It was widely expected that the first foldable iPhone set to be launched later today would be named the iPhone Ultra. However, a report yesterday said that the device will instead be called the iPhone Duo. If accurate, it's an interesting development as it might potentially point to the company reserving the Ultra suffix for a completely different future model.

Apple has used the Ultra label to mean the top-level offering in three contexts: Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Silicon chips (eg. M5 Ultra), and CarPlay Ultra. The iPhone Ultra label was reportedly going to be used for the foldable phone being launched later today. As of yesterday, however, we are expecting this to be named the iPhone Duo – so what's up?

I can see three possibilities. The least interesting explanation would be that Apple isn't using the Ultra label because the foldable phone isn't the ultimate iPhone. A related possibility is that the iPhone Ultra label is slated for the 20th anniversary model expected next year. The most exciting possibility is that Apple won't be done with all-new additions to the iPhone range after the launch of the slab of glass, and that the iPhone Ultra label is being reserved for a completely different model.