Apple is working on major changes for the iPhone, so we may see an iPhone Ultra in 2026. This is why!
iPhone Ultra
Rumors that Apple is working on an iPhone Ultra have been going on for years. The iPhone 15 Ultra was expected to appear in 2023, followed by the iPhone 16 Ultra a year later. In the end, both devices did not appear, but Apple opted for the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Now that the iPhone 17 Pro Max has been released this year, the question remains whether there will be an iPhone Ultra.
As usual, Apple has not said anything about this, but there are signals that major changes are coming to the iPhone. The company is working on the first foldable iPhone, which we may see next year. The foldable device will be released alongside the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Will Apple’s first foldable device be the iPhone Ultra? According to these three reasons, yes!
1. Ultra is better than Max
Apple has already released several products under the name ‘Ultra’. We saw the first Apple Watch Ultra in 2022, which was the most advanced smartwatch of that year. This will still be the case with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in 2025. In addition, the best Macs are currently equipped with the M3 Ultra chip, which is better than the M4 Max chip. With ‘Ultra’, Apple indicates that a device or processor is better than ‘Max’.
It is a logical step for Apple to continue this line with the iPhone. This year we already saw the iPhone Air, the thinnest iPhone ever, and the iPhone Ultra will be the best smartphone Apple has ever made. It is expected that Apple wants to sell the foldable phone as the most advanced iPhone of the moment. With ‘Ultra’ in the name it is clear that the device is even better than the iPhone Pro Max.
2. No Fold
For Apple, the name of a device or service is an important way to distinguish itself from the competition. We saw this earlier with the Apple Vision Pro, which according to Apple is a spatial computer. The company does not speak of VR glasses or VR headset, unlike other companies. We saw the same thing at Apple Intelligence, because Apple has given its own interpretation to the abbreviation AI.
With the iPhone Ultra, Apple can distinguish itself again. Almost all foldable smartphones are now called ‘Fold’, for example Samsung released the Galaxy Z Fold and Google has the Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This makes a new iPhone Fold much less noticeable than the iPhone Ultra. With ‘Ultra’, Apple indicates that it is a truly new device and that it is not just another foldable phone.
3. Ultra price
All Apple Ultra products have in common that they are not only extremely advanced, they are also extremely expensive. For example, the Apple Watch Ultra is the most expensive smartwatch in Apple’s Dutch collection and you also pay a high price for the M3 Ultra chip. It is almost certain that the foldable iPhone will be the most expensive smartphone Apple has ever made, making the iPhone Ultra a fitting name.
According to rumors, you will pay at least $2,000 for the foldable iPhone. In Europe this price is most likely even higher, as is the case with all iPhones. You can currently get the iPhone 17 Pro Max for € 1,479, so the price difference with the foldable iPhone is enormous. With ‘iPhone Ultra’, Apple indicates that it is the best iPhone ever, which better matches the expected price tag of the device.
Release of the iPhone Ultra
We still have to wait a while for the first foldable iPhone. Apple is reportedly set to release the all-new iPhone next year. According to rumors, the phone will have a titanium and aluminum casing. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the foldable iPhone to be as thick (or thin) as two iPhone Air models stacked together. That is probably also the reason why Apple has now released the thinnest iPhone ever.
Other expected features of the foldable iPhone are Touch ID and a 5.5-inch and 7.8-inch display. This makes the device approximately the same size as the iPad mini, once you have opened the phone. So it will be an extremely advanced device, with no less than two screens. We will know for sure in September 2025 whether Apple will release the iPhone Ultra. Don’t want to miss a single rumor? Then sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter so that you always stay informed of the most important news!
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