The iPhone 15 and all its versions should be official 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 technical sheet? Will the iPhone 15 benefit from new photo sensors? And how much will the iPhone 15 be sold for? Find in this file all the information on the next smartphones from Apple.
Every year, the release of iPhones is an unmissable event in the mobile phone calendar. Whether you are a user of the Apple ecosystem or not, 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 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. Competing brands compare themselves to the American firm.
Two examples perfectly illustrate this. When Apple unveiled the iPhone X , many smartphones adopted a notch in the screen. Dual photosensors became more popular after the release of the iPhone 7 Plus . And when Apple presented the iPhone 12 , several manufacturers were inspired by it 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 particular attention. Number of models. Ergonomic changes. Biometric functions. In this file, we discuss all the changes expected in future smartphones from the Cupertino company . We will update it very regularly. Do not hesitate to come back to consult it!
📅 WHAT 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 be no exception to this rule. The only exception to this rule, in 2020, in the midst of a health crisis, Apple postponed the launch of the iPhone 12 to October.
Everything suggests that Apple would have chosen the date of September 13, 2023 to launch its iPhone 15 . Indeed, according to 9to5Mac 's sources , several mobile operators have asked their employees not to take days off on this date, due to the announcement of a major smartphone.
However, a well-known analyst said production line delays may force Apple to postpone the launch for a month. It even seems that Apple is planning a drop in sales compared to the iPhone 14 , according to sources inside the production chains.
Pre-orders usually open the following Friday (likely September 15) and last for a week. Marketing therefore starts a week and a half after the keynote. So we come to September 22, 2022 . A September launch was corroborated by another report, which claims production started as early as the end of June.
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: iPhone X, iPhone XR, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Plus. If the component crisis and logistical problems extend into 2023, it would not be impossible for one or two versions of the iPhone 14 to be delayed by a few weeks.
📱 HOW MANY VERSIONS OF THE IPHONE 15 WILL THERE BE?
The number of versions 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 kept, 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. According to 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 come in addition to an iPhone 15 Pro Max? Ming Chi Kuo, the famous Taiwanese financial analyst, thinks not. This was originally thought to replace the iPhone 14 Pro Max, but journalist Mark Gurman eventually announced that Apple would consider waiting until 2024 for this “Ultra” model instead . The reveal of the renderings of the future iPhone 16 Pro Max, which therefore will not be released until 2024 seems to corroborate the hypothesis that there will be no Ultra model this year.
Could the iPhone Mini come back? It is not impossible. But it could simply replace the iPhone SE, benefit from a delayed launch at the start of the year (and not in September with the others) and only be renewed every two years. This was the case with the last two models. The next would not arrive until 2024.
Thus, the 2023 iPhone line-up would be this:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
💶 WHAT WILL BE THE PRICES OF THE IPHONE 15?
The price of the iPhone 15 will logically increase. It's mechanical. Energy prices. Logistics price. Component prices. Inflation. All the indicators point to an increase in prices, after relative stability across the Atlantic. This increase should also be more marked in the euro zone, taking taxes into account. However, not all models would be affected.
According to the Taiwanese press, the increase in the price of some iPhone 15s is partly due to the increase in component manufacturing prices, in particular the SoC. That of 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 certain 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 therefore be the first price increase on these models since the release of the iPhone X in 2017. The iPhone 15 Pro would therefore be sold for more than 999 dollars this year.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max would position itself in the ultra premium segment. It would suffer a price increase of between 9% and 18% . Across the Atlantic, it would sell for between $1199 and $1299 , while the launch price of the iPhone 13 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max is $999. Other rumors even announce a price increase of around 50%! If the dollar price of the iPhone 15s increases, obviously the euro price will too. And certainly more. It is possible that we will cross the symbolic threshold of 2000€.
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 from Apple to be sold above 1000 euros in the basic version. And the iPhone 14 Pro Max is the first to offer a version sold for more than 2000 euros. It could well be that the iPhone 15 Pro Max beats new returns, especially if Apple decides to launch a version with 2 TB of storage.
Note, however, that the commercial failure of the iPhone 14 Plus has reshuffled the cards a bit . Apple seems determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. It is rumored that even if the iPhone 15 Ultra is destined to cross a new price threshold , the “non-Pro” iPhone 15s could be offered at lower prices than those of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
Combining all of this information with the inflation we've been experiencing since the start of the year, here's our forecast iPhone 15 price estimate:
- iPhone 15: from 1049 euros
- iPhone 15 Plus: from 1199 euros
- iPhone 15 Pro: from 1579 euros
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: from 1699 euros
💎 WHAT IS THE DESIGN OF THE IPHONE 15?
In 2023, Apple is not expected to drastically change the design of the iPhone 15s. All smartphones are expected to rely on a metal chassis and a mostly mineral glass design. The nature of these elements will change depending on the range. Standard and Plus models are expected to carry over the aluminum of their predecessors. The Pro model would benefit from stainless steel. And the Pro Max 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 in particular a curve between the upper edge 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, thus breaking the Xiaomi 13 Pro record . According to leaker Ice Universe, the latter measure 1.55 mm , information confirmed by the famous journalist Mark Gurman.
Another visual change, but also ergonomic, Apple would have the intention to remove the mechanical buttons of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max . This would affect not only the power button and volume controls, but also the Ring/Silent switch on the left side of the iPhone . They would be replaced by tactile keys associated with two additional haptic motors located behind the side edges, which will also always work when the battery is empty . It's the same technique that Apple used to replace the mechanical version of Touch ID with a tactile version. The other iPhone 15s would retain their physical buttons.
All of 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. Nevertheless, the project seems to have fallen through shortly before the launch of mass production , following manufacturing problems. The volume buttons will not undergo any change, but we will see the arrival of an action button, as confirmed by a shell manufacturer.
The photo module becomes more protruding (which would indicate a change in the photo), the edges are slightly rounded but the screen remains flat.
At the front, we should find screens slightly larger than the generation 14: 6.12 inches for the standard iPhone and the Pro model (compared to 6.06 inches previously) and Pro and 6.7 inches for the iPhone Plus and Pro Max. One of the main changes awaiting the iPhone 15s this year is the switch from notch to double punch on the two cheapest models. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will therefore be equipped this year with the same pill as the current iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.
Samsung will begin production of the screens in May for the standard models , and June for the others. Little chance, on the other hand, that the release date is advanced.
Face ID under the screen is not on the agenda, since a rumor claims that the selfie sensors hidden under the panel will not arrive at Apple before 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. This date is December 28, 2024 . Before this date, manufacturers still have no obligation to include a USB port and can opt for a proprietary port.
Until recently, it seemed obvious that Apple would want to push back 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 props must obtain a license to use this proprietary technology to sell iPhone-compatible products. Apple would therefore 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 integrate a USB-C port. This statement is also not contradictory with the information disclosed by Bloomberg. The financial news agency claimed a few weeks earlier that Apple would not integrate a USB port into its iPhones before 2023 .
However, there is 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 only have a USB 2.0 compatible port. The bandwidth of the first is considerably higher than the second. And the power for recharging could potentially be higher. A technical pirouette that will allow Apple to promote its own cables and continue to reap the financial windfall of the Made For iPhone/iPod/iPad certification.
Leaks concerning the data sheet of the USB-C cables supplied with the iPhone 15 seem to confirm these hypotheses. We thus learn that they would allow a load with a power of 40 to 50W , but a data transfer speed of only 30 MB/s, which is what is expected of USB 2.0 . If this is true, we can easily imagine Apple selling another cable that will allow it to transmit data much faster. The good news is that for charging at least, any USB-C cable will do .
In another register, the brand would have taken the opportunity to improve the quality of its cables. Those of the iPhone 15 would be braided and the same color as that of the mobile with which they will be sold. More resistant, they should be found in the boxes of the 4 versions of the smartphone.
The presence of a USB-C port was confirmed by a photo of a prototype of the iPhone, which embeds the new universal connection. To find out all about the arrival of the USB-C port on the iPhone.
WHAT ARE THE CHANGES IN THE TECHNICAL SHEET OF THE IPHONE 15
Beyond the design, some changes are expected in the technical 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 models and the others.
A NEW A17 PROCESSOR
First element expected: a new processor. It would be called A17 and would replace the A16 Bionic. An A16 that we only find today in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, the cheaper iPhones being content 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 the A16 Bionic.
The A17 will be engraved in 3 nm and not 5 nm. This would not only make her more powerful, but also more effective. The manufacture of this chip should be entrusted to TSMC, the Taiwanese founder. 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 of the A17 Bionic in the Pro and Pro Max models would offer a strong gain in autonomy of between 3 and 4 hours in standard use . In terms of power, a first benchmark would indicate a gross power increase of around 20% compared to the A16 .
FASTER WIFI AND MORE GENEROUS RAM
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, the RAM would also be faster thanks to the use of LPDDR5X modules, a memory intended for machine learning applications.
In terms of connectivity, we should expect the appearance of a new U1 Ultra WideBand chip , which would allow smartphones to offer better communication with the Vision Pro, Apple's new mixed reality headset. However, we should not expect the arrival of Wi-Fi 7 , although the A17 chip is theoretically compatible with the new standard. Apple would reserve that for the iPhone 16. The iPhone 15, however, is expected to be Apple's first Wi-Fi 6E-enabled smartphone .
LARGER BATTERIES AND FASTER WIRELESS CHARGING
At the battery level, Apple would provide capacity increases on all models . The iPhone 15 will have a 3877 mAh battery, which is 18% more compared to the previous generation. The iPhone 15 Plus will be entitled to a 4912 mAh battery. On the side of the iPhone 15 Pro, the gain would be just as important with 3650 mAh. Finally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be equipped with a 4852 mAh battery. We should therefore be entitled to an increase in autonomy over the entire series.
According to informed sources, Apple should lift restrictions on wireless charging , preventing non-MFM-certified chargers from reaching the power of 15W. No need to go through a MagSafe charger to take advantage of fast wireless charging, therefore. Note also that the Cupertino company will probably respect the Qi2 wireless charging protocol, and will therefore theoretically offer real fast wireless charging on the iPhone 15 . This initiative is sure to accelerate the adoption of this standard by all other smartphone manufacturers.
The 5G modem used in the iPhone 15 would still be signed by Qualcomm . This is not a surprise in itself, since the Cupertino company signed a multi-year agreement with the Californian founder to supply smartphone modems to Apple (agreement which followed the legal battle between the two firms in 2017). According to Bloomberg, there will therefore be no Apple modem in the iPhone 15, the firm not managing to obtain a result that suits it. Recall that Apple bought the mobile modem business from Intel .
DYNAMIC ISLAND FOR ALL IPHONE SCREENS
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 the iPhone 15 and no longer only in its most expensive models. The goal would be to visually reharmonize the range, and if the magic island should retain the same appearance, it will nevertheless include certain innovations. It should thus house the proximity sensor which was previously hidden behind the screen of the iPhone 14 Pro.
Please note that certain features would remain exclusive to the Pro and Pro Max 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 models would have an LTPO panel capable of going down to 1 Hz, as is the case today, the other two being satisfied with a more classic LTPS panel.
📸 WHAT'S NEW IN THE IPHONE 15 IN PHOTO
Photography is an area where Apple has always been one of the best. If the firm has lost its luster in recent years, letting some Chinese brands, including Huawei, pass, it has still remained at the top of the basket. The iPhone 15 will therefore very 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 periscopic telephoto lens in premium iPhones . The advantage of such a component is to drastically increase the proposed optical zoom ratio, from 2x or 3x to 5x or 10x, depending on the model. This would therefore offer high-end iPhones the possibility of considerably improving the quality of shots from a distance, by getting even closer to the details. Apple would have chosen a model with 8 lenses offering a 10x optical zoom .
However, the disadvantage of such a system is the space it occupies: only the largest phones are capable of integrating a substantial battery, an efficient heat dissipation system and a periscopic zoom. It is therefore very likely that this periscope zoom only concerns the iPhone 15 Pro Max .
Elsewhere, according to reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple may 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 affirms that there will be no major changes, especially on the Pro and Pro Max 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, backlight or with overexposure in the background. This sensor would expand the dynamic range to naturally improve the colorimetry of the photos.
Apple is rumored to be planning a major camera upgrade for its upcoming iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models. Analysts suggest that the 48-megapixel main sensor introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max could be included in the most affordable iPhone models this year . However, the release of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus might be delayed due to production issues with the camera components.
🤖 WITH THE IPHONE 15, WILL APPLE REALLY TAKE THE AI TURN?
Apple isn't used to being a frontrunner when it comes to technology adoption. The firm is more used to "surfing" on trends, to better upcycle and resell them, preferably with a strong added value. This was true of MP3 players, and smartphones as it may be of Artificial Intelligence. Rumor has it that the iPhone 15 will be the company's first model to take full advantage of AI . Simple rumor or real technological shift? We will know in the very near future, and count on us to keep you informed.
