Apple's iPhone Ultra arrives with new connector and chip edge

The iPhone Ultra shows up next week

Apple will unveil the iPhone Ultra at its September event. Mark Gurman told Tom’s Guide that the phone will ship with upgraded specs, new multitasking features, and a launch window that lands it squarely in the fall rush. The announcement will be the first public look at a model that sits above the Pro line in Apple’s naming hierarchy. The only concrete detail from the preview is timing: the device arrives next week. No price, screen size, or camera count has been confirmed. Gurman’s interview hints at software tweaks that improve split‑screen handling, but the story remains thin until Apple’s stage.

Apple’s silicon still outpaces Samsung on single‑core work

A leaked Geekbench 5 run shows the two‑year‑old iPhone 12 beating the upcoming Galaxy S23 Ultra by 6.15% on single‑core performance (1,571 vs. 1,480). The iPhone 12 runs Apple’s A14 Bionic, a chip that still outstrips Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in raw single‑core speed. Samsung’s flagship gains a large lead on multi‑core work, scoring 4,584 against the iPhone 12’s 3,867. Multi‑core matters for video rendering and heavy games, but most daily tasks sit on a single core. Apple’s advantage therefore translates into snappier app launches, smoother UI animations, and lower latency for AI‑driven features. The performance gap mirrors a longer trend. The iPhone 14 Pro, powered by the A16 Bionic, beats the Galaxy S23 Ultra by roughly 21% on single‑core and 15% on multi‑core, according to the same leak source. Apple’s R&D pipeline keeps its ARM‑based silicon ahead of Qualcomm and Samsung’s Exynos efforts, which the South Korean giant has already abandoned for the S23 series.

Ultra Accessory Connector promises a slimmer port ecosystem

Apple is previewing an Ultra Accessory Connector (UAC) through its Made‑for‑iPhone (MFi) program. The eight‑pin plug measures 2.05 mm × 4.85 mm, making it slimmer than USB‑C and half the width of Lightning. Its shape resembles ultra‑mini USB connectors used in niche camera accessories. The connector is aimed at headphones and other audio gear. Apple will certify cables that convert Lightning‑to‑UAC, USB‑A‑to‑UAC, and 3.5 mm‑to‑UAC, letting a UAC‑enabled headset plug into any current iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The move could free up internal space for slimmer device designs, a benefit that matters as Apple squeezes more components into its thin chassis. The UAC is still in developer preview. Apple has not said whether it will replace Lightning or USB‑C on future iPhones. The company introduced Lightning in 2012 and has kept it for iPhones while moving Macs to USB‑C. The new connector arrives as regulators push Apple toward a universal charging port, a pressure point that intensified after the EU mandated USB‑C for smartphones.

Why Apple is adding another port now

Apple’s port strategy has always been a balancing act between design freedom and ecosystem lock‑in. Lightning let Apple control accessory quality and collect licensing fees for years. USB‑C adoption on Macs gave the company a high‑speed, widely compatible link, but iPhone users still rely on Lightning for charging and audio. Regulators in the European Union have threatened fines if Apple refuses to adopt USB‑C across its mobile lineup. By introducing a proprietary UAC that sits alongside Lightning, Apple hedges against a forced switch. Manufacturers can continue selling Lightning‑based accessories while gradually moving to a slimmer connector for new product categories. Competitors are watching. Samsung already uses Snapdragon‑based chips that close the performance gap, and its Galaxy S23 Ultra will ship with USB‑C only. If Apple’s UAC gains traction, accessory makers may need to support three different plugs for a single product line – a costly proposition that could push some developers toward the open USB‑C standard.

What to watch next

The September event will reveal the iPhone Ultra’s exact dimensions, camera stack, and price. Keep an eye on whether Apple bundles the Ultra Accessory Connector with the new phone or sells it as a separate MFi part. The next set of Geekbench leaks should show how the Ultra’s chipset compares to the A16 and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Finally, watch the EU’s enforcement timeline; a compliance deadline in 2025 could force Apple to retire Lightning entirely, making the UAC either a stepping stone or a dead end.