Apple is reportedly reviving plans for a high-end “Ultra” model in its upcoming iPhone 17 series, which would replace or sit above the Pro Max device. According to sources from Weibo and supply chain trends, the Korean news aggregator account “yeux1122” has summarized rumored changes attributed to various models.
Rumored features include:
– A smaller Dynamic Island, with supply volume insufficient for both iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, suggesting only the larger “Ultra” device will feature one.
– A vapor chamber cooling system, which would allegedly be exclusive to the “Ultra” model.
– A thicker design due to a larger battery, reportedly only applicable to the iPhone 17 Pro.
The rumored lineup for iPhone 17 includes:
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Air
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Ultra
This differentiation strategy could help Apple justify higher prices for an “Ultra” iPhone model with advanced features. With Apple’s established naming convention, where “Air,” “Pro,” and “Ultra” denote distinct tiers, the introduction of “Ultra” for its most premium iPhone model is not unprecedented.
While the adoption of the Ultra moniker remains uncertain, internal discussions about previous generations suggest that this might be a viable option. The launch of the iPhone 17 lineup is expected later this year, around Apple’s usual mid-September time frame.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2025/03/14/iphone-17-ultra-replacing-iphone-17-pro-max-claim