What to Expect From iPhone 15

Now that we’re past the 2022 holiday season and into 2023, this means that the rumor mill is picking back up again. Apple reportedly has big plans in store for this year, with quite a few new Mac models to be introduced, along with potential updates to other devices in the company’s catalog of products. However, all eyes are still set on what to expect from iPhone 15, which will likely be shown off sometime in September, provided that Apple continues to follow the same schedule from the past few years.

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Changes To The Lineup?

While Apple continues to struggle with sales as it offers four different iPhone models, it seems that we’ll still have four iPhone 15 models to choose from. According to TrendForce, the company “will maintain a four new model release cycle featuring two processors to further differentiate between standard and high-end models”.

This lines up with what Apple offered with the iPhone 14 lineup, as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are powered by the Apple A15 Bionic. Meanwhile, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are powered by the latest Apple A16 Bionic chipsets. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the A16 moved to the two non-Pro iPhone 15 models, with the higher-end options implementing Apple’s “next generation” Bionic processor.

More Expensive

Apple doesn’t usually provide specifics when it comes to the sales figures of specific iPhone models. But reports from industry insiders suggest that the iPhone 14 Plus isn’t performing as well as Apple was hoping. Part of this could likely be attributed to the fact that the iPhone 14 Plus was released later than the standard iPhone 14. But something else to consider is the price difference between the iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro.

As it currently stands, the iPhone 14 Plus with 128GB of storage is available for $899 from Apple. Meanwhile the iPhone 14 Pro with the same storage, but an improved camera array, better display, and faster performance can be had for just $100 more.

One report from HowToiSolve claims that Apple will be raising the price of the iPhone 15 Pro models in an effort to sell more iPhone 15 Plus models. It’s currently unknown just how much of a price increase is going to be on the way, but we can’t imagine that it would be anymore than an additional $100, pricing the iPhone 15 Pro at $999, while leaving the iPhone 15 Plus at $899.

USB-C Finally Comes to iPhone

The Lightning charging port has overstayed its welcome, as the rest of the world has since moved onto USB-C. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using Lightning for charging, but it offers slow transfer speeds and is already being phased out from other Apple products. A move to USB-C would be huge, as this would bring it in line with the latest iPad models, along with the various MacBooks that Apple is currently selling.

But it’s important to note that this isn’t a move that Apple is doing willingly, as recent EU regulations are stipulating that any future iPhone model will be required to have USB-C by 2024. Technically, Apple could wait until the iPhone 16, but many reports claim that Apple will be making the transition with the iPhone 15 instead of holding out for another year.

No More Clicky Buttons (Pro-only)

Did you know that the current generation of iPhone models still rely on “clicky” Side and Volume buttons? If a rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed, there are some big changes on the horizon. According to Kuo, Apple will switch to using “solid-state buttons” with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which will work in tandem with the Taptic Engine to make it feel like you’re still pressing a physical button.

“My latest survey indicates that high-end iPhone 15 models will feature solid-state buttons and will equip with additional Taptic Engines to simulate the feel of physical buttons’ force feedback.

Cirrus Logic is the primary winner for canceling physical buttons and the change to adopt solid-state buttons on the 2H23 high-end iPhone 15 models.

As the exclusive supplier of Taptic Engine’s controller IC for solid-state buttons, Cirrus Logic stands to benefit markedly from this new design. If users respond well to this new design, I think it may be adopted in other high-end models of product lines in the future.”

This technology isn’t ground-breaking, as it’s the same feature that you’ll find with Apple’s Magic Trackpad. Every time you push down and click using the trackpad, you’re not actually moving the trackpad. Instead, it’s a simulated experience and one that removes the concern for the potential of dust or other particles rendering your trackpad useless. Additionally, Kuo claims that these solid-state buttons would likely make their way to future iPhone releases, depending on the “reception” of this implementation with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Replacing the Pro Max With the iPhone 15 Ultra

There have been rumors about an “Ultra” iPhone for the past few years. Until recently, we expected this to be a fifth option added to the yearly upgrade cycle, but recent reports claim that won’t be the case. Instead, Apple is expected to replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the iPhone 15 Ultra, and it’s also possible that this means there are more differences between the Pro and Ultra than just screen size. However, it’s not currently clear what those differences could be.

There are even rumors that Apple is working on a “portless” iPhone, which would solely rely on wireless charging via MagSafe. This would definitely be a sticking point for those who rely on plugging their iPhone’s in to transfer files, so we would suggest taking this rumor with a grain (or bucket) of salt.

More Camera Upgrades

For the first time in what feels like forever, Apple upgraded the camera hardware on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead of using a slightly-tweaked and updated 12MP lens, the main camera on the Pro and Pro Max models now use a 48MP sensor. While we aren’t sure whether Apple will be upgrading the main camera again with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, there are claims that Apple will implement a periscope camera.

It’s possible that this periscope camera will replace the existing 3x telephoto lens, while also aligning the iPhone with the latest Android handsets that already have a periscope lens for greater zoom capabilities.

The Return of Curved Edges

The design first introduced with the iPhone 12 was applauded as it reminded everyone of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S with flat edges, along with a flat back panel. Three iterations later and we still have the same design with the iPhone 14 lineup, with the exception of the Dynamic Island and larger camera housing.

According to ShrimpApplePro and others, Apple is considering making a slight, yet welcome, change to the design for the iPhone 15 lineup. In this latest report, Apple would return to having curved edges on the side rails and back, invoking nostalgia from the iPhone 5C. This would make the iPhone more comfortable to hold in the hand, without feeling like the edges of your iPhone are digging into your palms. However, it’s also possible that these design changes are going to come to the iPhone 15 as there are issues with the supply chain in regards to the way Apple implements MagSafe wireless charging.