New report: Apple iPhone 17 Ultra instead of Pro Max
Apple is reportedly preparing to launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year. Rumors of this kind have been circulating for some time, ever since the launch of the Apple Watch Ultra. Since then, they’ve resurfaced before the release of each new series, most recently with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 series. According to a new report from South Korea, an Ultra model will now replace the iPhone 17 Pro Max or position itself above the Pro Max.
The report, which comes from the Naver blog, assumes that the Apple iPhone 17 Ultra will replace the Pro Max. The claim is based on a supply chain analysis and suggests that Apple is preparing to launch a smartphone with new hardware features. For example, the Ultra will likely have a smaller dynamic island. However, according to the tip, there are apparently significant supply issues in this area.
Apple iPhone 17 Ultra, Pro, and Air
Furthermore, the Apple iPhone 17 Ultra is said to be the only model with a vapor chamber cooling system. In addition, the battery is larger than last year’s iPhone 16 Pro Max, which should also increase its thickness. Combined with the upcoming iPhone 17 Air, this results in:
- Standard Model
- Air
- Pro
- Ultra
Apple is combining all this with a major design update in iOS 19. With the new design, new hardware, new name, and updated software, iPhone sales are expected to reach new records this year.
An iPhone 17 Ultra becomes even more likely considering that Apple already uses the “Ultra” designation for some of its products, such as the aforementioned Apple Watch Ultra or the M3 Ultra chipset. Furthermore, the first iPhone Ultra with a major hardware upgrade would give Apple leeway to once again tighten the price screw for this phone and potentially increase profit margins. We’ll know more at the launch event in September at the latest.
