iPhone Ultra: First hands-on reveals unusual shape Apfelpatient

Six months before its expected market launch, Apple's first foldable iPhone makes its first real appearance on camera – albeit unofficially. YouTuber Lewis Hilsenteger from Unbox Therapy extensively handled and filmed a dummy model of the iPhone Ultra. The result is an honest, sometimes bewildered, assessment of a device that looks unlike anything Apple has ever built.

Apple will launch its first foldable iPhone in fall 2026 – after years of speculation and development. The device, long rumored as the iPhone Fold, is expected to be called the iPhone Ultra, according to several consistent leaks, and will be the premium flagship model of the iPhone 18 family. While Apple's development teams are working on final validation tests and mass production has already been postponed until August, suppliers along the iPhone supply chain are delivering what they do every year at this time: dummy models for case and accessory manufacturers. One of these dummies has now landed in the hands of one of the most popular tech YouTubers – and provides the first tangible impression of what the iPhone Ultra will feel like in the hand.

What Unbox Therapy holds in its hand

The device in the video is not an original Apple product, but a replica sent by a Chinese supplier with ties to Apple. Such dummies are typically based on CAD data or dimensional drawings passed along the supply chain to case and accessory manufacturers – and are therefore usually very close to the final product. However, there are no guarantees: Apple can still change details until shortly before launch, and the dummy manufacturers' sources aren't always accurate.

Nevertheless, the replica matches remarkably well with what has leaked so far about the iPhone Ultra. This suggests that the basic design language is correct – even if details may still change before the official unveiling in September.

Stubby like a passport

Hilsenteger's first impression is blunt: "weird," "so strange," "stubby," "a little shorty." When folded, the iPhone Ultra appears significantly shorter and more compact than a regular iPhone in the video - one commenter compares it to a Nintendo DS, while the YouTuber himself refers to it as "an iPad nano." Its proportions are more reminiscent of a passport than a typical smartphone.

According to Hilsenteger, this unusual shape is no accident, but a deliberate design choice. The reduced height allows the device to fit better in a trouser pocket and makes it less top-heavy when unfolded. It also creates space for what's inside: a display that is clearly the focal point when unfolded.

The camera bump as a wobble problem

The biggest discussion in the video revolves around the back of the phone. According to Hilsenteger, the camera module is "enormous"—and the numbers explain why: When closed, the device measures 11 millimeters at its thinnest point, but the camera bump protrudes by 16.6 millimeters. This difference causes the iPhone Ultra to wobble on any flat surface. "It might be a wobble champion," the YouTuber comments, clearly amused.

Apple is thus faced with a classic dilemma: fitting a high-performance camera system into a slim foldable device without making the overall casing too thick. The solution in the dummy is clear – the camera is allowed to protrude, while the body remains slim. That Apple's hardware chiefs are accepting such a significant height difference is unusual for Apple.

Apple prioritizes the unfolded experience

Hilsenteger's most important take at the end of the video: Apple has clearly optimized the iPhone Ultra for its unfolded mode. "That's the magic happening there," he says as soon as the display is opened. The compact external dimensions when folded seem like a compromise Apple consciously makes so that the larger internal display dominates in everyday use.

This aligns with the strategic direction revealed by further leaks. Reports regarding iPhone Ultra production and a potential August start to mass production suggest that Apple prefers to accept limited production volumes rather than compromise on hardware. The elaborate multi-layer solution to prevent the visible display crease also demonstrates the significant engineering effort Apple is investing in the unfolded display.

What to make of the dummy

Dummy models aren't proof, but they are good indicators. This is especially true when they align with other sources – and that's precisely the case here. Previous supply chain reports already mentioned a 7.8-inch internal display, a 5.5-inch external display, and a book-style folding mechanism similar to the Galaxy Z Fold. The replacement of Face ID with Touch ID integrated into the power button, as well as a starting price exceeding $2,000, are now also considered certain.

What Unbox Therapy adds with its hands-on review is the feel – the sensation in the hand, the proportions, the impact in the room. And this is precisely where it becomes clear: the iPhone Ultra isn't an iPhone you'll just buy on a whim. It's a statement device with a distinctive form factor and a camera that stands out dramatically. Those seeking a classic iPhone experience will still find what they're looking for in the iPhone 18 Pro models this fall. The Ultra is aimed at a different target group.

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iPhone Ultra: What needs to happen by September

The Unbox Therapy video is the best preview yet of what's coming in September – and it also makes tangible just how unusual Apple's first foldable phone will look. The squat silhouette and the bulky camera module aren't typical Apple design in the sense of "thin and unobtrusive." They're the result of a clear prioritization: the internal display trumps the external appearance, the camera trumps stability on a table. This logic is understandable, but it will polarize buyers. Apple needs to tell the right story in the keynote, otherwise the reactions Hilsenteger explores in the video will shape the initial impression in the Apple Store. Until then, further leaks should gradually clarify the picture. (Image: Unbox Therapy / YouTube)