The iPhone 15 and all its versions should be formalized in September 2023, a year after the arrival of the iPhone 14. What are the changes in the range? Will there be a new design? What’s new on the data sheet? Will the iPhone 15 benefit from new photo sensors? And how much will the iPhone 15 be sold? Find in this folder all the information on the next smartphones of Apple.
Every year, the release of the iPhone is an unmissable event in the mobile phone calendar. Whether or not you are a user of Apple’s ecosystem, whether you love or hate iOS, the arrival of the iPhone lays the foundation for what many other manufacturers will offer in the months or years to come. Apple’s smartphones are not necessarily the best in all categories. They are not always the first to adopt a technology. But they are always precursors of fashions. The competing brands compare themselves to the American firm.
Two examples illustrate this perfectly. When Apple unveiled the iPhone X, many smartphones adopted a notch in the screen. Dual photo sensors became more popular after the release of the iPhone 7 Plus. And when Apple presented the iPhone 12, several manufacturers were inspired to market phones with more angular ergonomics (Oppo Reno 6, Vivo V23, etc.). Even if the changes made are less “visible”, the iPhone 13 and 14 are no exception to the rule: satellite communication, cinematic video mode, etc.
While several months still separate us from their launch, the iPhone 15 are already the subject of special attention. Number of models. Ergonomic changes. Biometric functions. In this dossier, we discuss all the expected changes in the future smartphones of the Cupertino firm. We will update it very regularly. Do not hesitate to consult it regularly.
HOW MANY VARIATIONS OF THE IPHONE 15 WILL THERE BE?
The number of variations of the iPhone 15 is not yet known. The 2023 line-up should logically consist of four elements. A standard model. A Pro model. The Plus model could be retained, although interest in this model seems to have been moderate, according to some studies. Finally, rumors evoke the arrival of an ultra premium model.
The exact name of this latest model is not yet certain. Among the recurring rumors, it could be called “iPhone 15 Ultra”. It is a suffix that the brand uses more and more. We have the M1 Ultra processor. We have the Apple Watch Ultra. And we would have an iPhone 15 Ultra. Will the iPhone 15 Ultra complement an iPhone 15 Pro Max? Ming Chi Kuo, the famous Taiwanese financial analyst, believes that it is not. It was originally thought that this one would replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but journalist Mark Gurman finally announced that Apple would instead consider waiting until 2024 for this “Ultra” model.
Could the iPhone Mini return? It is not impossible. But it could simply replace the iPhone SE, benefit from a delayed launch at the beginning of the year and be renewed only every two years. This was the case with the last two models. The next one would not arrive until 2024.
WHEN IS THE IPHONE 15 RELEASE DATE?
The iPhone 15 could be released on September 23, 2023, according to analyst Jeff Pu. Apple has indeed accustomed consumers to a launch of its new smartphones around the start of the school year, and the next models should not be an exception to this rule. The only exception to this rule, in 2020, in the midst of a health crisis, Apple has postponed the launch of the iPhone 12 in October.
Nevertheless, keynotes usually take place on a Tuesday or even a Wednesday. In 2023, other likely dates would be Tuesdays, September 5 and 12, or September 6 and 13. Pre-orders are usually open the following Friday (September 8 or 15 to use our assumptions) and last for a week. Marketing starts a week and a half after the keynote. So we arrive on September 15 or 22, 2022.
It is possible that one of the smartphones is not available at the same time as the others. Several examples show that Apple no longer hesitates to postpone a commercial launch: the iPhone X, the iPhone XR, the iPhone 12 Mini, the iPhone 12 Pro Max and the iPhone 14 Plus. If the component crisis and logistical problems extend into 2023, it would not be impossible that one or two versions of the iPhone 14 would be postponed by a few weeks.
WHAT WILL BE THE PRICES OF THE IPHONE 15?
The price of the iPhone 15 will logically undergo an increase. It’s mechanical. Energy prices. Logistics price. Price of components. Inflation. All indicators point to an increase in prices, after relative stability on the other side of the Atlantic. This increase should also be more marked in the euro area, taking into account taxes. However, not all models would be affected.
According to the Taiwanese press, the increase in the price of some iPhone 15 would be partly due to the increase in manufacturing prices of components, including the SoC. The iPhone has been produced by TSMC for several years. However, rumors claim that Apple will choose a 3 nm engraving for the SoCs of some iPhone 15. The source of this leak claims that TSMC charges 25% more for components engraved in 3 nm than those in 5 nm (A14, A15 and A16).
According to Jeff Pu, Apple is expected to increase the prices of its iPhone 15 Pro across the Atlantic due to major hardware upgrades. This would be the first price increase on these models since the release of the iPhone X in 2017. The iPhone 15 Pro would be sold at more than $ 999 this year.
The hypothetical iPhone 15 Ultra, a possible successor to the iPhone 14 Pro Max, would be positioned in the ultra premium segment. It would suffer an increase in its price of between 9% and 18%. Across the Atlantic, it would sell between $ 1199 and $ 1299, while the launch price of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max is $ 999. If the dollar price of the iPhone 15 increases, it is obvious that the price in euros will too. And certainly more.
As a reminder, the price of the iPhone 14 ranges from 1019 euros for the iPhone 14 with 128 GB of storage to 2129 euros for the iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1 TB of storage. The iPhone 14 is the first standard model of Apple to be sold above 1000 euros in basic version. And the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the first to offer a version sold at more than 2000 euros.
It should be noted, however, that the commercial failure of the iPhone 14 Plus has reshuffled the cards a little. Apple seems determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. It is rumored that even if the iPhone 15 Ultra is intended to cross a new price level, the iPhone 15 “non-Pro” could be offered at lower prices than the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
WHAT IS THE DESIGN OF THE IPHONE 15?
In 2023, Apple is not expected to radically change the design of the iPhone 15. All smartphones should rely on a metal chassis and a design made mainly of mineral glass. The nature of these elements will change depending on the range. The standard and Plus models should take the aluminum of their predecessors. The Pro model would benefit from stainless steel. And the hypothetical Ultra model would have titanium for its chassis.
Another visual change, Apple would have reworked the back of the smartphone. Some borders would no longer be straight, but rounded. The visual opposite shows a curve between the top border of the phone (above the photo module) and the metal edge. This would mean that the mineral glass is also curved. Another notable change: these borders would be the thinnest in the world, beating the record of the Xiaomi 13 Pro. According to the leaker Ice Universe, the latter measure 1.55 mm.
Another visual change, but also ergonomic, Apple reportedly intends to remove the mechanical buttons from the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max / Ultra. This would affect not only the power button and volume controls, but also the Ringtone/Silent switch on the left side of the iPhone. They would be replaced by touch keys associated with two additional haptic motors located behind the side slices, which will still work when the battery is empty. This is the same technique that Apple used to replace the mechanical version of Touch ID with a touch version. The other iPhone 15s would retain their physical buttons.
All these changes were eventually confirmed by CAD files, which were sent to various hull manufacturers. There is not only a USB-C port at the bottom of the device, but also other more subtle changes.
The photo module becomes more protruding (which would indicate a change in the photo), the slices are slightly rounded but the screen remains flat.
At the front, we should find slightly larger screens than the 14 generation: 6.12 inches for the standard iPhone and Pro model (against 6.06 inches previously) and Pro and 6.7 inches for the iPhone Plus and Ultra (or Pro Max). One of the main changes that awaits the iPhone 15 this year is the switch from notch to double punch on the two cheapest models. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will be equipped this year with the same pill as the current iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
Samsung will start production of the screens in May for standard models, and June for others. Little chance, on the other hand, that the release date will be brought forward.
Face ID under the screen is not on the agenda, since a rumor claims that the selfie sensors hidden under the slab would not arrive at Apple until 2024.
WILL THE IPHONE 15 BE USB-C OR LIGHTNING COMPATIBLE?
After several years of waiting, the European Union has finally announced the date from which all rechargeable electronic products, including smartphones, must be equipped with a USB port for charging or data transfer. That date is December 28, 2024. Prior to this date, manufacturers are still under no obligation to include a USB port and can opt for a proprietary port.
Until recently, it seemed obvious that Apple would like to postpone the adoption of the USB port as much as possible, because the firm makes a lot of money thanks to the Lightning port. Indeed, all accessorists must obtain a license to use this proprietary technology to sell iPhone-compatible products. Apple would still have a year before deciding to comply.
However, to everyone’s surprise, Apple could take the lead. Financial analyst Ming Chi Kuo indicates in one of his financial notes that the iPhone 15 could all incorporate a USB-C port. This statement is not contradictory with the information revealed by Bloomberg. The financial news agency claimed a few weeks earlier that Apple would not integrate a USB port in its iPhone before 2023.
There is, however, a subtlety to remember: if the port is physically identical between the different iPhone models, the USB standard used would not be the same for everyone, in order to segment the models and justify the price differences. The Pro models would have a USB 3.2 compatible port and the standard and Plus models would settle for a USB 2.0 compatible port. The bandwidth of the former is considerably higher than the latter. And the power for charging could potentially be higher. A technical pirouette that will allow Apple to favor its own cables and continue to reap the financial windfall of the Made For iPhone/iPod/iPad certification.
The presence of a USB-C port was confirmed by a photo of a prototype of the iPhone, which embeds the new universal connectivity. To know everything about the arrival of the USB-C port on iPhones, you can read our complete file on this subject.
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN THE IPHONE 15 SPEC SHEET
Beyond the design, some changes are expected in the data sheet. Processor. Battery. Modem. Display technology: Apple will take the opportunity to improve the experience for all smartphones, although a noticeable difference is still to be expected between the Pro / Ultra models and the others.
First expected element: a new processor. It would be called A17 and would replace the A16 Bionic. An A16 that we find today only in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, the cheaper iPhone being satisfied with the chipset of the previous year, the A15 Bionic. According to a leak from the social network Weibo, Apple would opt for the same strategy in 2023: the A17 Bionic processor would only be intended for the most expensive models, the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The other models should inherit from the A16 Bionic.
The A17 would be engraved in 3 nm and not 5 nm. This would not only make it more powerful, but also more effective. The manufacture of this chip should be entrusted to TSMC, the Taiwanese foundry. Apple has been using TSMC’s know-how for several years to produce the heart of its smartphones. The arrival of the A16 Bionic in the standard and Plus models and the A17 Bionic in the Pro and Pro Max / Ultra models would offer a strong gain in autonomy of between 3 and 4 hours in standard use. The leaks do not specify whether this also involves strengthening the batteries. In any case, well-informed sources say that the efficiency gain could be in the order of 35%. In terms of power, a first benchmark would indicate a gross power increase of about 20% compared to the A16.
The 5G modem used in the iPhone 15 would still be signed Qualcomm. This is not a surprise in itself, since the Cupertino firm has signed a multi-year agreement with the Californian foundry to supply smartphone modems to Apple (agreement that followed the legal battle between the two firms in 2017). According to Bloomberg, there will be no Apple modem in the iPhone 15, the firm failing to get a result that suits it. Recall that Apple has bought the mobile modem business from Intel. Finally, in terms of connectivity, the iPhone 15 should be the first smartphone compatible with Wi-Fi 6E from Apple.
On the screen side, according to Ross Young, an analyst specializing in the screen market, Apple would have planned to integrate Dynamic Island in all iPhone 15 and not only in its most expensive models. The goal would be to visually reharmonize the range, and if the magic island should keep the same appearance, it will nevertheless include some innovations. It should thus house the proximity sensor that was previously hidden behind the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro. Be careful, some features would remain exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max / Ultra models: the 120 Hz refresh rate, for example, would not be applied to the standard and Plus models. In addition, the Pro and Pro Max / Ultra models would have an LTPO panel capable of going down to 1 Hz, as is the case today, the other two being content with a more conventional LTPS panel.
Still concerning the Premium models, the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max would also be equipped with 33% more RAM (from 6 to 8 GB). In addition, RAM would also be faster thanks to the use of LPDDR5X strips, a memory intended for machine learning applications.
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES FOR THE IPHONE 15 IN PHOTO
Photography is an area where Apple has always been among the best. If the firm has lost its superb in recent years, letting pass in front of some Chinese brands, including Huawei, it has still remained at the top of the basket. The iPhone 15 will therefore logically benefit from this heritage with some expected improvements, especially for the most expensive models.
One of the long-announced changes is the arrival of a periscope telephoto lens in premium iPhones. The advantage of such a component is to drastically increase the optical zoom ratio offered, from 2x or 3x to 5x or 10x, depending on the model. This would therefore offer the high-end iPhones the opportunity to significantly improve the quality of remote shots, getting even closer to detail. Apple would have chosen a model with 8 lenses offering a 10x optical zoom.
However, the disadvantage of such a system is the place it occupies: only the largest phones are able to integrate a large battery, an efficient heat dissipation system and a periscope zoom. It is therefore very likely that this periscope zoom only concerns the iPhone 15 Ultra / Pro Max.
In addition, according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple could opt for a more powerful LiDAR sensor on the iPhone 15 Pro. This time, the manufacturer would trust Sony and its VCSEL sensor, a less energy-consuming lens and which would therefore improve the autonomy of the smartphone. In addition, this sensor would offer better performance in ToF.
On the other hand, on the main sensor, Ming Chi Kuo claims that there will be no major changes, especially on the Pro and Pro Max/Ultra models. The main sensor will remain a 48-megapixel model. It could be a reworked version by Sony that will improve shots in complex light conditions, such as low light, backlighting or with overexposure in the background. This sensor would expand the dynamic range to naturally improve the colorimetry of photos.
If the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus should not, a priori, take advantage of the new generation of photo sensor, it is rumored that they could be equipped with the same main sensor of 48 MP as their most prestigious big brothers. It remains to be seen whether the historic 12-megapixel sensor will finally be improved. Finally, the lens should be identical (f/1.8 aperture, focal length equivalent to 24 mm, 7 lenses). Some rumors claimed that a lens with 8 lenses (to improve light capture and reduce aberrations) would be planned. But that would not be the case.