As we enter a new year, the internet is buzzing with information about the upcoming iPhone 15 series. Apple usually releases a new iPhone in September, and this year is no exception. Despite the fact that the iPhone 15 launch date is still nine months away, the rumour mill is already buzzing with leaks and rumours about what to expect from the upcoming lineup. According to the latest reports, the iPhone 15 will feature an all-new design, a USB-C port, and a slew of other exciting features. If you are planning to upgrade to the iPhone 15 this year, we have compiled the most recent rumors about the iPhone 15 series’ features, variants, design, and expected price. So, let us begin.
iPhone 15 Series: Rumors and Upcoming Features
The iPhone 15 is still a few months away, but with so many suppliers involved, Apple finds it difficult to keep secrets about the iPhone lineup. There will be four iPhone 15 models, two 6.1-inch iPhones, and two 6.7-inch iPhones, in the same sizes as the iPhone 14 models. One of each size will be a standard iPhone 15, while the other two will be higher-end “Pro” models. The best features, as with the iPhone 14, will be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro models.
So far, rumors suggest that USBC will be available for all models, and the Dynamic Island will be expanded to include the standard iPhone 15. Because Apple’s own modem chips aren’t yet ready, the new devices will use Qualcomm modem chips. The standard iPhone 15 models will receive an A16 chip,upgrade, while the iPhone 15 Pro models may receive improved 3nanometer A17 chips. Pro models could get titanium frames, as well as periscope lens camera technology for better zoom.
The standard entry-level 6.1-inch iPhone 15 model is expected to remain at $799, with the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus starting at $899.
iPhone 15: Upcoming Variants
we could possibly see the following iPhone models this year:
- iPhone 15 (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 15 Plus (6.7-inch display)
- iPhone 15 Pro (6.1-inch display)
- iPhone 15 Ultra (6.7-inch display)
Apple analysts MingChi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have confirmed that the number of iPhones in the upcoming lineup will not change. In 2023, the company will continue to release four different iPhone variants with varying screen sizes, as it did last year.
However, Gurman hinted in his newsletter Power On that Apple could follow the latest naming convention of the Apple Watch lineup and rename the top,end iPhone 15 from Pro Max to Ultra. The success of the Apple Watch Ultra is to blame for this shift.
Expected Prices
Well, the rumors of a price increase surfaced before the launch of the iPhone 14 series too, but they didn’t turn out to be true. Since 2017, Apple has capped the price of its base model flagship iPhones at $999, and it could follow the trend this year as well. It is early to predict the final prices of this year’s iPhone models.
Here’s how much the iPhone 15 series might cost at launch in the United States:
- iPhone 15 – $799 (same as last year)
- iPhone 15 Plus – $899 (same as last year)
- iPhone 15 Pro – $1,099 (increased by $100)
- iPhone 15 Ultra – $1,199 (increased by $100)
iPhone 15: Release Date
It’s no surprise that Apple follows a pattern when releasing new iPhones. The iPhone 12 series is the only exception (October launch) due to the pandemic. And, if history is any guide, the iPhone 15 will most likely be released in the second week of September 2023.
iPhone 15: Design Leaks
Dynamic Island is available on all iPhones.If you were hoping for a radical design shift from the iPhone 14 series, you will be disappointed because Apple is likely to stick with the same form factor and design as the iPhone 14 series. One significant change that may occur this year is the expansion of the new pill-shaped Dynamic Island to all iPhone 15 variants. Gurman mentioned in his newsletter that Apple’s new take on the iPhone notch (dubbed Dynamic Island) will be available on all four iPhone models.
Design
According to rumors, the iPhone 15 models will resemble the iPhone 14 models, but the pill-and-hole cutout will be extended to the entire lineup. That means that all iPhone 15 models will lack a notch, instead relying on the Dynamic Island first seen in iPhone 14 Pro models. Apple will continue to offer four models, as there are no major design changes in the works: the 6.1-inch iPhone 15, the 6.1inch iPhone 15 Pro, the 6.7inch iPhone 15 Max, and the 6.7inch iPhone 15 Pro Max. The “pro” models will have more advanced features and be more expensive, while the standard iPhone 15 models will be less expensive.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will have a USBC port instead of a Lightning port, as well as a transition from the notch to the Dynamic Island. In a leaked image of an iPhone 15 Pro, we got our first look at the USBC port.
USB-C
Apple is replacing the Lightning port on the iPhone 15 devices with a USBC port in order to comply with new European regulations. These regulations require Apple to produce iPhones with USBC ports in Europe, which means Apple must either make a global design change or develop special iPhones for sale in Europe.
USB-C Data Transfer Speeds
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 Pro models will support “at least” USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. With the upgrade, iPhone 15 Pro models would be able to transfer video and other file types at much quicker speeds. USB 2.0 transfer speeds are limited to 480Mb/s, while USB 3.2 supports speeds up to 20Gb/s. If Apple offers Thunderbolt 3 support for the iPhone 15 Pro models, data transfer speeds could be up to 40Gb/s.
Titanium Frame
Another rumored design change for the iPhone 15 series is a titanium frame for Pro models. According to tech analysts Jeff Pu and MingChi Kuo, Apple will replace the stainless steel frame on the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max (or iPhone 15 Ultra) models with a titanium frame. This will assist the company in lightening the weight of its high-end iPhone models.
No Touch ID
Though there have been ongoing rumors suggesting Apple has considered bringing Touch ID back to its flagship iPhones using an under-display solution, the iPhone 15 models are not expected to include Touch ID and will continue to use Face ID.
Apple is working on an under-display face ID feature , but it won’t be ready until 2025. Instead, in 2023, the iPhone 15 will continue to use the Dynamic Island, which Apple is expected to expand to all models instead of just the Pro models.
Camera Updates and Features
For the iPhone 15 models, Apple is expected to use Sony’s latest “state-of-the art” image sensors. Sony’s image sensor, when compared to standard sensors, doubles the saturation signal in each pixel, allowing it to capture more light and reduce underexposure and overexposure. The sensor will allow for improvements in portraits and other images even when there is a lot of backlighting.
Sony employs semiconductor architecture that separates photodiodes and transistors, allowing for more photodiodes. It is unclear whether the new sensor technology will be used by all iPhone 15 models or if Apple will limit it to the higher-end “Pro” iPhone 15 models.
Periscope Zoom Lens Technology for iPhone 15 Pro Max
You’ve probably heard that Apple is planning 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 have a standard zoom lens, whereas the iPhone 15 models will only have Wide and Ultra Wide lenses.
Periscope lens technology offers optical zoom capabilities that exceed those possible with a standard telephoto lens, allowing for 5x and even 10X optical zoom With a periscope lens, the iPhone’s zoom capabilities would be significantly enhanced as the current Pro models are limited to 3x zoom.
Samsung, an Apple competitor, has released smartphones with periscope lens technology that allows for 4x to 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that when Apple uses the periscope lens, it will implement 6x optical zoom technology.
Wi-Fi 6E
Apple is upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E, according to leaked iPhone 15 WiFi chip diagrams, but it will be limited to iPhone 15 Pro models. Wifi 6E will be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, but WiFi 6 will remain on the standard iPhone 15 models.
WiFi 6E has more bandwidth than WiFi 6, allowing for faster connectivity speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi 6E adds 1.2GHz to the 6GHz band, and it can support whole-home gigabit coverage, multigigabit connectivity for venues, and higher data streams such as those used for AR and VR experiences.
3nm Chipset
The iPhone 15 Pro models will be the first to use an A-series chip manufactured by Apple supplier TSMC on its next-generation 3nanometer node. 3nm chip technology is expected to boost processing performance by 10 to 15% while lowering power consumption by up to 35%.
RAM
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are expected to have 6GB of RAM, which is the same as the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.
Conclusion
Dynamic Island is not likely to be eliminated because the iPhone will still need a front-facing camera. Periscope lens technology is expected to continue to be limited to the higher-end iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Apple is planning to implement Under display face ID technology in the 2024 iPhone 16 models, according to The Elec. The shift will provide a more usable display area, and when not in use, the TrueDepth Camera for Face ID will not be visible as it will be under the display.
