Renowned leaker Gorman: Apple will launch more "Ultra" devices and is developing 3D printing aluminum technology

Well-known Apple leakster Mark Gurman stated that the release of the MacBook Neo could shake up the computer industry. The company also plans to further target the high-end market by launching more “Ultra” level devices. Additionally, Apple is planning to adopt 3D-printed aluminum on a larger scale.

Last week, Apple announced on its official website the MacBook Neo, starting at only 4,599 RMB, marking its biggest attempt to enter the low-end laptop market, directly targeting competitors like Microsoft and Google.

Gurman commented that this product shows Apple is slightly stepping out of its comfort zone — the computer has the potential to impact the low-end laptop market. He predicts that Apple will continue producing other entry-level devices and may even expand the “Neo” brand to these products, possibly replacing the “SE” naming.

However, Gurman pointed out that the MacBook Neo remains a relatively special product and is not the start of Apple’s full shift to low-end devices. “In fact, a more important change is that Apple is moving toward higher-end products — I would call them ‘Ultra’ level products.”

According to Gurman, the upcoming foldable iPhone can be seen as an “Ultra” product because its approximately $2,000 price, large internal screen, under-display sensors, and other new technologies will make it stand out prominently in the product lineup.

Gurman believes that “Ultra” might become its official name, but Apple could also opt for a more straightforward name like “Fold.”

He also mentioned that the new generation of AirPods is expected to feature a computer vision camera to provide visual data for Siri, with a price likely higher than the current AirPods Pro, making it the top-tier model in that line. Given that Apple already uses the name AirPods Max for its over-ear headphones, “AirPods Ultra” is very likely under consideration.

Gurman stated that future MacBook Pro models will feature touch-supported OLED screens, a component that will almost certainly increase the overall price. Considering this history, the new laptops are likely to sit above the current M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models, rather than replacing them.

Gurman wrote that Apple may still use the MacBook Pro name, but “MacBook Ultra” would more clearly indicate its top-tier position in the product line. “One thing is certain: Apple is once again firmly moving into the high-end market.”

The most recent product not using the “Ultra” name is the Studio Display, whose high-end version is called the Studio Display XDR, emphasizing technical features rather than using a name to denote a high-end position. But the underlying strategy is the same: Apple has added a higher-end tier to that product line.

Looking further into the future, Gurman suggests that other product lines, including iPad and iMac, could also expand into this ultra-high-end tier. A high-end foldable OLED iPad is still under discussion within Apple, but if launched, it would fit very well with the “Ultra” positioning. Meanwhile, Apple continues to experiment with iMacs featuring more powerful processors and larger screens.

This strategy aligns perfectly with CEO Tim Cook’s business philosophy. Apple isn’t constantly launching entirely new product categories but extending mature products into more price segments to capture a larger market share.

Gurman explained that sometimes people feel there are too many Mac, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods models from Apple, but that’s part of its strategy. Even simple accessories like the Apple Pencil are now divided into high-end and low-end versions. In the future, the MacBook Neo itself may also develop multiple versions, such as models with larger screens.

Additionally, Gurman revealed that Apple is pushing for future products to use 3D-printed aluminum. The MacBook Neo uses a new aluminum manufacturing process aimed at reducing metal usage as much as possible, lowering costs and increasing production efficiency.

But this is just the beginning. It is reported that Apple’s manufacturing design team and operations department are researching the use of 3D printing technology to produce aluminum parts, which will improve the production efficiency of Apple Watch cases and may someday be used for iPhone bodies.