The iPhone 15 Ultra is the big talk of the town, as leaks and rumors have sparked a conversation about Apple adding a new entry to the 2023 iPhone lineup, and it already appears to be the giant’s longest-lasting and most expensive iPhone. Cupertino technology so far.
Now that the iPhone 14 Y iPhone 14 Pro models are in the wild, the rumor mill is changing its approach to all things iPhone 15. While we’re already quite a ways from Apple releasing its next-generation flagship smartphones, there are already rumors of what the mysterious iPhone Ultra will bring to the table.
Many believe it will replace the usual iPhone Pro Max models, but will the rumored Ultra model be a simple name change, or will it offer a number of premium features? Read on to find out everything we know about the iPhone 15 Ultra so far.
Latest iPhone 15 Ultra Leaks and Rumors (Updated Oct 29)
iPhone 15 Ultra release date rumored
Apple is consistent when it comes to iPhone release dates, which means we can expect to see the iPhone 15 lineup around the same time we saw the iPhone 14 launch in 2022.
This means the iPhone 15 Ultra is likely to launch sometime in September 2023, though its ship date could be delayed further, just like the iPhone 14 Max came out a couple of weeks later than the rest of the iPhone lineup. iPhone 14.
Since the similarly branded Apple Watch Ultra was announced alongside the new Apple Watch Series 8, the iPhone 15 Ultra will likely follow suit and not have its own separate launch event. Of course, it’s all still up in the air, and it may not be called “Ultra” after all.
iPhone 15 Ultra price
So far, rumors about the price of the iPhone 15 Ultra are scarce. However, there are some clues to piece together.
For one, Apple did not change the price of its iPhone 14 compared to the previous year. iPhone 13 lineup (well, only in the US, that is). Second, if the iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to replace the iPhone Pro Max model, it could be priced similarly. Ergo, we could see the 15 Ultra cost around $1,099.
However, we are talking about an “Ultra” model. We’ve seen the Apple Watch Ultra and the M1 Ultra chip reach the mac studio. These are the most powerful Apple products in their respective categories and they come at a high price. If this is the case, expect the 15 Ultra to be expensive.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the company’s most expensive smartwatch to date by far. Starting at $799, that’s a $400 price increase compared to the apple watch series 8. While it offers a list of upgrades over the standard model, its titanium case is one of the reasons it commands a high price.
With this in mind, the iPhone 15 Ultra also with a titanium chassis (more on that later) would increase the price. The iPhone 14 Pro Max already starts at $1,099, and considering the price gap of the Apple Watch Ultra, we could rumor that the 15 Ultra would be priced between $1,500 and $2,000.
iPhone 15 Ultra Design
Presumably, we are still a long way from the expected launch of the iPhone 15 Ultra, but we already have renders of what it will look like. Of course, these are fan-made renders, as it’s too early to tell what the Ultra model will look like. However, creator 4RMD has offered a compelling take on its design, especially seeing how all iPhone 15 models are expected to come with Dynamic Island and that the iPhone’s design shouldn’t stray too far from previous models.
However, the often reliable analyst gurman brand speculates that Apple will revamp the design of the iPhone next year. While no specific changes were mentioned, it notes that Apple is now sticking to a “three-year redesign cycle,” with the iPhone 15 set to receive a design overhaul. If true, it would be the perfect time to introduce an Ultra model.
If the iPhone Ultra is expected to replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max, we may see it in the same size. If this is the case, we can expect a sizeable 6.7-inch screen. Of course, this is just speculation, but something bigger can make the iPhone seem unwieldy.
Interestingly, another tip indicates that Apple’s next high-end flagship will be made of titanium. That’s the same material used in Apple Watch Ultra, which offers a rugged design with improved scratch and corrosion resistance and increased durability.
As stated by prominent tipster LeaksApplePro on TwitterHowever, it appears that only the Ultra model of the purported iPhone 15 lineup will receive the titanium treatment. This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of iPhones using titanium instead of the usual aluminum and stainless steel, like the iPhone 14 Pro models once were. angled to incorporate a titanium alloy chassis.
While this didn’t turn out to be true, Apple has reportedly tested the use of titanium in iPhones (via MacRumors). However, the Cupertino-based tech giant did not comply because it was too expensive. However, with a new Ultra entry expected to arrive with the iPhone 15 lineup, it makes sense that we might see a titanium model.
We also expect to see the addition of a USB-C port instead of a Lightning slot on the 2023 iPhone models, as it’s a The EU mandate will force Apple to include USB-C in its smartphones.
iPhone 15 Ultra Specifications
As Apple continues to offer a new A-series chip with each iteration of the iPhone, the iPhone 15 Ultra will likely use an A17 Bionic processor.
While the Ultra model could mean even better specs under the hood, it’s good to note that the Apple Watch Ultra has the same S8 chip as the Apple Watch Series 8. The A17 chipset is sure to be powerful enough even for a new high-end iPhone, so we’d at least expect the iPhone 15 Pro and Ultra models to come with identical chips.
We can expect a 10-15% increase in performance, but what’s most interesting is the Ultra’s battery life. We could see even more battery capacity in the iPhone Ultra model, especially if it follows similar features in the Apple Watch Ultra, which offers 36 hours of battery life.
In our tests, the The battery of the iPhone 14 Pro Max it clocked in at an impressive 13 hours and 7 minutes. If that’s the case, and if Apple’s intention for a device to be “Ultra” means better battery life, the higher-end model could go further. Also, with the move to USB-C, we were also able to see real Fast charging makes an appearance.
Another tip comes from the Majin Bu leaker at Twitterwho claims that the iPhone 15 Ultra will have an initial storage capacity of 256 GB.
iPhone 15 Ultra cameras
Apple revamped its camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models, which now feature a 48MP wide camera, a 12MP ultrawide camera, a 12MP telephoto lens, and a 12MP selfie camera. This was the biggest change to iPhone camera specs in recent years, meaning we’re likely to see similar lenses.
However, rumors suggest that only the The iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a periscope zoom. If the Ultra is meant to replace the Pro Max, that means the Ultra model is the iPhone that will have a periscope lens.
That will be a much-needed update, but it’s apparently not the only one we can look forward to. Apparently the The iPhone 15 Ultra is expected to get a major camera upgrade. According to the known informer Majin Bu in Twitter, an anonymous source claims that the iPhone 15 Ultra will have two front cameras. Having dual selfie cameras will be a first for an iPhone, but the source doesn’t mention what the additional camera could be used for.
As reported by my source, the iPhone 15 Ultra will have 2 front-facing cameras, USB-C, and will start at 256GB. Instead the iPhone 15 Pro will always start at 128GB and will have USB-C but only 1 front camera #iphone #iphone15 #iphone15ultra pic.twitter.com/lIn6OhMNkoSeptember 26, 2022
With the expanded storage capacity, it makes sense for an “Ultra” model that may have a second camera on the front.
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We’re still a long way from any sort of concrete iPhone 15 details, and since an iPhone 15 Ultra is an entirely new addition to the lineup, it’s not certain if Apple is crafting a high-end flagship iPhone just yet.
Still, rumors of an Apple Watch “Pro” had persisted long before the Apple Watch Ultra announcement, so there’s reason to believe an iPhone Ultra is coming.
While we wait for more juicy details on the whole iPhone 15 Ultra, check out our thoughts on the iPhone 14.