Foldable iPhone Ultra reportedly impressed early testers. One compromise, however, is disappointing for a phone costing 50,000 crowns

Apple will officially unveil its very first foldable phone likely in just a few weeks, but people who have reportedly already held it are full of praise. According to the usually well-informed Mark Gurman, testers were impressed by the construction itself and the hinge – however, one compromise for a phone that will likely cost more than 50,000 crowns is disappointing.

What impressed testers about the foldable?

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman writes that early users mainly praised how well the foldable iPhone Ultra fits in the hand and pocket. They also reportedly positively evaluated the hinge and the overall durability of the assembly – precisely the elements on which foldable phones usually succeed or fail.

The software implementation also reportedly earned praise. The large internal display is said to offer iPad-style multitasking, allowing you to open multiple apps side-by-side. The journalist also mentions that the phone proved useful as a camera viewfinder during filming. However, he did not specify exactly who got their hands on the device.

Where does the foldable aim to save space?

However, not everything looks rosy. That the first foldable model would not be without compromises was already hinted at by leaked mockups, which we wrote about this June. Regarding the camera, the phone will reportedly settle for only a pair of lenses – a main 48Mpx sensor and an ultrawide camera. The telephoto lens, which Pro iPhone models have offered for years, will be missing, and for a device costing more than 50,000 crowns, this will likely disappoint some interested buyers.

Foldable iPhone Ultra reportedly impressed early testers. One compromise, however, is disappointing for a phone costing 50,000 crowns Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

The second compromise is said to be security. Instead of Face ID hidden under the display, Apple will reportedly opt for Touch ID in the side button. According to Gurman, the reason is an effort to keep the phone as thin as possible when unfolded – we are talking about roughly 4.5 millimeters. Some will find the traditional fingerprint reader suitable, while others will see it as a step backward for a premium model.

When will the iPhone Ultra be revealed and how much will it cost?

According to current speculations, the foldable will offer an external display with a diagonal of 5.5 inches and an internal one around 7.8 inches, thus a wide, book-style design. This closely resembles the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, which we wrote about at its unveiling. Folded, the phone should measure roughly 9.4 millimeters, and an A20 Pro chip is reportedly ticking inside.

The premiere is approaching. Apple will likely unveil its first foldable phone around September 9th alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. The price is said to start somewhere around 2,000 dollars, which translates to roughly 50,000 crowns; for the highest memory versions, it is expected to climb over 2,500 dollars, or around 60,000. Apple has naturally not yet announced official Czech prices or availability.

Would you pay extra for the first foldable iPhone, even if it lacks a telephoto lens?

Sources: Bloomberg, MacRumors, Notebookcheck