A new flagship iPhone might be released in the coming year. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says that Apple is thinking about whether or not to release an iPhone called the “Ultra,” which would sit above the iPhone Pro and Pro Max. He claims that the device may arrive as early as the following year.
If you’ve been reading Gurman’s writing for a while, you may recall that he previously reported that Apple was considering changing the name of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro Max to iPhone 15 Ultra. He now asserts that there is evidence to suggest that Apple intends to instead target wealthy customers with a more powerful and pricey iPhone. Gurman focuses in particular on a recent statement made by Apple CEO Tim Cook. When asked if the iPhone’s rising average price was sustainable, Cook stated to analysts, “The iPhone has become so integral [to] people’s lives,” Cook told analysts when he was asked if the increasing average price of the iPhone was sustainable. “I think people are willing to really stretch to get the best they can afford in that category.”
It is difficult to predict how Apple will differentiate the new model. Gurman suggests that the iPhone Ultra might have a faster processor, a better camera than the Pro and Pro Max, and a display that is even larger. Additionally, there may be additional features for the future, such as finally eliminating the charging port,” he adds.
It’s important to note that reports about the iPhone 15 line suggest that Apple is already looking for more ways to set the Pro models apart from their more common counterparts. For instance, a recent report suggested that the upcoming Pro models might have WiFi 6E connectivity, whereas the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus come with WiFi 6 antennas that are older. Other features that might set the Pro models apart include redesigned titanium frames with haptic volume and power buttons. The Pro Max is also said to come with a periscope camera lens from Apple.
