iPhone 15 'Ultra' Could Replace Pro Max Model Next Year

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.

iphone 14 pro max deep purple
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.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
ios 26 liquid glass dark mode

iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Makes App Icons Look Crooked, Report Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:55 am PDT by
iOS 26's new Liquid Glass interface has been criticized for making some content illegible in certain circumstances, and now the UI design is reportedly causing another unusual visual problem for some users. Liquid Glass adds subtle glowing effects to the corners of app icons, creating a dynamic glass-like appearance with depth and parallax effects. However, as noted by Gizmodo, this design...
iOS 26 Glass Feature

iOS 26: The Top 100 New Features and Changes

Tuesday September 16, 2025 12:26 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 on September 15, and it's now available for all iPhone users with a compatible device. There are a lot of changes and features to learn about, so if you want a quick, easy-to-read list that outlines what's new, we've got you covered. Design Liquid Glass design that reflects light and refracts what's underneath. It's system wide, with dynamic tab bars and toolbars...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...

Top Rated Comments

Zeke92 Avatar
39 months ago
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.
Score: 26 Votes (Like | Disagree)
saudor Avatar
39 months ago
My wallet is safe until the iPhone Ultra Plus Max Pro Ultimate come out.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E-MO-TION Avatar
39 months ago
$1599 base
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Dee Avatar
39 months ago
Ultra expensive I bet. But it’s definitely the one I will be getting. Time to put my iPhone X into retirement.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
krspkbl Avatar
39 months ago

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".
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kerr Avatar
39 months ago
If Apple want to avoid negative press, they should not offer USB-C only to the Ultra or even the Pro and Ultra models.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)