For the launch of the iPhone 14, Apple clearly set out to differentiate its Pro models from other phones in its lineup. It could happen again with the iPhone 15 next year, but only this time Apple is rumored to make a further distinction between the two Pro devices.
Specifically, rumors have surfaced of the iPhone 15 Ultra model, which some are tempted to replace the current iPhone 14 Pro Max. This may not be just a rebranding, although some rumors suggest that the new iPhone is adding features that justify the Ultra name.
To this end, the dropout Take MajinBu to Twitter (Opens in a new tab) With some rumored iPhone 15 Ultra capabilities. Leak sites source claims that the iPhone 15 Ultra will come with two front cameras, 256 GB of storage in the base model, and USB-C.
As reported by my source, the iPhone 15 Ultra will have two front cameras, USB-C and will start at 256GB. Instead, the iPhone 15 Pro will always start at 128GB and will have USB-C but only one front camera #iphone #iphone15 #iphone15ultra pic.twitter.com/lIn6OhMNkoSeptember 26, 2022
In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro will only have a single front camera – presumably the TrueDepth camera that Apple just introduced with the iPhone 14 update – and 128GB in its base model. Like the iPhone 15 Ultra, the regular Pro model would make the switch to USB-C, replacing the iPhone’s existing Lightning port.
Obviously, the big story here will be with the dual front cameras on the iPhone 15 Ultra, as this will be the first time Apple has put two guns on the front of one of its phones.
Apple Insider (Opens in a new tab), who spotted MajinBu’s tweet, says there’s no known reason to add a second camera to the front of the iPhone. Other phone makers that have made such a move usually tout the ability to switch between viewing angles, where one of the front cameras can squeeze more people into taking group selfies. Another possibility is cameras that feature different focal lengths for improved selfies. You can also add a camera with optical zoom, although the usefulness of this feature on the front camera seems limited.
iPhone 15 – the best augmented reality phone?
Another possibility has to do with the capabilities of augmented reality. A second camera could theoretically be assigned to augmented reality apps, helping to place virtual objects in the background and foreground of the shot.
Apple is said to have a mixed reality headset in the works, and many expect the device to appear next year, so adding enhanced AR features on the iPhone 15 Ultra may complement this potential release.
The extra storage on the iPhone 15 Ultra is less of a mystery. We’ve been among the people complaining that if Apple really wanted to compare the iPhone 14 versus the iPhone 14 Pro, it might have equipped the Pro models with a base capacity of 256 GB instead of the 128 GB they feature. When you connect to your next device, the iPhone 15 Ultra appears to be asking you to override the phones’ current storage standards.
The USB-C prediction mirrors what many Apple watchers have said about Apple’s future plans for the iPhone, with many expecting Apple to adopt USB-C at least for Pro phones next year. The European Union demands that all phones provide USB-C connectivity by 2024, so adding that to the iPhone 15 will allow Apple to move forward with that mandate.
However, it’s still too early in the iPhone 15 rumors game, especially since the iPhone 14 launch is still going on. The iPhone 14 Plus, for example, won’t ship until October 7. So we expect to hear more about the iPhone 2023 models later, including more details about the supposed iPhone 15 Ultra model.
