Rafomac News, Tech & Trends That MatterApple’s first foldable, the iPhone Ultra, launched after seven years of anticipation, but it stumbles in crucial areas. From skimping on the camera to ditching Face ID, the phone misses marks that rival foldables nailed earlier.
Why the Camera Disappoints on Apple’s Most Expensive iPhone
The iPhone Ultra’s camera setup raises eyebrows. Despite being Apple’s priciest iPhone ever, it lacks their best camera hardware. To achieve an ultra-thin profile, Apple left out the advanced adjustable aperture, a feature reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. The 48-megapixel main lens still captures sharp photos and supports a clean 3x crop zoom, but the compromise is clear: you’re spending more for less camera capability.
Beyond the camera, sacrifices continue.
No Face ID: A Step Back in Security and Convenience
In a move that feels like a step backward, Apple dropped Face ID on the iPhone Ultra. The phone’s slim screen couldn’t house the necessary sensors, so Apple reverted to a fingerprint reader embedded in the power button. While functional, it’s essentially the old Touch ID solution Apple phased out years ago. This marks the first flagship iPhone since 2017 without Face ID, a feature many users considered standard for premium devices.
The Missing Buttons and MagSafe Puzzle
Another oddity is the lack of physical buttons. Previous Pro iPhones have featured the customizable action button and a dedicated mute switch, but the iPhone Ultra has none. Additionally, built-in MagSafe charging is absent. Users will need to rely on cases to use MagSafe accessories. This absence is puzzling given Google’s foldable includes wireless charging and magnets for accessories despite launching years earlier. Apple had seven years to solve this but surprisingly missed out.
A Stylus That Never Was
The large foldable screen screamed for stylus support, and Apple even developed a short Apple Pencil designed to clip onto the device. Yet, the company scrapped the idea due to concerns that the pen’s magnets could damage the frame and that the foldable screen material wasn’t tough enough for a pen tip. Samsung proved foldable phones can handle pens years ago with their S Pen, so Apple’s hesitation here is conspicuous.
Durability and Dust Resistance Left Behind
Durability is arguably the biggest question. While Google’s foldable undercuts the iPhone Ultra in price, it boasts dust resistance — something Apple’s flagship lacks. For a phone packed with hinges and moving parts, not sealing out dust invites long-term reliability problems. Apple is late to this party and hasn’t matched the standards set by rivals.
The Shift to eSIM: A Global Gamble
The iPhone Ultra is expected to be Apple’s first globally eSIM-only iPhone, expanding the approach used in the US since the iPhone 14. But many markets around the world still don’t widely support eSIM, posing a real barrier for users in those regions who rely on physical SIM cards.
Paying Full Price for Apple’s First Foldable
History shows Apple’s first versions of new product categories improve rapidly in the years following launch, from the original iPhone to the Apple Watch and AirPods. So, buying the iPhone Ultra now means you’re essentially paying as a test subject, facing early-generation quirks and compromises.
That’s especially true considering foldables tend to depreciate fast, losing around 65% of their value in the first year. Not only does this hurt your wallet upfront, but it also means your investment takes a big hit on resale.
Repair Costs Could Sting Hard
One of the most expensive fixes in the smartphone world is for broken foldable inner screens, and the iPhone Ultra tops this list. Repairing its inner display could set you back approximately $1,150 — nearly double what competitors charge for similar damage. That raises the stakes considerably for users concerned about durability.
Ultimately, the iPhone Ultra offers a promising glimpse of Apple’s foldable ambitions but comes bundled with significant compromises. Letting early adopters take the hits before the next generation arrives in 2027 might be the wiser choice.
