Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus – what to expect

Apple is set to reveal its next-generation iPhone 15 series next week on September 12, a Tuesday. While Apple traditionally keeps its products shrouded in secrecy until the big reveal, these highly anticipated devices have been subject to numerous leaks. Here’s what we believe we know about the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

The End of Lightning: Say Hello to USB-C

Anticipate Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, and his team extolling the virtues of USB-C over their proprietary Lightning port during the presentation. However, don’t expect them to acknowledge the EU’s role in driving this change. The shift to USB-C will result in a loss of revenue for Apple’s MFi (Made for iPhone) certification program. According to Mark Gurman, there’s also concern within Apple that this move could weaken its walled garden approach, as users will now have accessories that are compatible with Android phones as well.

Nonetheless, while iPads and Macs have adopted USB-C, it’s time for iPhones to make the switch. The transition may pose some challenges for certain users, but Apple plans to ease this process by including high-quality USB C-to-C cables in the retail package.

For the upcoming iPhone 15 and 15 Pro duo, these cables will support charging speeds of up to 60W (USB PD 3.0, 20V at 3A). However, it’s important to note that the phones themselves will only support up to 20W, similar to the current models. Nevertheless, this cable’s capability could prove useful for charging laptops.

It’s worth mentioning that these cables will be limited to USB 2.0 speeds, which aligns with the industry standard, even for flagship Android devices. Furthermore, the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 models will operate at USB 2.0 speeds, similar to the outgoing Lightning ports.

Bigger Batteries

In a quick update, insiders have indicated that all models in the iPhone 15 series will feature larger batteries. While specific capacity details aren’t available, it’s expected that the iPhone 15 Pro Max and possibly the iPhone 15 Plus will approach or even exceed 5,000mAh (compared to the 4,323mAh capacity in the iPhone 14 Plus and 14 Pro Max). This enhancement will complement the faster charging capability on the Pro model.

Dynamic Island for All

These are the final days of Apple’s wide notch era, at least within the main series. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will adopt a Dynamic Island, which is Apple’s term for the pill-shaped punch hole housing both the FaceTime camera and FaceID hardware, matching their sibling models. The transition away from the wide notch marks a significant design shift for Apple.

The primary display upgrade for the standard iPhone models this year will be the introduction of a 120Hz mode, also known as ProMotion. However, there won’t be any LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) panels included in these devices. LTPO panels can enhance power efficiency, even when their maximum refresh rate is capped at 60Hz, making them particularly interesting for conserving battery life.

In terms of the camera setup, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are set to feature 48MP primary sensors with an f/1.6 lens, a significant improvement over the 12MP sensors in previous standard models. This upgrade promises better low-light performance. The ultra-wide camera will retain its 12MP resolution, and there won’t be a dedicated telephoto lens. However, the new primary camera is expected to offer improved zooming capabilities.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will retain the same 48MP cameras as last year, featuring the 1/1.28″ Sony IMX803 sensor. In contrast, the standard models will take a leap ahead in this department. Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that they will adopt stacked sensors, which might potentially offer superior performance (the Pro models are expected to receive stacked sensors in the following year).

Regarding materials, the Pro models are making a shift to titanium frames. Apple initially introduced stainless steel with the iPhone X and continued this choice for the Pro series. After gaining experience with titanium through the Apple Watch Ultra launch, the company is now prepared to make titanium the material of choice for the frames of the iPhone Pro models.

This transition to titanium will not only bring a change in material but also result in lighter devices. This is a noteworthy improvement, especially considering that older models, such as the 2022 Pro Max, have been criticized for their weight, with some even weighing more than certain foldable phones. On the other hand, the standard iPhone models will continue to use aluminum for their frames, so significant changes in their build are not expected at this time.

Leaked images have provided a glimpse of the color options that will be available at the initial release for both the standard and Pro series. Many of these choices appear somewhat lackluster and uninspiring, but a couple do stand out.

Likely Apple A16 Chipsets

It’s been reported that Apple has secured 90% of TSMC’s 3nm manufacturing capacity for this year. Part of this allocation will be utilized for producing Apple A17 Bionic chipsets, anticipated to feature 6 CPU cores (2+4) and set new records for mobile clock speeds, reaching up to 3.7GHz for the performance cores.

Regarding the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, it’s probable that they will lag a year behind the Pros and adopt the A16 chipset from 2022 (to remind, last year’s standard models were equipped with the A15 chip).

RAM capacity may remain consistent at 6GB LPDDR5 (all iPhone 14 models featured 6GB). While there’s a possibility of seeing 8GB in the Pro models, it’s unlikely that the 15 and 15 Plus will receive this upgrade.

Toggle Still Present

While the two Pro models will incorporate an Action button inspired by the Apple Watch Ultra, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will continue to feature the toggle. Similar to the Dynamic Island feature, this might be reserved as an upgrade for the two standard models next year.

Outlook

Analysts anticipate that the inclusion of a periscope lens will make the iPhone 15 Pro Max the most sought-after model in the series, potentially accounting for 35-40% of total iPhone 15 orders. This demand is expected to be further bolstered by the superior chipset.

However, there have been reports of Apple encountering issues, and the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro Max may face a delay into October due to alleged challenges in Sony’s production of enough sensors for the periscope module. The other three iPhone 15 models are expected to be available for pre-order almost immediately after their unveiling, perhaps a couple of days later.

As the Pro models gain popularity, the standard models may see reduced demand. Reports indicate that Apple has trimmed production from 83 million to 77 million units for the entire series. This reduction is partly attributed to the production challenges mentioned earlier, but there’s also an expectation of lower demand.

The pricing for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is expected to remain unchanged, while the iPhone 15 Pro is likely to see a $100 price increase. The iPhone 15 Pro Max may experience a price hike of $100 or even $200.