Apple’s highly anticipated first foldable phone, the foldable iPhone Ultra , is preparing to meet the tech world in a little over two weeks. Expected to launch at a price exceeding $2,000, this device attracts attention not only with its innovative design but also with some significant hardware limitations.

According to leaks, the device focuses on an ultra-thin form factor by sacrificing some basic features users are accustomed to. This brings with it some technical shortcomings that could directly affect the daily user experience.

Camera and Design Details

The iPhone Ultra model is expected to have only two camera sensors on the back. This setup includes a main camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera, while the device does not have telephoto lens support.

Both cameras are expected to have a 48MP resolution, similar to the current iPhone 17 base model. For many users, the lack of a telephoto lens is the biggest limitation in the device’s design.

Significant changes are also noticeable in the physical design of the device. Leaked dummy units show that the iPhone Ultra does not have a random mute switch.

There is also no Action button on the device. The left edge is left completely empty, while the side button and Camera Control button are located on the right edge.

The volume control buttons are placed on the top edge of the device, similar to smaller iPad models. This placement represents a significant departure from Apple’s classic iPhone design language.

Security and Connectivity Features

One of the most noticeable shortcomings of the iPhone Ultra is the absence of Face ID technology. Instead, Apple opts for a Touch ID sensor integrated into the side button due to the device’s ultra-thin design.

This choice means that Face ID technology, which was introduced with the iPhone X in 2017, is absent from an iPhone model for the first time. Apple seems to have made this decision to avoid the complexity caused by needing different Face ID components for both the inner and outer screens of the device.

On the connectivity side, the absence of MagSafe support is considered a big surprise. The lack of a MagSafe ring on leaked dummy units indicates that the device will be limited to standard wireless charging methods.

Another important feature of the device is that it will only be offered with eSIM support worldwide. This is due to the removal of the physical SIM slot to maintain the device’s ultra-thin design.

A similar thin design choice was made in the iPhone Air model, and eSIM was also mandatory. The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models use eSIM only in the US and a select few countries, while continuing to retain the physical SIM slot in markets like China.

Apple’s new foldable model is trying to strike a balance between its innovative form factor and these hardware limitations. Do you think it’s acceptable for a device with such a high price tag to lack features like MagSafe and a telephoto camera?