[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] With expectations that Apple's foldable iPhone, the 'iPhone Ultra', will be unveiled within weeks, internal users who have used the device were reported to have rated its portability, hinge durability and large-screen app usability most highly.

On Aug. 23 (local time), IT outlet NineToFiveMac reported that Mark Gurman shared initial impressions of the iPhone Ultra based on conversations with several people who used the device inside Apple.

The first strength mentioned was portability. The device was assessed as fitting well into a pocket when folded. The outer display is said to be 5.5 inches. That highlights usability when folded ahead of thickness and carrying burden, which have been cited as weaknesses of foldable phones.

Durability was also presented as a key point. Internal users rated the hinge build quality highly. Users Gurman contacted were said to have particularly liked the hinge’s durability. Because the folding mechanism directly affects purchase decisions for foldable products, this is seen as a sign that Apple is refining its most sensitive area first.

How the large screen is used was also cited as a major change. The inner display is said to be about 7.8 inches, with a wider landscape-oriented aspect ratio than portrait. In line with that, Apple is said to be preparing an 'iPad-like app layout'. That suggests it is designing an interface to properly use the inner screen, not just making the display larger.

Camera use was also a notable point. Internal users assessed that the product performs well as a 'camera viewfinder'. That appears to reflect a direction of strengthening framing checks and preview experiences by using the folding design and the large inner screen.

Some trade-offs are expected in camera specifications. The configuration currently being discussed is a main camera and an ultra-wide camera. A telephoto camera may be omitted. The price is expected to exceed $2,000. There is also speculation it will adopt Touch ID instead of Face ID for biometric authentication. That appears to be the result of a combination of a high-price strategy, component configuration, internal space layout and thickness management.

This set of specifications shows what Apple is prioritizing in its first foldable iPhone. Even if it adjusts parts of the camera setup and biometric method, it is placing more weight on stabilising the folding form’s completeness and the screen-use experience first. In fact, the items internal users viewed most positively also focused on pocketability, hinge durability and an app setup for the inner display.

Expectations that the launch is imminent are also continuing. The outlet reported that the iPhone Ultra’s unveiling is weeks away. As a result, market attention is expected to focus on what differentiation the foldable iPhone will create from the existing iPhone Pro line and whether it can secure demand despite a price above $2,000. In particular, how much Apple has focused on redesigning the user experience rather than hardware competition in its first foldable product is expected to be a key point to watch.