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Other What features do you think the iPhone 16 Pro Max should get to truly deserve the "Ultra" moniker?
- Thread starter TheAppleFan2004
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It's easy to rattle off a laundry list of specs cobbled together from tech blogs or whatever the flavour of the month is. I feel a better way of looking at it would be whether it meaningfully improves the end user experience.
Based on how the iPhone has evolved over the last few years (and from what it didn't get), I feel that Apple has determined that their user base cares about 3 main areas - reliability, cameras and battery life.
So an "ultra" iPhone would likely get an even more powerful camera, some new software feature to take advantage of it (like cinematic mode on my 13 pro max), possibly a larger display, and a larger battery to support extended use of said camera. I don't think it will get an Mx chip, but may well come with even more ram than the pro models just to handle the computational needs of the camera. I won't pretend to know what sort of camera function would appeal to "pro" users, but I feel Apple is invested in democratising photography and videography and making them more accessible to the masses, so it's probably helpful to think along this line.
I do agree it's high time the pro iPhone models supported faster transfer speeds to port video footage over to your PC for editing. I don't think it will get Dex mode though. People simply are not hooking their phones to external displays to get some sort of makeshift desktop setup.
Promotion would get a boost only if can result in even better battery efficiency over the current implementation. As it stands, I am not able to make out any discernible benefit, and I don't think users will notice the impact from 144hz anyways.
An action button might prove invaluable in quickly launching the camera app.
At the end of the day, the iPhone business is all about continuous refinement and advancement with new features aimed at improving the user experience, so I wouldn't count on seeing any radical changes overnight.
Watch ultra uses sapphire crystal. And that would be bad in a large screen phone, would shatter way too easily, but you’re right it wouldn’t scratch!! Small area of the watch saves it from shattering as easily, the higher the area of the glass the more likely a shatter will occur
Man, it was sarcasm. Second and third degree. Don't be so serious. For God sake, iPhone 15 is not even out yet.
Foldable
M3 chip
That’s it for me. Phone I have now it’s good enough. Tired of throwing away my money on incremental things I don’t care about or don’t use.
M3 chip
That’s it for me. Phone I have now it’s good enough. Tired of throwing away my money on incremental things I don’t care about or don’t use.
It should have a stronger vibrator motor. Don’t ask me why.
This! Asking Apple for a true "ultra" type phone will mean that that price tag will be insane. I could see ultra iPhones like the 16 starting at 1300-1400 for the base model and going up for larger storage ( though I hope they keep it reasonable at like 1200 for the base model).
This is actually sad. 1000 war was started by samsung when we used to 700 iphones. Now samsung has 2000 folds, apple will catchup with 2000 ultra iphone.
I could care less about ultra watch - regular will suffice, but giving the best to ultra iphone will be bad.
I'm not saying what they'd do. I'm saying what it would take to truly deserve the Ultra moniker.
‘one day Apple will get rid of all the ports and protrusions where there are buttons and that will greatly increase the water resistance. But, due to it’s size and shape it will never be able to be as water tight as the Ultra.
I beg to differ. Submarines are significantly larger than an iPhone and they seem mostly water resistant at serious depths. I say "mostly" because...well...you know.
‘Just the shape of the iPhone will make great depths impossible. Submarines are shaped very differently. It is all about physics.
Already responded but wanted to make an additional prediction with more info. My prediction is that if an iPhone Ultra happens it will be a new model above the Pro line. So for example, if the phone launches with the 16 generation:
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Ultra
And the Ultra will start in the 1500-1900 dollar price range. Sounds extreme, I know, but I doubt Apple will waste the new name on simply rebranding the Pro Max. They will justify the cost by pitching the device as a true cinematography tool for professionals that don't quite need a full mirrorless setup. Think about the number of people already making YouTube content with millions of views, all filmed on iPhone. Those people won't blink twice at getting an Ultra. It's not a phone, it's a legitimate professional camera that makes them a ton of money. Also look at the number of people already buying the top of the line iPhone Pro Max, if that many people are already willing to spend on average 1400 dollars approx. for an iPhone, Apple knows they can charge 2k+ for an even higher end model.
I don't know what kind of features it will have but here's a possibility:
Base iPhone is the usual formula, playing catch up from the Pro range of 1-2 generations prior.
Pro line is the same formula as right now, better cameras, slightly bigger battery, same general form factor as base, same front glass as base, better screen.
And the Ultra has this:
1. Brand new design, perhaps asymmetrical like the 3G, thicker chassis with bigger battery. Similar to Watch Ultra philosophy.
2. Sapphire front glass
3. Brighter screen (maybe the first with microLED)
4. Louder speakers
5. Additional camera module dedicated to videography. This is the big one, perhaps some kind of dual native ISO feature to boost night filming capabilities. Specialized glass to get the best looking video possible, maybe even anamorphic but that's a bit niche.
6. Official underwater camera support (mentioned this in a previous post in this thread but current iPhones are officially rated for 'just in case you drop it in a pool' only).
7. Ultra bright flash for night video shooting.
8. If this doesn't come to the Pro Max, it will come with the Ultra: the telephoto module will be capable of switching between two focal lengths on a hardware level. Maybe 5x and 10x)
Apple want people to treat the iPhone as the only photo and video tool they need (well, outside of other Apple products like iPad/Mac for editing). This music video was exclusively shot on iPhone but it still has the unmistakable iPhone processed look -- we're not quite at the point where the gap between an iPhone and a dedicated point and shoot or mirrorless is small enough to not be noticeable, so the Ultra will mark the breakthrough moment where we will be. It's getting there for sure, the music video looks good.
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16 Ultra
And the Ultra will start in the 1500-1900 dollar price range. Sounds extreme, I know, but I doubt Apple will waste the new name on simply rebranding the Pro Max. They will justify the cost by pitching the device as a true cinematography tool for professionals that don't quite need a full mirrorless setup. Think about the number of people already making YouTube content with millions of views, all filmed on iPhone. Those people won't blink twice at getting an Ultra. It's not a phone, it's a legitimate professional camera that makes them a ton of money. Also look at the number of people already buying the top of the line iPhone Pro Max, if that many people are already willing to spend on average 1400 dollars approx. for an iPhone, Apple knows they can charge 2k+ for an even higher end model.
I don't know what kind of features it will have but here's a possibility:
Base iPhone is the usual formula, playing catch up from the Pro range of 1-2 generations prior.
Pro line is the same formula as right now, better cameras, slightly bigger battery, same general form factor as base, same front glass as base, better screen.
And the Ultra has this:
1. Brand new design, perhaps asymmetrical like the 3G, thicker chassis with bigger battery. Similar to Watch Ultra philosophy.
2. Sapphire front glass
3. Brighter screen (maybe the first with microLED)
4. Louder speakers
5. Additional camera module dedicated to videography. This is the big one, perhaps some kind of dual native ISO feature to boost night filming capabilities. Specialized glass to get the best looking video possible, maybe even anamorphic but that's a bit niche.
6. Official underwater camera support (mentioned this in a previous post in this thread but current iPhones are officially rated for 'just in case you drop it in a pool' only).
7. Ultra bright flash for night video shooting.
8. If this doesn't come to the Pro Max, it will come with the Ultra: the telephoto module will be capable of switching between two focal lengths on a hardware level. Maybe 5x and 10x)
Apple want people to treat the iPhone as the only photo and video tool they need (well, outside of other Apple products like iPad/Mac for editing). This music video was exclusively shot on iPhone but it still has the unmistakable iPhone processed look -- we're not quite at the point where the gap between an iPhone and a dedicated point and shoot or mirrorless is small enough to not be noticeable, so the Ultra will mark the breakthrough moment where we will be. It's getting there for sure, the music video looks good.
C'mon you're not making predictions. You writing down your own personal shopping list. Be transparent on this. Nobody can predict what will be the Apple 16. Nobody knows for sure what is the next 15. Rename your post "My own shopping list". An if you allow me to be sarcastic, start another thread "What should be the iPhone 17 Ultra Extra Max Pro". BTW, don't buy the 15, you'll be disappointed, wait until your dream phone is out.
