM. When comparing these details to the high target price, starting at $1,999, the iPhone Ultra appears more similar in its design to the ultra-thin iPhone Air than to a performance powerhouse. While the iPhone 18 Pro models that will arrive alongside it this coming fall will offer all these advanced features at a significantly lower price, it seems that those who choose Apple’s foldable will primarily be paying for the innovation of the flexible screen, and less for the surrounding technical specifications.