Anticipation is rising for the iPhone Ultra, especially as we near the rumored September 9th event, where we’ll finally get an official look at the upcoming foldable. However, it appears that early testers are sharing what they like about it ahead of the reveal.
Mark Gurman’s latest newsletter is full of praiseworthy tidbits from people who’ve reportedly used the iPhone Ultra. I’m not terribly surprised by this — let’s face it, a new form factor is always intriguing. However, I’m going to be more critical of this device than anything else the company has released, mainly because Apple is late to the game while rival Samsung has been leading and innovating for years.
Here is what these early users are reporting — and my take on their impressions.
Fits in the pocket
It comes as no surprise that early testers love how easily the iPhone Ultra slides into a pocket. Having spent several weeks with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, I completely get the appeal — even if Samsung beat Apple to the punch here.
The iPhone Ultra seems to follow the same playbook, favoring a passport-style aspect ratio over the tall, narrow silhouette typical of most notebook foldables. Thanks to a rumored 5.4- or 5.5-inch cover screen, its squatter, wider frame would feel much more natural to carry every day. And don't get me started on how much easier it is to use one-handed.
Feel and durability of the hinge
As much as phone makers obsess over eliminating display creases, it isn't the biggest factor for me. What stood out from these early impressions is the praise for the hinge's feel and build quality.
This is Apple, so I expect its engineering team to settle for nothing less than perfection. Long-term durability is non-negotiable on a foldable, though to be fair, the industry has come a long way since the clunky, fragile hinges of earlier generations.
Excels as a camera viewfinder
Another standout takeaway from early testers is how well the iPhone Ultra functions as a camera viewfinder. A rumored 7.8-inch main screen provides an enormous canvas for composing shots.
There is a tangible benefit to having that extra screen real estate for mobile photography and video, particularly as my close-up vision isn't what it once was. Having a massive, sharp preview makes framing subjects and checking focus far more forgiving. Even though it’s reportedly going to feature a dual-camera setup that pairs a main and ultrawide sensors, I don’t think the lack of a dedicated telephoto is going to be a deal breaker here.
iPad-like layouts
Finally, what I’m most eager to see in action is how apps actually look and behave on the iPhone Ultra. Because it will feature an aspect ratio unlike any previous iPhone, Apple needs to rethink how interfaces scale across both displays.
If Apple adopts an iPad-style layout, the iPhone Ultra could gain an inherent edge thanks to how intuitive iPadOS is at running multiple apps simultaneously. I fully expect these expanded layouts to optimize every inch of the main screen — nothing would be more frustrating than dealing with wasted space and letterboxing.
The one thing Apple can’t afford not to do
That might be everything early testers love about the iPhone Ultra, but there’s one critical factor that will make or break the experience for me: dynamic app continuity. While the report emphasizes iPad-like layouts, Apple must ensure apps transition seamlessly between screens.
I’m talking about how interfaces adapt when moving from the larger inner display to the compact cover screen, as well as shifting between portrait and landscape orientations. Many of the best foldable phones struggle with this, including the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra and Pixel 11 Pro Fold, often forcing users to relaunch apps just to trigger the correct layout.
With a rumored starting price of at least $2,000, the iPhone Ultra needs flawless execution if Apple truly wants to bring the foldable form factor to the mainstream.
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