While all iPhone 15 models are going to adopt the USB-C port, there are some design changes that are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature thinner, more curved bezels than the iPhone 14 Pro models, which can be seen in renders of the device created based on circulating details. These deeper curves will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models, and the iPhone 15 models will look like the iPhone 14 models with flatter edges, an aluminum frame, and a glass front and back.
Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro lineup is expected to feature more curved front glass that better disappears into the frame, and Apple is expected to use titanium instead of stainless steel for the chassis. Button design will be tweaked in the Pro models, with Apple adopting solid-state volume and power buttons that would be similar to the Home button in the iPhone 7 and the Force Touch trackpad on MacBooks. As of now, the iPhones use a mechanical button that is physically depressed, but the solid-state button would use haptic feedback to instead mimic the feel of a button press.
If Apple does add solid-state buttons, the iPhone 15 Pro models could have two additional Taptic Engines at the left and right sides of the device. The two new Taptic Engines would join the existing Taptic Engine.
Part leaks and randers
Leaked images of the iPhone 15 confirm many of the rumors that we have heard about the device, including the Dynamic Island and the USB-C port. The leaked photos depict the Dynamic Island, which will expand to all iPhone 15 models in 2023, and they also confirm that the iPhone 15 will have a design that is similar to the iPhone 14 with few changes. Major updates include the transition to USB-C and the addition of the Dynamic Island instead of the notch that’s on the iPhone 14. Other design changes like a deeper curve at the edges and a titanium frame will be limited to iPhone 15 Pro models. Leaked renders have, however, suggested that there could be a slight change to the display size.
Based on CAD drawings of the iPhone 15, the renders from 9to5Mac suggest a display size of 6.2 inches, up slightly from 6.1 inches. There are no other notable design updates, with Apple using the same body design and camera setup. Renders of the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus suggest that it will feature some minor design updates compared to the iPhone 14 Plus, including the Dynamic Island, slimmer bezels, and slight tweaks to the size and thickness of the device. It will feature a Dynamic Island instead of a notch, along with a USB-C port. The camera bump is expected to be thicker, and it could feature slightly rounded edges with a more curved design that allows for a smoother transition from front to back.
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.
USB-C
Apple is swapping the Lightning port on the iPhone 15 devices for a USB-C port, which will allow it to comply with new regulations implemented in Europe. These regulations require Apple to produce iPhones with USB-C ports in Europe, so Apple either needs to make a worldwide design swap or develop special iPhones for sale in Europe. Reliable sources that include Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and others, have said that Apple is going to make the change, adopting a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port for charging purposes. With this transition, the Mac, iPhone, and iPad will all charge using USB-C, allowing Apple customers to charge their devices with one charging standard.
USB-C Data Transfer Speeds
The iPhone 15 Pro models with USB-C ports will support higher-speed data transfers, while the standard iPhone 15 models will continue to feature USB 2.0 speeds, the same as Lightning, giving the Pro models an edge. 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.
USB-C Limitations
The MFi USB-C certification could be used to limit features like fast charging and high-speed data transfers to Apple-approved accessories. ShrimpApplePro says that cables with no MFi certification will be limited in data and charging speed.
Camera Updates
Apple is expected to adopt Sony’s latest “state of the art” image sensors for the iPhone 15 models. Compared to standard sensors, Sony’s image sensor doubles the saturation signal in each pixel, allowing it to capture more light to cut down on underexposure and overexposure. The sensor will allow for improvements in portraits and other images even when strong backlighting is an issue.. Sony is using semiconductor architecture that puts photodiodes and transistors in separate layers, allowing for more photodiodes. It is not clear if all of the iPhone 15 models will use the new sensor technology, 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 rumors about Apple’s plan to adopt a periscope zoom lens for the iPhone 15, but it will be limited to the larger-sized iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 15 Pro will get a standard zoom lens, and the iPhone 15 models will be limited to the Wide and Ultra Wide lenses. Periscope lens technology offers optical zoom capabilities that exceed those possible with a standard telephoto lens, allowing for 5x or 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. With a periscope lens, light is reflected by an angled mirror toward the image sensor in the camera. The directional shift allows for a “folded” telephoto lens system for improved optical zoom capabilities without the blurriness that comes with digital zoom. Apple competitor Samsung has come out with smartphones that use periscope lens technology that enables 4x to 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple will implement 6x optical zoom technology when it adopts the periscope lens.
Qualcomm Modem Chips. Apple will use Qualcomm’s 5G modem chips for the 2023 iPhone 15 lineup, as it has done since 5G iPhones were introduced. There were rumors suggesting that Apple could use its own in-house modem chips as soon as 2023, but the technology won’t be ready until 2024 at the earliest. All iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will use the same Qualcomm modem chip, likely the X70. Qualcomm’s X70 chip offers improved AI for faster processing speeds, a better coverage range, improved signal, lower latency, and up to 60 percent improved power efficiency.
Wi-Fi 6E
Leaked iPhone 15 Wi-Fi chip diagrams. Confirm that Apple is upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E, but it’s a feature that will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature Wi-Fi 6E, but the standard iPhone 15 models will continue to use Wi-Fi6. Compared to Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 6E offers more bandwidth, providing faster connectivity speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi 6E provides 1.2GHz more spectrum in the 6GHz band, and it can support whole home gigabit coverage, multi-gigabit connectivity for venues and it has the bandwidth for higher data streams like those used for AR and VR experiences.
A-Series Chips
The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be the first to feature an A-series chip built on Apple supplier TSMC’s next-generation 3-nanometer node. 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 35 percent. The faster chips will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will adopt the 4-nanometer A16 chip that was first used in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
RAM
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are expected to feature 6GB RAM, which is the same amount of RAM that is in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus.
Release Date
The iPhone 15 models will likely be released in September 2023 if Apple follows its traditional September launch timeline.
Beyond the iPhone 15
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. The 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, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it will not come to the standard iPhone 16 Pro.
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon has said that he believes Apple could introduce a 5G modem chips for the iPhone as soon as 2024, which would see Apple including it in the 2024 iPhone models. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it is “undetermined” whether Apple’s iPhone 16 models will include an Apple-designed modem chip.