We’re starting to build a clear picture of Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra, and it seems to represent a fundamentally different approach.
Well known YouTuber Unboxed Therapy recently showcased an iPhone Ultra dummy unit, offering an early insight into the look and feel of Apple’s forthcoming foldable smartphone debut.
For those who haven’t encountered such dummy units before, they tend to be unofficial but largely accurate models, generally based on dimensions that manufacturers are required to provide to their industry partners (think factories and accessory makers) ahead of release.
In other words, while we can’t say for sure that this iPhone Ultra dummy unit will be representative of the final product, it almost certainly is.
Not so weirdly wide
During the hands-on video, host Lewis Hilsenteger comments on how weird the iPhone Ultra feels in the hand, particularly in its closed form.
The crux of this “strange” feeling, explains Hilsenteger, lies with its stubby “passport shape”, which is significantly shorter and wider than other foldables – and indeed most regular smartphones.
But as with so many of Apple’s seemingly counter-intuitive design decisions over the years, I feel that this is a feature, not a bug.
Indeed, I think it might represent a fundamental difference in Apple’s approach compared to other foldable manufacturers – though shout out to Microsoft’s long-defunct Surface Neo for blazing the trail, even if it’s one that’s since been abandoned.
While Samsung, Google, Honor and co. all seemingly set out to make a smartphone that expands, Apple is looking to make a portable tablet with hybrid smartphone properties.
Foldable foibles
Whenever I use a foldable phone – such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 or Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold – for any extended length of time, I always wind up using it predominantly as a regular phone.
I’ll only expand the screen to its full potential in limited scenarios, such as during extended couch-based web sessions or for certain games. I’d argue it’s the ultimate way to play Slay the Spire, which is almost reason enough to splurge £1,800 on your next phone.
While the inner display is handy for running apps side by side or for making reams of small text more legible, the awkward square shape tends to make video consumption less palatable, not to mention similar effects on third-party apps.
Luke Baker
Conversely, I suspect that Apple wants you to treat the iPhone Ultra’s unfolded state as its default position – or at least, for your use to hew far closer to an even 50-50 split with the stout external screen. And it all comes down to the dimensions of that inner screen.
With the larger screen unfurled, it appears likely that it’ll have the same 4:3 aspect ratio as the popular iPad range. As I mentioned recently, Apple really does have the whole tablet business sewn up, and it’s done so by creating a watertight iPadOS UI with access to almost desktop-like functionality, together with a peerless tablet-optimised app environment.
The iPhone Ultra is going to make that singular tablet UI more portable than we’ve ever seen it before – more so even than the iPad mini. As such, it could be the best foldable yet for actually letting you get stuff done on the go.
When it launches, it’ll have a whole App Store full of optimised apps ready to fit on that 4:3 screen, while video and gaming content will feel more natural running on it (although chunky borders will still be a thing).
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
Apple vs Samsung (again)
It’s telling that Samsung is set to try something similar with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide, which you have to suspect is being launched as a pre-emptive measure to head off the iPhone Ultra, rather than through any philosophical kinship with Apple.
Something tells me it’ll fall short of Apple’s debut, even if it ends up offering superior hardware in certain areas. Samsung doesn’t tend to adopt the 4:3 aspect ratio with its own tablets, so won’t be able to offer such a neat transition.
Besides which, the underlying Android OS simply isn’t as well optimised for the tablet format, and doesn’t have the same library of properly adapted applications.
You might well wonder why Apple is giving us such a weirdly shaped smartphone in the iPhone Ultra, and it could well be yet another white elephant from a company that can’t seem to innovate like it used to.
But it seems clear to me that with the iPhone Ultra, Apple is shooting for something a little different to the rest. That, if nothing else, is reason to be excited.
Want to read more about Apple’s upcoming foldable? Here’s everything we know about the iPhone Ultra so far.
