Apple's First Foldable iPhone Impresses Early Testers, But Camera Setup Draws Criticism

Apple is just days away from announcing its keynote date for its annual iPhone event. This year's event is extra special because the tech giant will be unveiling its first ever foldable iPhone. The device, expected to be marketed as the iPhone Ultra, is reportedly winning praise from the handful of people who have tested it so far, even as its camera system emerges as a potential weak spot.

iPhone Ultra: Testers impressed with hinge and form factor

Writing in his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman said early testers have responded positively to how the foldable fits in the pocket, along with the sturdiness and feel of its hinge mechanism. The device is reportedly referred to internally at Apple as the iPhone Ultra. Testers have also responded well to the iPad-style app layouts designed to make use of the larger internal display when the phone is unfolded.

iPhone Ultra: Camera setup could be a sticking point

Despite the positive early reception, Gurman noted that the foldable's camera system may disappoint some buyers. The device is expected to ship with a dual-lens rear camera setup built around a 48-megapixel primary lens and an ultra-wide lens, but without a telephoto lens - an omission that could weigh on sales given the device's expected price point. Gurman added that the foldable does perform well as a viewfinder for photography, alongside strong marks for productivity, video, and gaming use cases.

iPhone Ultra: No Face ID on board

To keep the unfolded device at around 4.5mm thick, Apple is reportedly using Touch ID built into the side button rather than in-display Face ID. Gurman suggested that some users may actually prefer this more traditional biometric approach over facial recognition.

The foldable is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a roughly 7.8-inch inner display when unfolded, giving it a wide, book-style form factor similar to Samsung's recently launched Z Fold 8.

iPhone Ultra: Launch timeline and pricing

Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at a launch event around September 9. Reports suggest pricing could start at $2,000, with higher storage variants potentially exceeding $2,500. Apple is expected to announce the event on August 26.