Here’s what we know about a new top-of-the-line iPhone arriving in 2024, Apple’s iPhone 15 lineup may change in 2024 with the rumored iPhone 16 Ultra, a super-premium smartphone, set to launch in 2024, following rumors of its development.
The iPhone 16 Ultra, like the Apple Watch Ultra, would be positioned as a step up from the current iPhone Pro models, with a more substantial feature set and a price to match.
Rumors suggest the iPhone 16 Ultra may have a larger display, solid state buttons, and several camera upgrades, though the details are still solid- stated buttons cycle.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA RELEASE DATE
In 2022, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman projected that an Ultra va2022,t of the iPhone will follow the Apple Watch Ultra “in the next couple of years.” Since then, the idea has been discussed. Despite several rumors that A2023, will rename its Pro Max phone the iPhone 15 Ultra, it didn’t actually happen to be 2023.
Gurman reported in February 2022 that Apple is working on a higher-end Ultra model for 2024, along with adding more exclusive features to the Pro Max.
Apple’s fall 2023 iPhone launch did not reveal an Ultra model, so the next earliest date for an Ultra is fall 2024. Apple typically announces new phones in the spring, but it is known to show off iPhone SE releases in the spring. If Apple follows its usual launch schedule, the iPhone 16 Ultra could be launched in September 2024 alongside the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA POSSIBLE PRICE
The price of the iPhone 16 Ultra, if it’s expected to arrive in 2024, is uncertain due to the $100 price increase in the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year, potentially setting a floor for the iPhone 16 Ultra if it succeeds the Pro Max as Apple’s top-of-the-line phone.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, $400 more than the Series 9. If Apple applied the same pricing strategy to its phone lineup, an Ultra model would cost $1,399, $400 more than the iPhone 15 Pro’s $999 starting price. While this wouldn’t make the iPhone 16 Ultra the most expensive smartphone, it would likely be outside most shoppers’ budgets, making it a non-starter.
For the time being, we’ll just assume that the iPhone 16 Ultra will cost around the same as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and adjust our expectations as more pricing rumors emerge.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA DESIGN AND DISPLAY
The greatest iPhone 16 Ultra rumor is that Apple may increase the screen size from 6.9 inches on the next flagship to 6.7 inches on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This would be the largest screen an iPhone has ever had.
Rumors suggest Apple may use newer Samsung panels for the iPhone 16 Ultra display. The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s peak brightness remains at 2,000 nits outdoors, but it’s likely the iPhone 16 Ultra will feature a brighter panel, as Google’s Pixel 8 Pro boasts a display with a peak brightness of 2,400 nits.
Apple’s iPhone 16 Ultra design may feature solid-state buttons, reducing the number of moving parts that can break over time. While the new Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro models offers haptic feedback, Apple faced technical problems in implementing solid-state buttons for mass production. While one analyst doubts that Apple will resolve this issue for the iPhone 16 Ultra, it is possible that the phone maker will find a solution for mass production.
For years, rumors of a buttonless iPhone have been circulating, with an Ultra version of the iPhone potentially being the future.
In fact, according to MacRumors, there may be yet another button added to the right side of the iPhone 16 Ultra. This new button is thought to be dubbed the capture button. We don’t have a lot of information yet, but it may be devoted to the camera and content collection.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA CAMERAS
The iPhone 15 Pro Max introduced a tetraprism telephoto lens, increasing its optical zoom to 5x. This lens is expected to be featured in all iPhone 16 Pro models, with the iPhone 16 Ultra likely using the same approach. The lens may challenge Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom. Rumors suggest the tetraprism lens will be used on all iPhone 16 Pro models.
Rumors suggest a larger 48MP main camera for better light capture and an increased megapixel rating on the ultrawide camera to 48MP, similar to Google’s recent Pixel 8 Pro move, which may impact the iPhone 16 Ultra.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA CHIPSET AND BATTERY
The iPhone 16 Ultra is expected to use Apple’s upcoming A18 Pro chipset, which is likely the top-of-the-line chipset for its high-end phones, although there are no rumors about this silicon yet.
MacRumors reports that all iPhone 16 models will feature an A18 chip, with the powerful A18 Pro reserved for iPhone 16 Pro models, including the iPhone 16 Ultra, according to analyst Jeff Pu.
The iPhone 15 Pro models are said to have 8GB of RAM, although Apple doesn’t confirm the amount of memory, and it’s believed that 8GB is a minimum requirement for an Ultra model, as high-end phones often offer 12GB of memory.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first iPhone to offer 256GB of storage, and the iPhone 16 Ultra is expected to follow suit. Apple is rumored to be developing its own modem for future iPhones, with Qualcomm supplying modems through 2026. If the iPhone 16 Ultra is released next year, it will feature a Qualcomm-supplied modem.
The Apple Watch Ultra boasts a longer battery life than the standard Apple Watch, and while no rumors have been reported about the iPhone 16 Ultra battery, it is likely that Apple prioritizes making it the longest-lasting iPhone in its lineup.
IPHONE 16 ULTRA: OUTLOOK
The iPhone 16 Ultra boasts significant improvements over the iPhone 15 Pro Max, including a premium chipset, telephoto lens, extra storage, and a long-lasting battery, making it the ultimate iPhone to buy and a formidable competitor in the market.
Rumors suggest Apple is mulling an iPhone 16 Ultra device, with the question remaining whether clearing deliver reports, worthy of the name, as more information about this development emerges.
