Apple is set to hold an event on September 9 where, in addition to the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, the company's first foldable phone, likely to be introduced as the iPhone Ultra, will be unveiled.
However, fresh rumors indicate this phone, which is expected to be the most expensive iPhone in history, may lack some standard iPhone features.
Face ID may be removed
According to Eitna and based on repeated rumors, the iPhone Ultra will not have Face ID facial recognition technology and will instead use a Touch ID fingerprint sensor embedded in the power button.
The reason for this change is that the phone’s body is too thin to accommodate the TrueDepth 3D camera that enables Face ID.
Telephoto camera dropped
Reports indicate the iPhone Ultra will be equipped with only two cameras with wide-angle and ultra-wide lenses and will not include a telephoto camera; a trend seen in the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air and similarly implemented in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8.
Action button also removed
According to TechRadar, mock-up units of the iPhone Ultra released so far lack the Action button - a feature present on most iPhone models since the iPhone 15 Pro.
These units also do not have the mute switch, which if confirmed, would make this phone the first iPhone without these two features.
Uncertain future for MagSafe
Mock-ups of this phone also lack the MagSafe ring, while this feature is seen on mock-ups of the iPhone 18 Pro.
However, Mark Gurman, a well-known Apple analyst, has stated that all the signs he has heard point to MagSafe being present on this foldable phone. Nevertheless, given the contradictions in other features, there is still no certainty about MagSafe’s presence or removal.
Possible removal of the SIM tray
Apple has previously removed the physical SIM tray from iPhones in the U.S. and some other regions.
According to multiple reports, the iPhone Ultra, like the iPhone Air, may rely entirely on eSIM and lack a physical SIM tray - a point that this reporting says is the most certain among the various rumors.
Thus, despite the high price and the name “Ultra,” this phone may leave some users doubtful about how truly “ultra” it is and whether it is worth buying.