According to LeaksApplePro, iPhone 15 Ultra, a rebrand of the Pro Max range of iPhones, could cost up to $200 more than iPhone 14 Pro Max. The record-breaking price spike would be the largest generational jump between iPhones, potentially putting the upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra at a $1,299 price point.
Working with Howtoisolve, LeaksApplePro released a host of new information regarding the next-generation iPhone, with the price increase being the most prominent news.
“It’s going to be a more expensive iPhone. Even in the United States,” LeaksApplePro stated. “Apple has been losing margins year after year. Rising production costs and inflation, that makes the money the company has in the bank worth less, have finally broken the camel’s back.”
The expected price increase is based on a leak suggesting that the bill of materials for the iPhone 15 Ultra is going to be that much higher. What all of that seems to confirm, at least in light of the most recent leaks, is that the new device will be made of titanium.
There have been conflicting reports regarding the titanium chassis, with some sources such as ShrimpApplePro claiming that Apple will bring titanium to all iPhone 15 models.
In a statement to Forbes, LeaksApplePro disputed this claim.
“That’s not true,” LeaksApplePro responded, saying it will be “Ultra only (maybe the 15 Pro but definitely not the 15 and 15 Plus).”
It doesn’t make sense for Apple to use titanium in every iPhone 15 model, seeing as how the material is 30 times more expensive per kilogram than stainless steel. However, the introduction of titanium complicates Apple’s existing supply chain, with it now having to source three different chassis materials — aluminum for standard models, stainless steel for iPhone 15 Pro, and titanium for iPhone 15 Ultra.
Upgrading standard models to stainless steel chassis would simplify the supply chain, but for now, Apple doesn’t seem intent on doing this.
As for the prices of the other iPhone 15 models, the leaker says they don’t know what, if anything, will change.
“We don’t know the situation for the other devices in the line-up,” LeaksApplePro stated. “That said, with a $1299 starting price potentially seeing the iPhone 15 Ultra rise as high as $1799 for the 1TB model, this is likely to have a knock-on effect on the rest of the range because Apple doesn’t like to have a gulf between products in the same lineup.”
Besides featuring titanium chassis, the iPhone 15 Ultra will supposedly ship with a minimum of 256GB, dual front-facing cameras, and USB-C with Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps).
