The imminent launch of Apple’s iPhone 15 series is just weeks away, yet the rumor mill remains active, revealing new insights about the upcoming devices.
According to insights from AppleInsider’s Andrew O’Hara, the most impressive iPhone in 2023 will indeed carry the moniker ‘iPhone 15 Ultra.’ What’s more, it will feature a substantial advancement in the form of a powerful 10x zoom telephoto periscope lens.
This revelation marks a significant shift in the narrative. Initially, early iPhone 15 speculations hinted at the introduction of Apple’s first Ultra-branded iPhone for 2023, although recent discussions had labeled it as the ‘iPhone 15 Pro Max.’ However, O’Hara now affirms that Apple will, in fact, adopt the ‘iPhone 15 Ultra’ name for its forthcoming larger-sized Pro model.
This tip is backed by information from ‘multiple sources,’ increasing the likelihood that this year’s iPhone lineup may include an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Ultra for the very first time.
As previously mentioned, O’Hara’s post also hints at a significant addition to the iPhone 15 Ultra: a substantial 10x zoom telephoto periscope lens. This development builds upon previous speculations surrounding the impressive camera capabilities of this particular iPhone.
While it was already known that Apple’s next flagship iPhone might incorporate a telephoto periscope lens with optical zoom exceeding 3x, O’Hara suggests that this lens could achieve an impressive 10x zoom, placing the iPhone 15 Ultra in the same league as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The exact method used to achieve this 10x zoom, whether through a dedicated lens or sensor cropping, remains uncertain. Previous rumors have also hinted at a variable zoom lens for the iPhone 15 Ultra, allowing it to seamlessly switch between different zoom levels, a feature similarly anticipated for the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Other upgrades heading to the iPhone 15 Ultra, as outlined by O’Hara, are consistent with earlier reports. These include both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra adopting titanium materials, replacing the mute toggle with an Action button, and featuring the new 3nm A17 Bionic chip.
Leaked images of iPhone 15 Pro Max cases have previously showcased this versatile Action button, while benchmark specifications have suggested that the A17 Bionic chip could deliver a 20% increase in CPU power compared to its predecessor. This lends strong credibility to the inclusion of these features in Apple’s upcoming flagship.
The naming scheme, however, remains a point of uncertainty. Will Apple indeed embrace the ‘Ultra’ label in 2023, or will it adhere to its traditional ‘Pro Max’ nomenclature? Only time will tell, but with the iPhone 15 release date drawing near, the answer will soon be revealed.