Apple Set to Unveil iPhone 17 Ultra This Year, Ditching Pro Max for a Fresh Start

Apple is anticipated to unveil the iPhone 17 series in the latter part of this year. Although some information regarding the design and features of the new models has surfaced, a recent report from South Korea indicates the introduction of a different iPhone variant. It is rumored that Apple will launch an iPhone 17 Ultra as a part of their 2025 offerings, which would serve as a successor to the current iPhone 16 Pro Max. Should this report hold true, it will mark the debut of Apple’s first Ultra smartphone.

Potential Launch of the Apple iPhone 17 Ultra This Year

The South Korean platform Naver has revealed insights from investors and industry insiders about the new iPhone 17 Ultra model. This upcoming variant is expected to take the place of the ‘Pro Max’ edition in the future iPhone collection.

To date, Apple has not implemented the Ultra designation for its mobile devices, which makes the potential replacement of the iPhone 17 Pro Max with the iPhone 17 Ultra significant. This would be a first for the Cupertino-based brand, although it has utilized the Ultra branding for its smartwatches and processors.

Reports suggest that the upcoming iPhone 17 Ultra will feature a reduced dynamic island. Additionally, Apple is anticipated to include a vapour chamber cooling technology in the Ultra variant to improve thermal regulation. The device is expected to house a larger battery, which would likely result in a thicker profile. Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is equipped with a 4,685mAh battery, reportedly providing up to 33 hours of video playback on a single charge.

In recent months, numerous speculations concerning the iPhone 17 series have emerged, offering insights into Apple’s future plans. The next line of premium iPhones is believed to feature an aluminum chassis and operate on Apple’s A19 Pro processor. It is expected that these models will include 12GB of RAM. The standard iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Slim or Air model are likely to be equipped with either the A18 or A19 chip, supporting 8GB of RAM.