Apple May Launch These Three ‘Ultra’ Products in 2026
Apple recently took a step forward in its budget. Last Monday, the company announced the iPhone 17e, a $599 device that does pretty much everything most of us want from our iPhones. Two days later, it unveiled the MacBook Neo, a $599 laptop that, despite using an iPhone chip, holds its own against Macs with M-series chips designed for macOS.
While these products may sell well (especially the Neo), Apple isn’t exactly doing good business. In fact, rumor has it that Apple is currently working on a product line on the opposite end of the spectrum. This “Ultra” range would include new machines and devices that would cost quite a bit, but would also offer good value for money. While rumors about these products abound, a new batch of reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has a deep track record of insider knowledge of Apple, gives us a clearer picture of what could be coming in the near future.
Gurman admits that the “Ultra” moniker isn’t something Apple necessarily adds to all of these devices, but it would follow suit, given that the company already uses it for the Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and Ultra chips. Maybe the devices described below will carry that name, or maybe not, but these are the three high-end Apple products Gurman says are in the works for this year.
Apple’s foldable iPhone could cost $2,000
Apple has long been rumored to be working on an iPhone that would turn into a “tablet,” which would almost certainly be Apple’s most expensive iPhone. Like other foldable smartphones, this device will likely have an MSRP that would make traditional smartphone buyers raise an eyebrow (or two). Gurman predicts that the iPhone Fold could cost around $2,000, about double the price of a new iPhone 17 Pro.
That $2,000 isn’t for nothing: Gurman says the iPhone Fold comes with a “massive” interior display, built-in sensors, four cameras (a selfie camera, one on the interior screen, and two on the back), and Apple’s upcoming C2 modem. It can even use Touch ID rather than Face ID.
Apple could call this the iPhone Ultra, or more likely the iPhone Fold. Although we don’t know the name for sure, Gurman believes the phone will drop this year.
Apple’s new AirPods could come with cameras
“AirPods Ultra” wouldn’t seem out of place in Apple’s lineup, assuming they can justify their name. On-board cameras would probably do the trick. That’s what Gurman says Apple’s next-generation AirPods will offer. These cameras will not be intended for taking photos or videos, however. Instead, Gurman says the goal is for Siri to access the camera feed to power its visual intelligence, Apple’s feature that uses AI to answer questions about what’s in front of you.
Right now, you have to use a compatible iPhone for visual intelligence: you point your iPhone’s camera at what you want to know, ask your question, and Siri does its best to answer. But with AirPods Ultra, you can keep your iPhone in your pocket (or potentially at home) while letting Siri “see” what you’re watching.
What do you think of it so far?
This may not deter anyone with serious privacy concerns about hidden cameras in accessories like smart glasses, but the design is certainly not intended for the end user to record footage from their AirPods. So there you go.
Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro will finally have an OLED display
The iPhone has an OLED screen; the iPad Pro has an OLED screen; The MacBook Pro has a mini-LED screen. What gives, Apple? Mini-LED displays may look great, don’t get me wrong, but OLED is still king, especially considering the “blooming” effect the former is known for.
According to Gurman, the MacBook Pro’s time has finally come: Apple’s next-generation high-end laptop will come with an OLED display and its price will almost certainly increase because of it. Gurman points out that the iPhone Pro’s MSRP ballooned by 20% after the move to OLED. Since the M5 Pro MacBook Pro now starts at $2,199, the OLED MacBook Pro could cost around $400 more. It could start at $2,599 for the same processing power, but with a better display.
Would Apple call this the MacBook Ultra? Maybe, if it really puts it above the M5 Pro MacBook Pro line. Apple could also use something that incorporates OLED into the name, like MacBook Pro With OLED or OLED MacBook Pro. But given the company’s other Ultra products, the MacBook Ultra sounds good.
