IPhone 15: Launch Date, Features And All Rumors

The iPhone 15 is creating a buzz in the tech world, and we’re keeping track of all the rumors and leaks surrounding its design and features.

One of the most significant changes expected is the shift to USB-C charging, replacing the Lightning port. The new iPhone could also have a more rounded design to improve its ergonomics and comfort.

Apple appears to be maintaining a wide gap between the regular and Pro models, with only the iPhone 15 Pro series anticipated to feature a periscope zoom lens. However, there’s speculation of an upcoming iPhone 15 Ultra, potentially featuring a titanium design for added durability. It’s important to note that rumors suggest the iPhone Ultra may not arrive until 2024.

Stay up-to-date on the latest iPhone 15 news and developments by following our updates. We’re excited to see what Apple has in store for its highly anticipated release.

iPhone 15 release date predictions

As we eagerly anticipate the release of Apple’s new iPhone 15, the rumors about its launch date continue to circulate. Based on Apple’s past pattern of release dates, it’s safe to assume that the iPhone 15 will likely arrive in September 2023, following the typical ten-day gap between announcement and release. Pre-orders usually open one week ahead of the launch date, so we could see the iPhone 15 on sale as early as September 22/23.

However, there is an interesting twist this time around. Reports suggest that trial production has already started for the iPhone 15 series, a full month earlier than the usual schedule. This could be due to Apple’s plans for mass production in India and China. While it’s uncertain whether this means an earlier launch, it’s still safe to expect the usual September unveiling until we hear otherwise.

It’s worth noting that the iPhone 15 release will follow the tradition of Apple’s flagship smartphones being announced in September, except for the one time in October 2020 due to the pandemic. With the anticipation building up, it’s only a matter of time before Apple announces the official launch date for the highly anticipated iPhone 15.

Design

iPhone 15 Design Leaks Hint at Curved Bezels, New Camera Bump, and Dynamic Island

Exciting rumors are circulating about the iPhone 15, Apple’s highly anticipated smartphone expected to be released in 2023. According to several design leaks, the iPhone 15 could feature a curved design reminiscent of the iPhone 11 Pro Max, with thinner, curved bezels around the flat-edge display. This would be a departure from the design of the latest iPhones, and could make the iPhone 15 more comfortable to hold and use.

Another rumored design change is a new camera bump on the back of the iPhone 15. While details are scarce, the bump is said to be larger and thicker than before, potentially accommodating new camera features and sensors. The display itself may also have a slight slant to it to work with the new design, which could make it challenging to apply aftermarket screen protectors.

One exciting new feature that could come with all iPhone 15 models is the Dynamic Island, according to prominent tech journalist Mark Gurman. This morphing camera cutout/display feature would enable developers to create more apps that adapt to the changing shape of the camera, expanding the iPhone’s capabilities. Alleged real-life photos of the standard iPhone 15 seem to back up this rumor, but as always, these leaks should be taken with a grain of salt.

Based on CAD files, renders of the iPhone 15 Plus show a Dynamic Island replacing the notch found on the iPhone 14 Plus, as well as the replacement of the Lightning port with USB-C. However, it’s still early days for iPhone 15 rumors, and these designs could change or be shelved completely.

Similarly, fresh CAD-based renders for the iPhone 15 Pro Max show slightly thicker sides but a smaller overall camera module, as well as hints of solid-state or haptic buttons. It’s unclear if these new buttons will be exclusive to the Pro range or available on the entry-level iPhone 15.

While rumors abound about new features and design changes, some things may stay the same. For example, Gurman claims that Apple has no plans to bring back Touch ID for flagship iPhones anytime soon, instead opting for Face ID as the only option in 2023 and beyond. However, there are rumors of in-display Touch ID or power button Touch ID being tested.

Another exciting possibility is solid-state buttons, which could make the iPhone 15 more durable by reducing the number of moving parts exposed to external elements. Rumors suggest that two high-end iPhone 15s could feature solid-state buttons, similar to the home button found in the iPhone SE, and that extra Taptic Engine vibration motors could provide feedback for these buttons.

Finally, some sources suggest that the back panel of the iPhone 15 could have curved edges, similar to the old iPhone 5C. This could make the phone more comfortable to hold and add to its overall design appeal.

While these rumors are not confirmed, they give us a tantalizing glimpse of what the iPhone 15 could offer. As always, it’s important to take these leaks with a grain of salt, but it’s clear that Apple is working on exciting new features and design elements for its next flagship smartphone.

iPhone 15 displays

Anticipated by many, Apple is expected to release four new models for the iPhone 15 series, including the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro with 6.1-inch OLED panels, and the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max featuring 6.7-inch screens. However, recent leaks suggest that the iPhone 15 may sport a 6.2-inch display, deviating from Apple’s usual form.

Adding to the excitement, rumors have surfaced that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will feature Dynamic Islands, replacing the notches, and all four models will have slightly curved bezels. Meanwhile, sources indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could flaunt a stunning 2,500-nit display, surpassing its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, and potentially setting a new benchmark in phone display technology.

On the other hand, Apple is reportedly sticking to 60Hz displays for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which is a letdown as most modern smartphones offer a 90Hz refresh rate or higher. However, there is some good news as Apple may upgrade the iPhone 15 series’ display driver chip to a smaller and more efficient process, potentially resulting in improved battery life without having to increase the battery capacity.

iPhone 15 camera

The buzz around the upcoming iPhone 15 centers on a possible upgrade to its camera. Industry insiders speculate that the new iPhone may feature a periscope camera with improved lenses, enabling better quality photos and long-range photography. This is a feature that Android phones on our “best camera phones” list have had for a while, so it would be exciting to see Apple introduce this capability. It’s likely that the periscope camera may be initially exclusive to the Pro models if it is introduced at all in 2023.

Nomura analysts anticipate that the basic iPhone 15 will have a Pro-like camera. Their note suggests that the main camera’s width will be upgraded to 48MP, with an image sensor size of 1/1.5″, which is slightly smaller than the iPhone 14 Pro’s sensor size, but much better than the iPhone 14’s 12MP sensor.

Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst, believes that Apple will give unique features to its Pro models and could be looking to upsell its larger 6.7-inch handsets with exclusive features over the smaller models. While there is no certainty on what these features could be, a periscope camera could be an iPhone 15 Pro Max-only feature in an effort to upsell.

According to reports from Nikkei, Apple is working with Sony on the iPhone 15’s main camera, choosing Sony’s new “state-of-the-art” sensor. This sensor can double the pixel saturation, which means that the iPhone 15 may have better exposure controls. iPhones have struggled with exposure controls, making this a welcome improvement. It is unclear if this upgrade will be exclusive to the Pro/Ultra models.

An upgrade may also be on the way for the iPhone 15 Pro’s LiDAR sensor. Apple is allegedly moving suppliers for the AR/portrait mode auxiliary sensor, which may enhance efficiency or improve performance for those specific camera modes.

iPhone 15 expected specs

There are whispers in the tech community about the upcoming iPhone 15 models, and while some of it seems quite probable, other bits may just be hopeful hearsay. Let’s dive into what we know so far.

It’s highly likely that the iPhone 15 Pro will be equipped with the latest A17 chipset, while the regular iPhone 15 might have an upgraded version of the A16. This is based on the fact that only the iPhone 14 Pro models had the A16 chipset, while the standard iPhone 14 boasted a slightly enhanced A15 chipset. We can expect this trend to continue.

According to a report by TrendForce, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may retain the A16 Bionic CPU, leaving the rumored A17 chipset for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra) models.

Additionally, TrendForce suggests that Apple is looking to increase the RAM capacity and specifications for the iPhone 15. The Pro models could have up to 8GB of total RAM, while the iPhone 15 might have LPDDR5 RAM. However, the report doesn’t specify, so we can only speculate at this point.

Apple 5G modem

In a bid to take control of its device experience, Apple has a tumultuous past with modems, which led the company to develop its own. Following Intel’s departure from the modem business, Apple swooped in and acquired it.

While Apple has been relying on Qualcomm to provide 5G modems for the iPhone in the meantime, this partnership may be extended longer than originally planned. Recent reports suggest that Apple has ceased the development of its own Wi-Fi and cellular chips, indicating a preference for working with external vendors.

By including the modem in its stack, Apple aims to offer users a seamless experience from top to bottom. Not only will it be cost-effective to use in-house modems, but Apple will also be able to integrate modem technology into its custom Apple Silicon more effectively.

While it is speculated that Apple may continue to use third-party vendors for its modem technology, the company is expected to resume the development of its own wireless chipsets following the completion of the 3nm move for A17 and M3.

CPU performance and features

In 2021, ARM unveiled its v9 architecture, and tech enthusiasts anticipated that Apple’s A16 chip would support it. However, the A16 featured ARM v8.6 with Apple’s customized extensions. With the higher transistor budget this year, Apple is likely to incorporate ARM v9 support.

So, what benefits does the ARM v9 architecture offer? Apple designs its own CPU cores, and they have already integrated many of the v9 architecture’s performance advantages and ARM extensions. Although many believe that ARM v9 provides a 30% performance boost over v8, this is true only for ARM’s own core designs and not for custom extensions. Apple’s A15 chip significantly outperformed Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, which was one of the first high-end smartphone CPUs with ARM’s Cortex-X2 core and ARM v9 support.

While the new CPU cores for the A17 will undoubtedly be faster, it won’t be solely because of the shift to ARM v9. The instruction set, branch prediction, instruction decode, execution units, cache structure and size, clock speeds, and many other factors also influence CPU core performance.

Apple is unlikely to go beyond the 4 efficiency cores and 2 performance cores that they have been using since the A11 Bionic. However, we can expect at least a 15% performance boost. Based on previous years’ CPU performance improvements, we can anticipate a Geekbench 5 single-core score between 2,100 and 2,200 and a multi-core score of just over 6,000 for the A17.

Geekbench 6’s recent release makes it difficult to project, but a single-core score of over 2,800 and a multi-core score of 7,300 or more is possible. Although a recent leak claimed a single-core score of 3019 and a multi-core score of 7,860, it’s likely just speculation since early numbers are usually inaccurate.

Compared to other processors, the A17’s single-core score is similar to the latest Ryzen high-end desktop CPUs and 13th-gen Core i7 Intel processors, but its multi-core score is lower because of its two high-performance cores compared to 12 or more in those desktop processors. The A16 already outperforms Android phones with the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, and the A17 should widen the gap further.

Over the years, Apple’s CPU performance has shown steady improvement, regardless of big architectural changes or manufacturing process leaps. We can expect similar improvement this year.

GPU performance and features

The A17 chip from Apple is generating buzz in the tech world, particularly in terms of its GPU capabilities. With each new A-series chip, Apple has delivered an average 20% boost in GPU performance, though sometimes up to 30%. However, the GPU’s feature set has remained relatively stagnant, with minor enhancements such as variable rasterization rates and SIMD improvements for GPU compute. As a result, Apple’s GPU technology still lags behind desktop GPUs in key features like ray tracing acceleration.

Rumors suggest that the A16 was initially intended to have a major GPU architecture, but it wasn’t ready in time, resulting in the same GPU as the A15 being used (with improved memory bandwidth for better performance). While this is unconfirmed, the fact that Apple has not updated its Metal feature set tables for developers to include the A16 speaks volumes.

The A17 is expected to feature an updated GPU architecture, with possible inclusion of advanced features like ray tracing acceleration. This will not only benefit iPhones but also future M-series Mac processors, which currently lack such advanced GPU capabilities.

We can anticipate notable improvements in GPU performance, particularly in 3D games and applications that rely heavily on the GPU for computation. When there’s a change in architecture, speed gains can vary – some applications will see significant performance boosts, while others may not.

If the A17 chip delivers the expected 20% speed improvement, it could result in an impressive Geekbench 5 GPU compute score of over 18,000. However, it’s important to note that this benchmark measures computational performance and not the GPU’s ability to render 3D graphics.

For 3D graphics, a 20% speed improvement could mean the modern 3DMark Wild Life Unlimited test runs at around 88fps, up from 74fps on the A16. This would put Apple slightly ahead of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, which currently outperforms the A16 in this and other 3D graphics tests.

GPU performance can vary significantly from year to year, unlike CPU improvements. The A16’s improvement over the A15 was relatively modest, mainly due to slight clock speed enhancements and improved memory bandwidth. With a possible new GPU architecture and significant manufacturing process improvements, the A17 chip could see a much larger leap in performance.

The media engine is often associated with the GPU, making this a suitable opportunity to mention our hope for hardware acceleration for the AV1 format. It’s currently present in most new-generation PC GPUs, and we expect Apple to invest in optimizing encoders for H.264, HEVC, and ProRes formats to further enhance performance and power efficiency.

iPhone 15 and USB-C

The iPhone 15 is one of the most highly anticipated smartphones of 2023, and the biggest rumor so far is that Apple is finally ditching the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. This move was somewhat expected, considering that the EU has mandated that all smartphones must use USB-C by 2024. So, it’s not a question of whether or not Apple will adopt USB-C, but rather when.

Leaked images of a test unit of the iPhone 15 seem to confirm this rumor, as the port in these images looks nothing like the Lightning port of previous iPhones. Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable Apple analyst, believes that the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models will have the same data transfer speeds as current Lightning iPhones, while only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature faster speeds thanks to their USB-C ports.

There is a potential complication, however. A report on Chinese site Weibo suggests that Apple may limit some USB-C functions to accessories that it approves, similar to the Made for iPhone program it has for Lightning accessories. This speculation suggests that faster data transfer speeds would only be available for accessories certified by Apple.

Leaker ShrimpApplePro has confirmed these rumors, stating that USB-C with MFi is happening, and that Foxconn is already in mass production with accessories like EarPods and cables. This strategy may allow Apple to take advantage of an open standard while ensuring optimal performance and generating more revenue. However, this approach could potentially be illegal according to EU law.

Regardless of what happens with individual models, the adoption of USB-C is a significant development for iPhone users. And with the iPhone 15 set to launch in 2023, we can expect many more rumors and leaks in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates on this highly anticipated smartphone!

iPhone 15 price speculation

The rumor mill was churning with speculation that the iPhone 14 would come with a hefty 15% price increase. However, this turned out to be false – but only for those living in the United States. Other regions saw a significant rise in prices, while the US only witnessed the elimination of the most affordable ‘mini’ model.

Currently, prices for the iPhone 14 range from $799 for the entry-level 128GB model to a whopping $1,599 for the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s expected that the upcoming iPhone 15 will follow a similar pricing structure, but it’s also possible that the US may see the price increase that they missed out on last year.

According to analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 15 Pro may see a $100 price hike due to more advanced features. If this turns out to be true, the iPhone 15 Pro would be priced at over $1,000, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max costing as much as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, it’s unclear if this price increase will apply to other regions like the UK and Australia.

On the other hand, there’s a possibility that Apple may lower costs for the iPhone 15 in response to underwhelming sales of the iPhone 14 Plus. A Korean blog, Naver, suggests that Apple may adjust pricing to make its lower-cost iPhones more attractive to value-seeking shoppers.