Apple is gearing up to possibly replace its "Pro Max" iPhone with an all-new "Ultra" iPhone 15 model next year, reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman said today.
Writing in his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that for the iPhone 15, Apple is planning a revamped design alongside USB-C and a potential name change. Apple could replace its "Pro Max" branding, which it started to use with the iPhone 11, with "Ultra," according to Gurman.
Based on Apple's current pattern, we can expect a revamped iPhone design next year, coinciding with a shift to USB-C and the potential of a new Ultra model replacing the Pro Max.
The shift to using "Ultra" branding for the highest-end iPhone would follow in the footsteps of other naming decisions Apple has made recently. Most notably, the most rugged and extreme Apple Watch yet is named Apple Watch Ultra, while the most powerful Apple silicon chip to date is M1 Ultra.
Specific details for the iPhone 15 are still rather scarce given it's still a year away, but Apple is widely expected to shift to USB-C for next year's iPhones. Additionally, rumors suggest that the hole-punch and pill-shaped cutouts, introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro, will trickle down to all models of the iPhone 15 lineup.
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:40 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
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"AirPods Ultra"...
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I’m surprised to see the positive reaction to this news. I disagree. For computers and phones, consumers should have the ability to get the best features regardless of size like with MacBook Pro and iPhone Pro. Ultra works for the watch because the target audience and use case is very specific. Do phones have another use case beyond the people who like pro phones? Maybe I just don’t understand. But I better be able to get a 6.1 inch phone with the latest features next year. 6.7 is too big for me.
If Apple want to avoid negative press, they should not offer USB-C only to the Ultra or even the Pro and Ultra models.
They would be insanely stupid to make USB-C exclusive to only the most expensive models. It would definitely generate a lot of negative press for them.
Every iPhone next year should come with USB-C. from the basic iPhone 15 to the "iPhone 15 Ultra".
I prefer the name Ultra over Pro Max. I hate Pro branding on products. It's become meaningless now. There was a time Pro meant it was for Professionals but now it just means give us more money if you don't want our half assed cut down product.
This makes sense with the rumors that the "Pro Max" will have exclusive features over the peasant Pro only model. With a name change they'll take it as an excuse to give it exclusive features like the periscope camera, titanium body, etc. All from only $1,500!
