Apple May Release These Three “Ultra” Series Products in 2026.
Apple has been actively releasing budget devices lately. Last Monday, the company announced the iPhone 17e , a $599 device that does almost everything most of us expect from our iPhones. Two days later, it unveiled the MacBook Neo , a $599 laptop that, despite using an iPhone chip, is on par with Macs with M-series chips designed for macOS.
While these products may sell well (especially the Neo), Apple isn’t planning on a full-blown fire sale. In fact, rumors suggest Apple is currently working on a product line at the opposite end of the spectrum. This supposed “Ultra” line will include new machines and devices that will be quite expensive but also offer a lot for their price. While rumors about these products abound, a new piece of information from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman , who has a solid track record of handling Apple insider information, gives us a clearer picture of what might happen in the near future.
Gurman admits the “Ultra” moniker won’t necessarily be added to all of these devices, but it would make sense, given that the company already uses it for the Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and Ultra chips. The devices described below may or may not ship with this moniker, but these are three high-end Apple products that Gurman says are in development this year.
Apple’s foldable iPhone could cost $2,000.
Rumors have long circulated that Apple is working on an iPhone that folds into a “tablet,” and it will almost certainly be the most expensive iPhone in the company’s history. Like other foldable smartphones, this device will likely have a suggested retail price that will raise an eyebrow (or two) among traditional smartphone buyers. Gurman predicts the iPhone Fold could cost around $2,000, or roughly double the price of the new iPhone 17 Pro.
Those $2,000 aren’t wasted: Gurman says the iPhone Fold features a “massive” internal display, in-display sensors, four cameras (one front-facing, one on the internal display, and two on the back), and Apple’s upcoming C2 modem. It might even use Touch ID instead of Face ID.
Apple could call it the iPhone Ultra, or more likely, the iPhone Fold. While we don’t know the exact name, Gurman believes the phone will go on sale this year.
Apple’s new AirPods may be equipped with cameras.
The name “AirPods Ultra” would be perfectly appropriate in Apple’s lineup, if it were justified. Built-in cameras would probably be appropriate, as Gurman says the next-generation AirPods will offer. However, these cameras won’t be designed for taking photos or videos. Instead, Gurman says, the goal is for Siri to access the camera feed to power its visual intelligence —an Apple feature that uses AI to answer questions about what’s in front of you.
Currently, to visually perceive information, you need a compatible iPhone: you point the iPhone camera at what you want to know, ask a question, and Siri does its best to answer. But with AirPods Ultra, you can keep your iPhone in your pocket (or at home, for example), and Siri will still “see” what you’re looking at.
This is unlikely to deter those seriously concerned about privacy regarding hidden cameras in accessories like smart glasses , but the design is definitely not intended for the end user to record images from the AirPods. So there you have it.
Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pro will finally feature an OLED display.
The iPhone has an OLED display; the iPad Pro has an OLED display; the MacBook Pro has a mini-LED display. What’s the deal, Apple? Mini-LED displays may look great, don’t get me wrong, but OLED is still king, especially given the “glow” effect it’s known for.
According to Gurman, the MacBook Pro’s time has finally come: Apple’s next-generation high-end laptop will ship with an OLED display—and its price will almost certainly increase significantly as a result. Gurman notes that the iPhone Pro’s suggested retail price has increased by 20% since the switch to an OLED display. Considering that the MacBook Pro with the M5 processor now starts at $2,199, a MacBook Pro with an OLED display could cost around $400 more. Ultimately, its price could start at $2,599 for the same computing power but with a better display.
Will Apple call this laptop the MacBook Ultra? Perhaps, if it’s truly positioned above the M5 Pro-based MacBook Pro lineup. Apple could also use a name that includes the OLED display, such as “MacBook Pro with OLED” or “OLED MacBook Pro.” But given the other Ultra series products, the MacBook Ultra name sounds good.