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As we eagerly await the release of the Apple iPhone 16 family in the fall of 2024, rumors are growing surrounding the potential of an Ultra version being included for the first time.
Talk of an Ultra model has been rumbling on for some time now, especially following Apple’s release of the Apple Watch Ultra in 2022. The feeling was that Apple would likely extend its Ultra offering to its flagship smartphones.
Here’s what we know so far.
iPhone 16 Ultra: What we know so far and rumors
Design & Display
For an Ultra model to stand out from the iPhone 16 family, Apple will likely need to tweak the handset’s overall design. Otherwise, it risks blending in with its siblings.
An Ultra model would need to be worthy of such a title, after all.
So it’s no surprise rumors are pointing towards a potential 6.9-inch display for the iPhone 16 Ultra, which would be the biggest ever screen on an iPhone. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s display is 6.7-inches.
Sticking with the display, we might see the iPhone 16 Ultra opting for a brighter panel to compete with Google’s Pixel 8 Pro display, which peaks at 2,400 nits.
Meanwhile, there are reports from Korean media that tip all iPhone 16 displays to be more power-efficient. Samsung has reportedly switched from using blue fluorescent technology to blue phosphorescence technology in their displays to allow screens to consume less power and, given they provide Apple with display panels for iPhones, it’s fair to assume this could be a feature to include on an Ultra version of the iPhone 16.
One of the key design features rumored to be present in the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max is the display borders, which are reportedly set to be the smallest in the world. According to Setsuna Digitial on Weibo, there will be a 1.2mm bezel around the 16 Pro display and a 1.15mm bezel around the 16 Pro Max’s. To show just how much of an improvement that is, the iPhone 15 Pro’s bezels were 1.71mm.
That’s all due to a new Border Reduction Structure manufacturing process and could mean that while we might expect to find a larger display on the iPhone 16 Ultra, its overall body should be much bigger than the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Elsewhere, the introduction of Solid State Buttons has been a rumor that extends back to before the release of the iPhone 15 Pro. Despite the introduction of the Action Button, we didn’t see them then, so there is fair speculation that we might see this on the iPhone 16 Pro, or even specifically the iPhone 16 Ultra. Solid State Buttons would replace the current moveable volume and power buttons we see on existing iPhone models with buttons that provide haptic feedback, like the Action Button and newly reported Capture Button which will enhance camera control.
Hardware & Software
The iPhone 15 Pro lineup debuted the A17 Pro chipset, so we might see the introduction of the A18 Pro chip in the iPhone 16 Ultra, although details on that are currently very sparse.
It has been said by analyst Jeff Pu, via MacRumours, that all iPhone 16 models will feature an A18 chip, with the A18 Pro being reserved for Pro models, which would include the Ultra. The A18 Pro is allegedly powerful enough to take on laptops, which is certainly the type of upgrade we’d expect in an Ultra iPhone.
On the storage front, it’s expected that the iPhone 16 Ultra will follow the iPhone 15 Pro Max by offering 256GB at the very least, but we might see the introduction of up to 2TB of storage in the Ultra, according to blogger yeux1122.
As for battery life, there’s not a great deal to go on just yet. The Apple Watch Ultra boasted twice as long battery life compared to a standard Apple Watch but there’s no indication that the iPhone 16 Ultra will be able to make similar promises.
Meanwhile, we would expect iOS 18 to be present out of the box for the iPhone 16 Ultra. iOS 18 has already been announced by Apple and will be released this fall.
Camera
One thing Apple fans always look for on the release of a new iPhone is the improvements to the cameras and, if there’s an iPhone 16 Ultra in the pipeline, the expectation will be that it comes with one of the best smartphone cameras on the market, if not the best.
There could be a more powerful zoom, which would help it compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra, which boasts a 10x optical zoom. On top of that, there are reports that Apple could switch to a different type of telephoto lens that is thinner and will improve magnification.
When is the iPhone 16 Ultra expected to be released?
We’re expecting to be introduced to the iPhone 16 in the fall of 2024 and rumors are growing that this is when Apple might also reveal the iPhone 16 Ultra.
In February 2023, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple was working towards “an even higher-end Ultra model for as early as 2024.”
That would add weight to the idea that we could see an Ultra model in the iPhone 16 lineup in September 2024, but there remains nothing concrete on whether that’s yet a viable expectation of still just a hunch.
For example, there’s no mention of an iPhone Ultra in this road map of potential Apple product releases, which is from Samsung Securities. That would suggest not even Apple’s biggest competitor is expecting them to release an iPhone Ultra just yet.
And remember, we’re still waiting on the rumored iPhone Flip.
How much could the iPhone 16 Ultra cost?
As there’s still uncertainty surrounding the true release date of an iPhone Ultra, it’s hard to speculate on how much it would cost. There is currently no indication that an iPhone Ultra will replace, say, the iPhone Pro Max version in the lineup, which means would naturally expect any Ultra version to be north of $1,199, which is what the iPhone 15 Pro Max entered the market at.
To get some guidance, Apple priced its Apple Watch Ultra 2 at $700, which is $400 more expensive than the Apple Watch Series 9. If Apple sticks to that pricing strategy, then an iPhone Ultra will likely cost at least $1,399, given the iPhone 15 Pro costs $999.
That might sound steep, but it’s incredibly competitive when compared to the $1,799 price for Samsung and Google’s foldable phones.
Featured Image: iPhone 16 Ultra concept by Jonas Daehnert on X
