Apple’s first foldable iPhone is starting to sound like the kind of device that will make your wallet cry first and ask questions later.
According to Wccftech, new metal dummy units shared by tipster Vadim Yuryev point to a foldable iPhone currently being referred to as the iPhone Ultra. The big headline? This thing could arrive with a premium price tag of around US$2,000 — roughly RM9,500 before Malaysian taxes, telco plans, or reseller markups — while still missing a couple of features iPhone users normally expect.
The dummy units reportedly show no visible MagSafe charging coil and no dedicated LED flash. For a normal iPhone, that would already feel weird. For a foldable flagship priced like a high-end gaming laptop, memang eyebrow-raising.
Why would Apple cut MagSafe?
The likely reason is space. Foldable phones are engineering nightmares because every millimetre matters. Apple is apparently chasing a very slim body, and that means some familiar hardware may not make the cut.
The leaked dummy also shows a chunky camera bump, which suggests Apple still wants serious camera hardware inside. But if MagSafe really is gone, Malaysian users who already invested in MagSafe power banks, car mounts, desk chargers, and wallets might need to rethink their setup.
That matters here because accessories are not cheap. A decent MagSafe power bank or car mount can easily cost anywhere from RM100 to RM300+, and plenty of iPhone users in KL, Penang, JB, and Singapore already rely on that ecosystem daily.
Big screen, gaming potential, big compromises
One interesting bit from the dummy unit is the size. Yuryev compared it against an iPad mini, suggesting the internal screen could feel almost tablet-like. Wccftech also notes previous reporting that the foldable iPhone may run iPad-style layouts with side-by-side apps, though not the full desktop-like multitasking Apple has pushed on iPadOS.
For SEA users, that could be the real appeal. A foldable iPhone with a wide internal display would be nice for Mobile Legends, Honkai: Star Rail, Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Netflix, manga apps, and split-screen chat. Imagine Discord on one side, guide or build page on the other — very useful for gamers who live on mobile.
Reported specs floating around include a 2,713 x 1,920 internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, an A20 Pro chip, 12GB RAM, Apple’s in-house C2 5G modem, a 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh battery, and a dual rear camera setup possibly using 48MP sensors.
Apple is also said to be dropping Face ID for this model, replacing it with Touch ID in the side button. The outer screen may use a small hole-punch cutout but still keep Dynamic Island-style notifications. As for an under-display camera on the inside, testing reportedly has not delivered good enough image quality, so that feature may not reach the final product.
Apple is fighting the foldable crease problem
The most Apple-ish part of this whole rumour is the display engineering. Wccftech says Apple may use variable-thickness ultra-thin glass, with the folding section made thinner to reduce stress. The company is also reportedly looking at special optically clear adhesive and a dual UTG/UFG glass structure to reduce wear from repeated folding.
Taiwan’s Economic Daily reportedly claims the crease depth could be around 0.15mm, which would be tiny compared to what we usually see on foldables. If Apple really manages that, Samsung, Honor, OPPO, and Huawei will definitely feel the heat.
There is also talk of a Color Filter on Encapsulation display design, replacing a thicker polarizer layer with a slimmer colour filter setup. In simple terms: thinner display, better efficiency, less folding stress.
Should Malaysians care?
Yes, but maybe not as day-one buyers.
At around US$2,000, the iPhone Ultra would land in Malaysia as an ultra-luxury device. It will probably cost more than many gaming PCs, PS5 setups, or a full iPad plus iPhone combo. If MagSafe and LED flash are really missing, Apple will need to justify the price with genuinely better durability, battery life, gaming performance, and multitasking.
For now, this is still leak territory. But if these dummy units are accurate, Apple’s first foldable may not be the “everything phone”. It could be a very specific flex device: huge screen, premium build, advanced hinge/display tech — but with some oddly painful cuts.
Source: Wccftech Gaming