With just over half a year until the iPhone 15 debuts, there’s not much we don’t know. Over the past week, we’ve received CAD renderings for all four models, showing a new curved-edge design, slimmer bezels, and the long-awaited arrival of USB-C.
But one question still remains: will the 6.7-inch flagship phone be called the iPhone 15 Pro Max or the iPhone 15 Ultra? Several reports suggest the phone will still be a larger version of the 6.1-inch Pro phone, while other rumors have suggested it’ll get the Apple Watch Ultra treatment, with exclusive features coming to it stand out from the other models. However, after looking at the latest rumors and renders, it looks like Apple is going down the ultra route.
It will be ultra thick
This is a little surprising, but if the latest leaks are correct, Apple will increase the thickness of its largest Pro phone from 7.85mm to 8.25mm, a not inconsiderable bump that will be noticeable in use. That would make it Apple’s thickest phone since the iPhone 4s — but based on the renders, there’s a reason. The camera hump will be much smaller and slimmer, giving the phone a different feel.
It will be ultralight
With a 6.7-inch screen and three cameras, the iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra will not be a lightweight phone. In fact, the last three iPhone Pro Max have been Apple’s heaviest phones ever, with the iPhone 14 Pro Max tipping the scales at 240 grams. But Apple is reportedly using titanium instead of stainless steel this year, which will significantly reduce the weight. For example, on the Apple Watch Series 7, the 45mm stainless steel model weighed 51.5g, while the titanium model weighed 45.1g. Even though Apple shaves just 15 grams off the iPhone 14 Pro Max, it will be Apple’s lightest 6.7-inch Pro phone ever.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra is said to be thicker than the iPhone 14 Pro Max but has a smaller camera hump.
Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry
It will have ultra zoom
While the iPhone 14 Pro phones are larger and smaller versions of the same phone, rumor has it that the iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra will have an exclusive periscope zoom lens. We don’t know exactly how far you can zoom with it, but rumor has it that the telephoto lens will bring a 6x zoom, double the current 3x zoom on the iPhone 14 Pro phones. That sounds pretty “ultra” to us.
It will be extremely durable
The iPhone 14 Pro Max is already one of Apple’s longest-lasting phones, but improvements to the 2023 model could make it last even longer. We don’t think it’ll be as dramatic as the Apple Watch Ultra’s 36-hour battery life, but we’re confident it’ll be the longest-lasting iPhone ever.
It’s going to be super expensive
You shouldn’t judge a phone by its price, but rumor has it that the iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra will be the most expensive iPhone ever, starting at $1,199 and nearly $2,000 with storage options. That puts the new iPhone firmly in ultra territory.
