The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra are expected to be Apple’s flagship handsets in 2023, so how will they compare?
We’re expecting Apple to debut the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra – which is set to replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max – in September this year, with all three phones likely to prove some of the best iPhones ever made.
But how will Apple’s upcoming handsets compare with one another? The vanilla iPhone 15 will almost certainly be an iPhone 14 Pro dressed up in shiny new clothes, while we’ve already examined the iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro in a separate article.
In this piece, then, we pit the iPhone 15 Pro against the iPhone 15 Ultra, comparing both phones’ rumored prices, specs and features. Naturally, the below comparisons are subject to change as we learn more about the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra, but for now, here’s how we expect Apple’s next premium iPhones to stack up.iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Ultra: specs comparison
Again, it’s worth clarifying that none of the below iPhone 15 Pro or Ultra specs have been confirmed by Apple, but we think we’ve heard enough rumors in each category to speculate (with confidence) about the camera, display and processor credentials of both devices.iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Ultra: price and availability
Using Apple’s previous iPhone release strategies as points of reference, we can make an educated guess as to when the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra will land – as well as how much both devices will cost.
The iPhone 14 line was officially unveiled on September 7, 2022 before going on sale over a week later on September 16. Incidentally, the iPhone 14 Plus hit shelves the following month, on October 7.
Apple generally picks the first or second week of September for its annual iPhone launches, with the company typically opting for a Tuesday or Wednesday. We therefore expect the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra to be revealed on September 5, 6, 12 or 13 this year, with both phones going on sale around a week later.
In terms of price, we expect the iPhone 15 Pro to match the iPhone 14 Pro, which starts at $999 / £1,099 / AU$1,749 for 128GB of storage (i.e. the lowest storage option). The 256GB 14 Pro costs $1,099 / £1,209 / AU$1,899, and those figures are probably a more likely starting point for the 15 Pro, in light of other manufacturers’ decisions to forgo 128GB options with their respective 2023 flagships (looking at you, Samsung and Oppo).
The iPhone 15 Ultra, on the other hand, could match the iPhone 14 Pro Max for price – that’d see the 256GB model priced at $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 – but the rumored upgrades heading to Apple’s next top flagship mean we shouldn’t rule out a larger price tag.
As such, we’re inclined to suggest that the iPhone 15 Ultra will cost at least $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 for the base model. And yes, those prices would make the Ultra the most expensive iPhone ever. iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Ultra: design and display
When it comes to the phones’ respective designs, it looks like the pair will differ in size only – as with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, the iPhone 15 Ultra will be larger than the iPhone 15 Pro.
Just how much larger remains to be seen, but with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max measuring 147.5 x 71.5 x 7.85mm and 160.7 x 77.6 x 7.85mm, respectively, we expect the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra to boast similar dimensions.
Otherwise, both devices seem set to share in the design improvements over the iPhone 14 Pro. We’ve heard from multiple sources, for instance, that both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra could get titanium sides, which would make them stronger and lighter than the stainless steel-framed iPhones currently available.
Both devices are expected to have more rounded rear edges, too, in contrast to the iPhone 14 Pro’s sharp-angled sides. Apple was reportedly unsure about implementing this design change for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra, but leaked renders showing off these curved sides have since emerged, adding credence to the rumor.
We’ve also heard that the iPhone 15 Pro will be getting thinner bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro – which would be an impressive feat on Apple’s part, given that the latter’s bezels are already 1.
