iPhone 16 Ultra: Is it Coming Out This Year?
The expectation that the iPhone Ultra might actually be a thing this year is feverishly high! Yeah, Apple’s new super iPhone that could make the Pro models look basic might be coming in 2024. Although we haven’t heard any confirmations from the company or any hints from suppliers, we wonder what’s in store for us this time.
Now, you must be thinking, “Haven’t there been the same news last year as well?”. Indeed, we all were on the edge of our seats that Apple would finally drop its high-end model with the iPhone 15 series. However, things didn’t materialise, but this time, we’re keeping our hopes high to see the grand iPhone 16 Ultra.
What could set Ultra apart from its Pro siblings? That’s a million-dollar question, to be honest. A revolutionary camera system, better display, or serious AI capabilities—the possibilities are endless. While we can't confirm anything, just yet, stay tuned for our take on design, possible specs, and why it’s creating such a buzz.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Potential Release Date Speculation
Talk of an Ultra model launch for the iPhone lineup has been rumbling on for a long time now, especially after the release of the Apple Ultra Watch. The exact iPhone 16 Ultra release date is still hypothetical. However, Mark Gurman reported in his 2023 Bloomberg Newsletter “Apple has internally discussed introducing a premium model to the top of its smartphone lineup.” So, does that mean our hopes for an iPhone Ultra aren’t dead?
Well, if the rumour is true and Apple sticks to its usual launch schedule, we might just see a brand-new iPhone series in September 2024. It might be introduced along with the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup. If not, it might be a year or two before we see an iPhone Ultra.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Possible Price
As we can’t confirm the launch date for the iPhone 16 Ultra or the fact that it’s even coming in 2024, there’s no way to be certain about its price. What we know is there was a significant cost difference between the Apple Watch Ultra and the standard ones. Going by this trend, the Ultra’s price would significantly top Apple’s next top-of-the-line device, the iPhone 16 Pro Max.
The specifications will impact the iPhone 16 Ultra’s price. The iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) started at $200 more than the 14 Pro Max, and we expect a similar hike in 16 Pro Max. When we compare the Apple Watch Ultra 2, which starts at $1,399, with the Apple Watch Series 9, it’s about $600 more expensive.
If Apple were to apply the same pricing strategy to its upcoming phone lineup, the Ultra model might launch at $2,199-2399. You can assume that the Ultra will cost a lot more than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. One thing is for sure—if this launch happens and if Ultra will be the best iPhone ever, expect a hefty price tag too.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Design and Display
Apple will likely make some major design tweaks to the anticipated Ultra model. This would justify its higher price point as well. Besides, this imparts a greater distinction between the Ultra and other Pro variants. After all, the iPhone 16 Ultra would need to live up to its hype and title.
Screen Display
The biggest iPhone 16 rumour is that Apple will increase the screen display for a few of its upcoming luxury phones to 6.9 inches. While reports indicate this high-end smartphone to be iPhone 16 Pro Max, we’re hoping Ultra will also boast a larger screen size. There are also speculations that the company might use newer display panels, reportedly switching to blue phosphorescence technology from blue fluorescent technology.
If this happens, the entire iPhone 16 generation will have a more energy-efficient OLED screen display. We might see the Ultra’s peak brightness exceeding 2,000 nits. A possible figure is 2,400 nits, especially now that Google's Pixel 8 Pro has the same brightness levels.
Design
Additionally, it might feature a slimmer, pin-thin 1.15mm bezel, all thanks to the Border Reduction Structure (BRS) technology. Apple is adopting the latest BRS manufacturing process to introduce a potent layout of under-display circuitry. This possibly infers that the Ultra’s body will not be much larger than the 15 Pro Max, even with the additional 0.2-inch display.
Another rumour related to the iPhone 16 Ultra specs that could become a reality: Solid State Buttons. These buttons will use haptic feedback to indicate a press instead of how the current volume buttons do. Recent reports claimed that the upcoming iPhone series will have Solid State volume and power buttons, alongside a new “Capture” button for improved photo quality.
Colour
Based on our assumptions around iPhone 16 leaks, Ultra might have four colour choices - white, black, grey, and rose. Apple could also opt for a glossier, smoother finish for this model. This will be a change from the brushed titanium steel look of the iPhone 15 Pro models.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Cameras
One thing that iPhone fans are obsessed about and always look forward to during new launches is camera improvements. If there’s an iPhone 16 Ultra on the way, we expect one of the best camera features on the market, if not the greatest. Apple elevated our photography experience by introducing the tetra prism lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a 5x optical zoom. So, we can only wonder how much better upcoming luxury models will get.
In an attempt to compete with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra featuring a 10x optical zoom, Apple might debut a more powerful version. On top of that, there are also chances of switching to a thinner telephoto lens for better magnification. Recently, some reports also suggest a vertical camera design change for spatial video capture on all the new iPhone 16 series, without exceptions.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Chipset, Storage, and Battery
According to the MacRumors announcement, an Apple supply chain analyst, Jeff Pu, said the iPhone 16 series will have A18-branded bionic chipsets. While the base models will have a less efficient chip, the powerful A18 Pro is reserved for high-end phones, which also includes the Ultra. The A18 Pro is certainly the type of upgrade iPhone lovers expect as it’s supposedly potent enough to even take on laptops.
Some Apple iPhone 16 Ultra specs reports concluded no changes in the storage capacity of newer models. Again, we’d expect that the Ultra might offer at least 256GB, similar to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Let’s see if Apple raises the level to 2TB of storage with the Ultra.
On the memory front, the present high-end iPhones offer up to 12GB of RAM. So, thinking that the Ultra model would have only 8GB of memory is unlikely. As for battery life, no rumours have surfaced until now. Seeing how the Apple Watch Ultra battery promises to last twice as long as the base devices, the iPhone 16 Ultra could be that efficient.
iPhone 16 Ultra: Software
Any iPhone released this year is going to feature iOS 18 software. This has been made obvious by Apple in WWDC 2024. The update will bring Apple Intelligence features to the iPhone 16 series, including the Ultra (if it’s in the line). Adapting generative AI functionality will introduce the following features:
- Improved interactions between Siri and the messages app
- AI-assisted content creation
- Revamped Photos app
- Customisation for Home Screen apps, and more
Final Outlook on the iPhone 16 Ultra
Given that the competition between top phone manufacturers has increased lately, Apple will need to introduce a high-end model sooner rather than later. However, the Ultra model has a higher bar to meet as Apple had already made major improvements in the 15 Pro Max. Whether it’s a powerful telephoto lens, premium chipset, long-lasting battery, or extra storage, that phone has it all. So, the iPhone 16 Ultra has very big shoes to fill.
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