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The highly anticipated iPhone 15 line is now just days away, with Apple almost set to launch the next generation of its greatest iPhones in September 2023.
Myriad rumors have swirled about the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max since the iPhone 14 line debuted last year, but we now have a pretty clear image of the key iPhone 15 changes headed to all four phones ahead of its global debut.
We’ve also heard that an iPhone 15 Ultra may replace the Pro Max iPhone this year, and while that rumor has faded in recent months, certain last-minute iPhone 15 leaks hint that Apple’s first Ultra-branded iPhone could still arrive in 2023.
The best features, as with the iPhone 14/14 Pro lineup, will be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro versions to make up for the higher price.
According to rumors, all iPhone 15 models will include a USB-C port rather than a Lightning port, and the Dynamic Island will be available for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. That suggests Apple will abandon the notch that has been utilized on the flagship iPhone lineup since the iPhone X in favor of a slimmer, less invasive design.
Because its modem chips in development aren’t nearly ready, Apple plans to use Qualcomm modem chips in the new devices and UWB processors for interaction with the Vision system. The A16 processor used in the iPhone 14 Pro models will be upgraded in the ordinary iPhone 15 models, while the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature quicker and more efficient 3-nanometer A17 chips.
Titanium frames, smaller bezels, and modest design modifications with more curved device edges are also predicted for Pro versions, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to receive periscope lens technology for greater magnification capabilities.
Model Comparison
This article focuses on the normal iPhone 15, but Apple is also expected to announce an iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max in September.
| iPhone 15 (rumored) | iPhone 15 Plus (rumored) | iPhone 15 Pro (rumored) | iPhone 15 Pro Max (rumored) | |
| Display: | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED | 6.1-inch OLED | 6.7-inch OLED |
| Resolution: | 2532 x 1170 pixels | 1284 x 2778 pixels | 1179 x 2556 pixels | 1290 x 2796 pixels |
| Refresh rate: | 60Hz | 60Hz | Adaptive 1-120Hz | Adaptive 1-120Hz |
| Chipset: | A16 Bionic | A16 Bionic | A17 Bionic | A17 Bionic |
| Rear cameras: | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide | 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom | 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto with 6x variable zoom |
| Front camera: | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP | 12MP dual-lens |
| RAM: | 6GB | 6GB | 8GB | 8GB |
| Storage: | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB |
| Battery: | 3,877mAh | 4,912mAh | 3,650mAh | 4,852mAh |
iPhone 15 Release Date
Apple has scheduled an event for Tuesday, September 12th.
Actual shipment dates will most likely be announced a week or so later.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max was rumored to be delayed, but it is now back on schedule.
The iPhone 15 release date is now almost certain ahead of Apple’s September 2023 event, which is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12.
This event will almost undoubtedly be the premiere of the iPhone 15 range, with pre-orders for the iPhone 15 anticipated to begin a few days later on Friday, September 15. Shipping dates will most likely be announced another week later, on Friday, September 22.
Previous sources claimed that some iPhone 15 models could be delayed until October, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in particular, expected to come later than its siblings. However, new information shows that the iPhone 15 Pro Max may not be delayed after all.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also dismissed claims that production concerns with a new stacked camera sensor for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus could also create delays for those phones. In other words, all four iPhone 15 versions will be available in September 2023.
With all of this in mind, we believe now is not the best time to get a new iPhone; instead, you should wait for the iPhone 15 lineup to be revealed and released first.
iPhone 15 Design
All four models could receive curved edges like the iPhone 11.
The iPhone 15 is reported to have a textured matte glass rear panel.
USB-C charging ports.
The iPhone 15 design rumors are extremely intriguing, not least because they hint at some notable variations between Apple’s next vanilla iPhone and the base iPhone 14.
Among the design rumors is that all four iPhone 15 versions will have slightly curved edges, making the iPhone 15 look more like the iPhone 11 (the iPhone 14 has a straight-sided aesthetic similar to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13).
New Camera Bump
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are also rumored to be getting a new camera bump, which has been confirmed by unofficial iPhone 15 mockups based on case specifications (obtained by 9to5Mac).
Textured Matte Glass
Another iPhone 14 Pro-level design element could become Apple’s next ordinary iPhone. The ordinary iPhone 15 will debut with an iPhone 14 Pro-style textured matte glass rear panel, rather than the typical glossy rear panel used by its predecessor, according to the same Weibo user who correctly reported the existence of the yellow iPhone 14.
USB- C Charging
On the port front, the iPhone 15 is believed to have a USB-C charging port rather than the iPhone 14’s Lightning port (which has been a feature of every iPhone since the iPhone 5). The EU has warned Apple that it must include USB-C charging connections in iPhones beginning in 2024, but all indications point to the business adopting the new charging standard in 2023.
The video below shows how the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to look.
More iPhone 15 Plus renders surfaced in February 2023, revealing more of the aforementioned design changes: USB-C, more rounded corners, and the addition of the Dynamic Island on less costly models (which you may read about in the screen sizes part of this article).
The dimensions of the iPhone 15 devices appear to be similar to those of the iPhone 14 models – albeit, as previously said, there may be some minor differences in the size of the camera bumps.
Fitting of the Case
A set of 3D printed iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models reveals some details on how previous-generation iPhone 14 cases will fit, and Apple appears that earlier cases will not be compatible with the new iPhones.
Small alterations to the iPhone 15 lineup’s dimensions will prevent most cases from fitting, while the iPhone 15 Plus can fit inside an iPhone 14 Plus. The larger back camera housing of the Pro models, as well as the more curved shape and tweaks to the buttons, preclude iPhone 14 Pro cases from working properly.
ESims
This is huge news for potential iPhone 15 owners outside the United States. Because Apple normally sells the same iPhone models across most of Europe, SIM-free iPhone 15s could be available in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and other countries.
Given the level of integration required with cell carriers to allow the deployment of eSIMs in places where they aren’t currently extensively utilized, Apple is unlikely to be able to simply flip a switch and remove the SIM card tray from every iPhone 15 model sold in Europe come September – but major Apple markets like the UK appear ready to join France in its adoption of eSIMs.
iPhone 15 Price
Across the board, the price is projected to be higher than the iPhone 15.
Naturally, we don’t know the pricing of the iPhone 15, but we may make an educated calculation based on rumors and the launch costs of the iPhone 14:
128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,339
256GB: $899 / £959 / AU$1,579
512GB: $1,099 / £1,179 / AU$1,899
Initially, we expected the iPhone 15 to be priced similarly to the iPhone 14, with a starting price of $799 / £849 / AU$1,339 appearing likely. Analysts have recently speculated that the iPhone 15 will cost more than the iPhone 14 due to rising production costs on Apple’s part.
If confirmed, a series-wide price rise for the iPhone 15 range would be the first in the US since 2017. Price rises in international markets have occurred as recently as last year’s iPhone 14 series.
Apple may forsake the 128GB storage option with the iPhone 15 this year, as other manufacturers, such as Samsung and Oppo, have done with their own 2023 flagships. However, we believe the business will make this decision solely for its upcoming Pro models.
There is no Touch ID
Despite frequent rumors that Apple is considering reintroducing Touch ID to its flagship iPhones using under-display technology, the iPhone 15 models are not expected to include Touch ID and will instead rely on Face ID.
Apple is developing an under-display Face ID function, but it will not be available until at least 2025. Instead, the iPhone 15 will continue to use Dynamic Island in 2023, which Apple is likely to spread to all models rather than only the Pro ones.
iPhone 15 Colors
According to reports and previous iPhone models, Apple will most likely introduce the iPhone 15 in five different colors. Although we’ve heard a lot about a green iPhone 15 and a pink iPhone 15, any of the six colors listed below could make the cut:
- Cyan / Green
- Light blue
- Pink
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Product (RED)
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will most likely be available in a different color palette than the iPhone 15 but in the same colors. We anticipate four different color variations in total:
Space Gray, Space Black, or Dark Red Silver Gold Graphite
Color-Matched Braided USB Cable
According to reports, each iPhone 15 model would come with a color-matched braided USB-C cable. The use of braiding should make these cables more resistant to the rigors of long-term use while also improving color retention. Further down this post, you can read more about the possible benefits of Apple’s switch to USB-C.
iPhone 15 Camera
The main sensor will most likely be 48MP.
It’s possible that the Pro models will have a separate 48MP sensor.
The back camera on the iPhone 14 has the following dual-sensor setup:
12MP main camera (26mm, f/1.5)
12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4, 13mm)
The iPhone 15 camera arrangement is also rumored to include two sensors, while speculations suggest that the iPhone 15 will inherit the 48MP main sensor seen on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max rather than the 12MP main sensor found on the standard iPhone 14.
For certain of the iPhone 15 models, Apple is rumored to use Sony’s latest “state-of-the-art” image sensors.
When compared to standard sensors, Sony’s image sensor doubles the saturation signal in each pixel, allowing it to gather more light and reduce underexposure and overexposure.
The sensor will enable improvements in portraits and other photographs even when there is a lot of backlighting.
Sony uses a semiconductor design that separates photodiodes from transistors, enabling more photodiodes to be used. It’s unclear whether Apple will use the new sensor technology on all iPhone 15 models or only the higher-end “Pro” ones.
iPhone 15 Pro Max with Periscope Lens Technology
You’ve certainly heard that Apple plans to use a periscope zoom lens on the iPhone 15, but it will only be available on the larger-sized iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro will include a regular zoom lens, whilst the iPhone 15 variants will only have Wide and Ultra Wide lenses.
Periscope lens technology has optical zoom capabilities that outperform those of standard telephoto lenses, enabling 5x or even 10x optical zoom. A periscope lens would significantly boost the iPhone’s magnification capabilities, as the existing Pro models are limited to 3x zoom.
Light is reflected by an angled mirror toward the image sensor in the camera when using a periscope lens. The directional shift enables a “folded” telephoto lens system for greater optical zoom without the blurriness associated with digital zoom.
Samsung, an Apple competitor, has developed smartphones with periscope lens technology that enables optical magnification of 4x to 10x and digital zoom of up to 100x. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, when Apple deploys the periscope lens, it will use 6x optical zoom technology.
Screen Size
The same 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display will most likely be used.
Each model is expected to receive the Dynamic Island.
Regarding iPhone 15 screen sizes and displays, we anticipate that the regular iPhone 15 will provide one significant improvement over the iPhone 14.
The latter has a 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2532 x 1170, and reports say that the iPhone 15 may follow similar. The iPhone 15 will very certainly inherit Apple’s fancy screen cutout, Dynamic Island, from the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, giving the phone a more premium feel.
Leaked videos of the front glass for allegedly three iPhone 15 models have also emerged as potential support for this claim. They all have Dynamic Islands and slightly curved bezels, with the Pro models having thinner bezels than the regular ones.
We don’t expect the Dynamic Islands on the iPhone 15 series to be identical to those found on Apple’s flagship devices right now. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor will be embedded within the Dynamic Island itself rather than positioned below it (as on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max).
The revised sensor configuration, as Kuo points out, is unlikely to create a substantial difference in the design or operation of the iPhone 15 vs. the iPhone 14 Pro, but the former’s Dynamic Island will be more advanced than the latter’s due to the inclusion of a previously isolated sensor.
Aside from the Dynamic Island, the iPhone 15’s display will likely be identical to its predecessor’s. The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max both have adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (dubbed ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of their displays to whatever is happening on-screen, but the iPhone 15 appears to be sticking with the iPhone 14’s static 60Hz refresh rate.
The iPhone 16 could be a solid excuse to miss the iPhone 15, as the 2024 Apple phone is expected to include a new OLED display. The new display could feature a Multi-Lens Array panel, resulting in a brighter screen.
Features
The A16 Bionic chipset from the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to be carried over.
Although all four phones include USB-C, the Pro models will have better transfer speeds.
Greater battery capacity combined with AI could significantly improve functionality.
A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15
There are a few things we know for certain about the iPhone 15’s key specifications. For example, we anticipate that the normal iPhone 15 will inherit the A16 Bionic from the iPhone 14 Pro, just as the standard iPhone 14 got the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro.
Including an A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15 should make the smartphone feel snappier than the iPhone 14 (albeit the latter is no slouch in terms of performance). The bad news is that we’re also anticipating an A17 Bionic in September, which appears to be exclusively slated for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
For example, we anticipate that the normal iPhone 15 will inherit the A16 Bionic from the iPhone 14 Pro, just as the standard iPhone 14 got the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro. We’ve heard this before, so it’ll be surprising if Apple deviates from its own tendency in September.
RAM
Regarding other specifications, we’ve heard that the Pro versions will get 8GB of RAM with the iPhone 15. Wi-Fi 6E support in the Pro versions could be another difference between the Pro and non-Pro variations.
Data Transfer Speed
As previously stated, every iPhone 15 model will almost probably contain a USB-C connector, while reports suggest that only the Pro variants would enable faster data transfer speeds. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max may feature data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps, while the basic iPhone 15 will reportedly have the same 480Mbps speeds as current models. Multiple sources have confirmed this, and it’s possible that Apple may also sell a special data transfer accessory cable designed specifically for the iPhone 15 Pro.
Charging Speed
Interestingly, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that the company’s proprietary USB-C chargers will offer quicker iPhone 15 charging speeds than other manufacturers’ accessories. This suggestion was recently backed up by photographs of a mysterious iPhone 15 chip that might be used to enforce these charging constraints, but the EU has urged Apple against doing so because it wants to keep the charging playing field level.
Regarding charging rates, reports indicate that at least some of Apple’s next iPhone 15 smartphones would enable charging up to 35W.
Upgrades
Based on Apple’s history of increasing (or rather, not updating) battery sizes with each iPhone iteration, we expected the plain iPhone 15 to have a similar-sized power pack to the iPhone 14 (3,279mAh), but recent rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 lineup will feature significantly larger batteries across the board.
Battery
The iPhone 15 will purportedly have an 18% larger battery than the iPhone 14, increasing its capacity to 3,877mAh. In theory, it will have a longer battery life than its predecessor. We also believe the batteries will be converted to stacked technology, similar to that used in electric automobiles.
Another intriguing battery rumor surrounding the iPhone 15 line is the possibility of reverse wireless charging, allowing the vanilla iPhone 15 to wirelessly charge other Apple devices that its predecessor could not. We’re less certain about this feature forecast, and if it comes true, reverse wireless charging will most likely be limited to Apple’s upcoming Pro iPhones.
Upgraded Ultra Wideband (UWB)
The iPhone 15 will also reportedly include an improved Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip to enhance the functionality of Apple’s Vision Pro headset. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple’s U1 chip, which is now produced on a 16nm technology, will be replaced by newer silicon created on a substantially smaller 7nm process to enhance performance while simultaneously lowering power consumption.
Apple & AI
Finally, the iPhone 15 is believed to house Apple’s next great advancements in artificial intelligence. “It’s only a matter of time before Apple aggressively moves into artificial intelligence,” analyst Dan Ives told The Daily Mail in July, adding that the iPhone 15’s Health app will almost certainly be the first to benefit from this forward-thinking strategy shift.
This next-generation iOS Health app, in particular, might employ AI to create personalized lifestyle suggestions based on your heart rate, sleep, nutrition, and breathing data – something that current iPhones cannot accomplish.
After the iPhone 15?
Apple is already working on the iPhone 16 series, which is slated to be released in 2024. As with the iPhone 15 lineup, many of the modifications will be directed exclusively at the iPhone 16 Pro models. Larger display sizes, a quicker A18 chip, Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, and a new 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera are all possibilities.
Camera enhancements, the A17 chip, and a redesigned button design are all possible for ordinary iPhone 16 models. Modem chips designed by Apple are also a possibility across the board.