Apple Inc. may be considering a new high-end Ultra model iPhone in 2024, according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, based on comments made by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook on a Feb. 2 investor call following the company’s quarterly earnings report.

Cook said on the call in response to a question from Wamsi Mohan of Bank of America that “I think people are willing to really stretch to get the best they can afford in that category” while discussing whether iPhones are too expensive in the current economic environment.

One off-the-cuff comment in an investor call doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple will introduce a new high-end iPhone, but Gurman claimed last year that he heard from insiders that the company was looking at creating a new high-end model. The line from Cook is argued to be indicative of that.

Power On: Apple says consumers are willing to “stretch” to get the best iPhone possible. So the company is working towards an even higher-end Ultra model for as early as 2024 in addition to adding more exclusive features to the Pro Max. https://t.co/mSVCEosOE8

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) February 5, 2023

Gurman has a solid track record of Apple predictions — 86.5% accurate, according to AppleTrack. But it’s a different level to suggest that Cook’s answer is proof of anything other than he believes that consumers are willing to pay premium prices for iPhones. At no point during the call does Cook or anyone else at Apple mention a new premium iPhone, though Gurman does mention sources saying Apple has discussed a high-end model internally.

Exactly what a new Ultra model of the iPhone would like is anyone’s guess, but it could take cues from the similarly named Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which has a 200-megapixel camera, among other features not seen in products from Apple.

Rival Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently predicted that Apple is working on a foldable iPad for debut in 2024.

Unlike a new premium iPhone, a foldable device — whether an iPad or iPhone — would make more sense since it’s currently the only major growth market in mobile computing. According to research, the foldable phone market is expected to grow from $17.6 billion in 2021 to $174 billion in 2031 and Apple does not currently have a foldable device.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. introduced its latest foldable devices last August. The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a 7.6-inch tablet that can fold like a book to turn into a 6.2-inch smartphone, while the smaller Galaxy Z Flip 4 offers a 6.7-inch screen with a flip phone-inspired design.

Photo: Connecteam