The buzz is building up for Apple’s iPhone 15 release, which is expected to happen next month in September 2023. Ever since the iPhone 14 came out last year, there have been non-stop rumours and leaks about what the iPhone 15 and its various versions (iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max) might offer.
Specs, pricing, and availability are still under wraps, but we’re beginning to see some consistent information that may give us a clue.
There’s also talk about an iPhone 15 Ultra replacing the iPhone 15 Pro Max this year. Even though that rumour has quieted down a bit, some last-minute leaks are keeping the possibility alive.
Release Date
As for the release date, it’s all speculation at the moment. Apple tends to keep things under wraps until the last minute, but judging by the company’s past behaviour and some recent rumours, we’re making an educated guess here.
The iPhone 15 is likely to be announced either on Tuesday, September 12, or Wednesday, September 13, with pre-orders kicking off a couple of days later on September 15. Shipments would then probably start going out a week after that, on September 22.
Color Assumptions
Color-wise, there’s speculation about a variety of shades for the iPhone 15, including potential green and pink versions. Here are the colours being talked about: Light blue, Cyan / Green, Pink, Starlight, and Midnight.
The Pro versions might have their own unique shades, like Dark red, Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Space Black, and Either Graphite.
There’s also word about the iPhone 15 models coming with a matching braided USB-C cable – a durable and colour-retaining touch.
Design
Design-wise, there are whispers that the iPhone 15 will see some changes. All four models might have curves reminiscent of the iPhone 11, straying away from the iPhone 14’s straight sides. Another buzzworthy detail: a new camera bump for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Some leaked renders (via 9to5Mac) seem to confirm this.
It’s also believed that the standard iPhone 15 will get an upgrade in terms of its back panel, featuring a matte glass finish similar to the iPhone 14 Pro.
A significant change might be in the cards for the charging port. While the iPhone 14 still uses the Lightning port, Apple might switch things up with a USB-C port for the iPhone 15. This is in line with EU directives to Apple for 2024, but Apple might just make the jump a year earlier.
MacRumors has even managed to get their hands on dummy iPhone 15 units that give a visual idea of what the new iPhones could look like. The anticipation is real!
February 2023 brought some juicy tidbits for Apple enthusiasts with new renders showcasing the design changes of the iPhone 15 Plus. Among them, are the USB-C port, more sleekly rounded edges, and the notable Dynamic Island on the more budget-friendly models.
Size and Dimension
Dimension-wise, it seems like Apple is sticking close to the iPhone 14’s blueprint, although the camera bumps might be tweaked slightly in size. But here’s a little frustration for those waiting for the upgrade: advanced design features like titanium edges and slimmer bezels are rumoured to be exclusive to the Pro versions of the iPhone 15 series. But honestly, that’s become a predictable move by Apple.
There are rumours that Apple is looking to transition to eSIMs outside of the US, starting with France. That’s potentially big news for Europe since Apple’s models tend to be consistent across European markets. This means countries like the UK, Ireland, Germany, and Spain might also get iPhones without the traditional SIM card.
Though considering the huge collaboration required with carriers to shift to eSIM, it’s not likely that every iPhone 15 in Europe will ditch the SIM tray immediately. Still, big players like the UK seem poised to follow France’s lead.
Camera
But chatter suggests that the iPhone 15 could level up, borrowing the 48MP main sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro versions. This is a refreshing shift, especially since the iPhone 14’s cameras weren’t a huge leap from the iPhone 13.
However, this doesn’t mean the gap between the standard and Pro versions will shrink. There’s gossip about significant camera upgrades for the iPhone 15 Pro models come September, with possible features like periscope cameras and more powerful sensors.
As for selfies, the iPhone 15 is likely sticking with the iPhone 14’s 12MP camera.
Specs
Internally, we’re pretty confident the iPhone 15 will pack the A16 Bionic chip, mirroring how the iPhone 14 adopted the A15 Bionic from the iPhone 13 Pro. With this chip, the iPhone 15 is bound to feel more fluid than its predecessor. But, there’s always a ‘but’, the A17 Bionic might be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models this year.
The iPhone 14 already performs like a champ, so the iPhone 15, with its enhanced processing power, should tackle tasks like streaming, browsing, and gaming seamlessly.
Tech insiders are also confident that Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X70 will be the 5G modem of choice for the iPhone 15, a step up from the X65 used in the iPhone 14.
On the specs front, there are murmurs that the iPhone 15 Pro models might sport 8GB RAM and support for Wi-Fi 6E. And while every iPhone 15 might sport a USB-C port, only the Pro models are rumoured to offer beefier data transfer speeds.
Apple’s plans to switch to USB-C, at least in Europe, seem solid, especially with leaked images of iPhones with USB-C ports making rounds. Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned Apple analyst, has hinted that Apple’s own USB-C chargers could offer faster charging for the iPhone 15 than third-party options. Despite this, there’s been some caution from the EU about maintaining a level playing field for chargers.
Battery
The iPhone 15 is rumoured to pack a heftier battery, 18% larger than the iPhone 14’s, which could pump its capacity up to a respectable 3,877mAh. This might give users a bit more screen time than before. There’s also some buzz about Apple potentially using a battery tech inspired by electric cars.
What’s also catching the ears of tech enthusiasts is a possible feature of reverse wireless charging. This means the iPhone 15 might have the capability to juice up other Apple devices wirelessly – a feature the iPhone 14 misses. But there’s some scepticism about this, with some believing that if it does happen, it might be a special treat only for the Pro versions of the iPhone 15.
On the tech side, Apple seems to be refining its Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, possibly to align better with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known analyst, suggests Apple’s current U1 chip might be ditched for a newer, more efficient version. This could make sharing content with Vision Pro seamless and give users a richer experience.
Artificial Intelligence
Let’s talk AI. As shared by analyst Dan Ives is that Apple’s gearing up for a significant AI push. First in line to get this upgrade? Probably the iPhone 15’s Health app. It might soon offer personalized health and lifestyle suggestions by analyzing data like your heart rate, sleep, and diet. While Siri and other features are already powered by AI, Apple seems to be setting the stage for more advanced AI functionalities, possibly starting with the iPhone 15.
Display-wise, the iPhone 15 might not stray too far from the iPhone 14. Expect a 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display with similar pixel resolution. But here’s the fun part: the iPhone 15 might inherit the ‘Dynamic Island’ – that stylish screen cutout – seen in the iPhone 14 Pro models. Some sneaky leaks seem to support this, showing iPhone 15 front glass designs with this cutout.
While this gives the iPhone 15 a touch of luxury, it might still lag behind its Pro siblings in one aspect. The iPhone 14 Pro models have a dynamic screen refresh rate that adjusts on the fly, but it seems the iPhone 15 might stick with a standard 60Hz rate.
Pricing
It looks like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max might come with a higher price tag this time around. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman hints at this potential increase. Another voice in the mix is Jeff Pu, an analyst who predicts that the iPhone 15 Pro might start at $1,099, a bump from the previous $999 price of the iPhone 14 Pro.
As for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it could start at $1,199. There’s even talk that the Pro Max might be up to $200 pricier than its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
For those considering the standard iPhone 15 models, there’s good news. Prices are likely to stay consistent, with the base iPhone 15 model probably starting at $799.
