ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The iPhone 18 Pro Max may not offer enough to justify an upgrade.
- Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to debut this fall.
- The Ultra’s large screen and iPad-like software are very tempting.
I got the iPhone 17 Pro Max last fall, and to be brutally honest, none of the iPhone 18 Pro Max rumors have convinced me it’s worth upgrading again this year. The new iPhone sounds better, of course, in all the predictable ways: a faster chip, better cameras, a smaller Dynamic Island, and potentially longer battery life.
But all those upgrades seem iterative, and I’m still paying for last year’s phone. Apple’s first foldable iPhone, however, is another matter. I want it, real bad.
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I’m a sucker for an Apple first. I had the first iPhone and the first iPad, and I’ve used Macs since I was a kid. I don’t buy every new category Apple enters; the $3,499 Vision Pro, for example, is far too expensive and impractical to tempt me. I did get a review unit when it released, but I get motion sickness pretty easily and don’t game often. It sounds like many others might feel the same — Apple is reportedly scaling back its efforts on the headset.
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A foldable iPhone is different, though, and it’s a big decision for me: It would replace the iPhone 17 Pro Max I use on a daily basis. Here’s why I think that could be worth it.
Why the iPhone Ultra excites me
1. 7.8-inch inner screen size
I’m firmly in the “bigger is better” camp when it comes to screens. I know not everyone agrees, and there are people out there who genuinely want the smaller iPhone models over the Pro Max, but I will never understand why. According to Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s new “book-style” foldable, thought to be called the iPhone Ultra, will have a 5.5-inch outer display and open into a 7.8-inch screen with an iPad-like shape. That’s like having an expandable iPad mini in my pocket (if I could, I’d insert a heart-eyes emoji here).
2. iPad-like software experience
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also reported that Apple’s first foldable will support two apps side by side, along with iPad-like sidebars and layouts, giving the larger screen an actual purpose beyond making videos bigger. I’m imagining my work email next to my calendar and Notes staying open beside Chrome (no, I don’t use Safari). If all that proves true, the Ultra will be far more useful than the usual annual iPhone upgrade.
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3. Large battery capacity
The battery is one area that really intrigues me. The iPhone Ultra will supposedly have room for cells on both sides, but it will also have two displays, one of which will be huge. More battery capacity won’t automatically mean longer battery life. Still, can Apple make a folding phone that lasts as long as (or longer) than my Pro Max? The company is apparently testing a battery in the 5,400 to 5,800 mAh range, which would mean it’d have the largest capacity of any current or previous iPhone.
For comparison, the iPhone 17 Pro Max has a 5,088 mAh battery.
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The iPhone Ultra’s downsides
1. No Face ID
If the rumors are true, there may be some annoying compromises. Kuo reported that Apple’s foldable will not have Face ID because its thin design leaves little room for the TrueDepth camera system. Instead, Touch ID will reportedly return as a side button. I’m not going to lie… I would miss Face ID. Going back to pressing a finger to a button would feel outdated after years of unlocking my phone just by looking at it. This is the biggest thing giving me pause at the moment.
2. No telephoto camera
The iPhone Ultra is also expected to have only two rear cameras, with no telephoto lens. That means I wouldn’t be able to optically zoom in on faraway subjects without losing image quality. I still don’t think this is a deal-breaker. After all, the standard iPhone models don’t have a telephoto camera, nor does the iPhone Air.
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3. No Action button
9to5Mac also said the iPhone Ultra might not have an Action button (I always forget it exists on my Pro Max, so no biggie there), and it won’t support MagSafe wireless charging. I’d like that option, but I always default to charging with a cord over wireless anyway.
It’s still an easy decision for me
Look, my iPhone 17 Pro Max is still great. It’s fast, has a huge screen, already takes excellent photos, lasts pretty decently throughout the day, and has Face ID. All positives. But I usually upgrade every other year, and the iPhone 18 Pro Max gives me no real reason to break that pattern. The foldable iPhone, even if it does end up costing more than $2,000, as the rumors say, is nevertheless pulling at my heartstrings. Unfortunately, I’ve just got to have it.
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I think it’d be cool to have another Apple first. The bigger screen would be sick, too. An iPad mini-like experience on my phone could be a big win for work purposes. Speaking of work, I do write about new phones, features, and tech for a living; the story ideas just owning this device would give me are endless.
So go ahead and take my money again, Apple. I can’t wait to see what’s unveiled on Wednesday.
