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Apple’s First Foldable iPhone May Trade Features For Thinness
Apple is reportedly making a phone that folds open like a small tablet.
To make it very thin, the company may leave out some features found on expensive iPhones.
These could include Face ID, the Action Button, a zoom camera, a physical SIM card slot, and the fastest type of 5G used in parts of the United States.
Instead of Face ID, the phone may use a fingerprint reader on its side.
It may have only wide and ultrawide cameras on the back.
The phone is still expected to support MagSafe magnetic charging.
Rumors put its price between $2,000 and $2,500.
Apple may announce it with the iPhone 18 Pro models on September 9, 2026.
Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone Ultra could omit Face ID, replacing it with side-mounted Touch ID.
The device may lack an Action Button and telephoto camera, using two 48-megapixel rear cameras instead.
Reports suggest the foldable could be eSIM-only and omit mmWave 5G support.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple has managed to include MagSafe despite earlier uncertainty.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to cost $2,000–$2,500 and debut in September 2026 alongside iPhone 18 Pro models.
- Who
- Apple is reportedly developing the foldable iPhone Ultra.
- What
- The rumored device may sacrifice several features to achieve an ultra-thin design while retaining MagSafe.
- Where
- The reported pricing applies to the United States; the launch markets are not definitively specified.
- When
- It is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
- Why
- The possible omissions are reportedly intended to accommodate the foldable’s thin design.
Features Likely Omitted
Features Likely Retained
Biometric security
Features Likely Omitted
The phone may be too thin to fit TrueDepth sensors needed for Face ID, so it could use a side fingerprint reader.
Features Likely Retained
The reported alternative is Touch ID, allowing biometric authentication to remain available.
MagSafe charging
Features Likely Omitted
Earlier dummy models showed no visible markings for the internal MagSafe magnets, creating uncertainty about support.
Features Likely Retained
Mark Gurman reported that Apple has accommodated the magnetic charging system, and leaked cases included a magnetic ring.
5G connectivity
Features Likely Omitted
If the phone uses Apple’s rumored C2 modem, it may omit mmWave 5G and support only sub-6GHz bands.
Features Likely Retained
The device is still expected to offer 5G, while iPhone 18 Pro models sold in the United States may retain Qualcomm hardware for mmWave support.
Key facts
- Expected name
- iPhone Ultra
- Possible price
- $2,000–$2,500 in the United States, or approximately Rs 2,00,000–Rs 2,40,000
- Biometric authentication
- Possibly side-mounted Touch ID instead of Face ID
- Rear cameras
- Expected two 48-megapixel cameras: wide and ultrawide
- Connectivity
- Possibly eSIM-only and limited to sub-6GHz 5G
- Charging
- MagSafe is reportedly expected to be included
- Expected announcement
- September 9, 2026, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models
Sources
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