AI News Feed
Market watch
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
LG UltraFine Evo 32U990A-S Hits Record-Low $1,099 on Amazon, TechRadar ReportsNewegg Labor Day Deal: 32GB Kingston Fury Beast DDR4-3200 Kit Nearly Half Price at $179.99 with CodeGalaxy Z Fold 8 inner screen corners reported with excessive giveHuawei unveils Mate XT 2 tri-fold with privacy-screen edition as Apple prepares folding iPhoneWall Street Analysts Recommend Nvidia, Uber and Marvell for Long-Term GrowthLenovo, AMD and Huawei Put Local Large-Model AI at Center of New Devices
Products & Applications

Report: iPhone 18 Pro to Beat iPhone Ultra on Camera, Battery, Face ID

9to5Mac reports iPhone 18 Pro will beat iPhone Ultra with variable aperture, Face ID, longer battery life, and a telephoto camera.

AI News Feed · 2026-08-28 03:03

The price difference is an obvious advantage, but the report identifies four specific areas where the Pro line, especially iPhone 18 Pro Max, will outshine the Ultra. First, the iPhone 18 Pro's main camera is rumored to receive a variable aperture upgrade, a feature the Ultra is not expected to get. The upgrade could improve Portrait mode, offer new depth-of-field control, and boost low-light photography. The larger components required for variable aperture are reportedly why the ultra-thin Ultra will miss out.

Second, battery life. iPhone 18 Pro Max is said to get a 10 percent larger physical battery than iPhone 17 Pro Max, and efficiency gains from the A20 Pro and C2 chips should make it the best battery life ever in an iPhone. The Ultra's ultra-thin foldable design and smaller physical battery will likely prevent it from matching the Pro Max.

Third, Face ID. The iPhone Ultra will reportedly be limited to Touch ID, marking the first time in years a flagship iPhone lacks Face ID. According to the report, Apple could not fit Face ID components into the thin Ultra design, and proper support would have required two sets, one for each display. The iPhone 18 Pro will stick with the Face ID system that has been used for nearly a decade.

Fourth, telephoto camera. Only the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will include a telephoto lens for optical zoom; the Ultra will have main and ultra-wide cameras only. This could be a major differentiator for users who rely on the telephoto, especially since Apple is rumored to give the telephoto a larger aperture this year.

The report adds a bonus advantage: a traditional iPhone experience. The Ultra's dual displays and foldable form factor will be unlike any previous iPhone and may take adjustment. Many consumers, the report suggests, will see the familiar single-display design of the iPhone 18 Pro as a benefit.