Even with the announcement of Apple’s new augmented reality headset, anticipation (and rumours) hasn’t died down for the fall release of Apple’s next iPhone, presumably called the iPhone 15. These rumours, plus the ones from last year EU decision mandating USB-C charging on phones sold in Europe, could mean a number of changes from Apple’s traditional design. Will the iPhone 15 have a USB-C port? Will Apple raise iPhone prices in 2023?? Will it even be called “the iPhone 15”? No one outside of Apple knows for sure, but these reports will certainly fuel our curiosity until Apple hosts the next iPhone event (likely in September). Here are some of the biggest and most credible rumors we’ve seen so far, to paint a picture of what we might see from the iPhone 15.
iPhone 15: Improved Ultra Wideband
According to renowned Apple analyst Ming Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 will run on an upgraded Ultra Wideband (UWB) processor, which Apple calls the U1 chip, to better integrate with the company’s new AR headset, the Vision. Pro. UWB is a short-range wireless communication standard often used to locate objects. It can locate your Apple AirTag or unlock your car when you approach it with your phone. In a recent post on TwitterKuo said it’s all part of Apple’s broader strategy to “build a more competitive ecosystem for Vision Pro.”
iPhone 15: wireless charging upgrade
According to a report published in May by LoadLab, a power-focused website with a consistent track record, all iPhone 15 models will support 15W wireless charging using the Qi2 open standard. If this turns out to be true, it will mean that the iPhone 15 could open up a whole new world of wireless charging devices capable of recharging the device at full speed. Apple previously limited open wireless charging standards to 7.5W, leaving the full 15W charging speed for Apple MagSafe licensed accessories.
iPhone 15 camera: the periscope-style telephoto lens is coming
Noted Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities, forecasts that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will get a periscope-style telephoto lens. This type of telephoto lens allows for higher levels of optical zoom, with Kuo predicting that 6x optical zoom could arrive in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The iPhone 14 Pro Max’s optical zoom is limited to 3x, which lags rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom. This rumor was recently reinforced by a well-known leak source and Twitter user Unknownz21, who said the Pro Max model will come with the special lens.
Learn more: iPhone 14 Pro cameras are a major upgrade
iPhone 15 design: Hello USB-C, goodbye Lightning
This one has been rumored for years, but in 2023 the switch from a Lightning port to a USB-C port could finally happen. This may be due to pressure from the European Union, which has been pushing for a common pricing standard for years. In 2022, the bloc managed to pass legislation requiring Apple to equip its iPhones with USB-C ports by 2024 if it wants to sell them in the EU.
The question is whether Apple will switch all iPhone models to USB-C or only those sold in the EU. Apple is already changing iPhone models regionally, as it did with the iPhone 14: the US version has a Electronic SIM, while other variants retain the SIM slot. However, there are good reasons to move all iPhones to USB-C, according to Techsponential analyst Avi Greengart.
“There are more important ecosystem, security and accessory considerations with the power/data connector, so I think it’s more likely that Apple will move all iPhones (worldwide) to USB-C in time for iPhone 16 to comply with EU regulations,” he said. told CNET in an email.
Learn more: Your next iPhone will probably need a different charging cable
iPhone 15 design: Dynamic Island extends to all models
Apple is expected to continue selling four iPhone models with the iPhone 15 line. Rumors point to a generally similar design across the board, except the iPhone 14 Pro’s shape-shifting cutout, known as the Dynamic Island , should make its way to all models.
This rumor comes from display analyst Ross Young, who also said in a September Tweeter that he doesn’t expect the base iPhone 15 models to have a higher refresh rate like Apple’s iPhone Pros because the supply chain can’t support it.
Learn more: iPhone 14 Pro’s most eye-catching feature makes it look like it’s winking at something else
iPhones have had Lightning ports since the iPhone 5 in 2012. Android phones typically have the slightly larger USB-C.
iPhone 15: Solid-state buttons are coming to iPhone 15 business models
Another prediction from Kuo has made the rounds, but this time the analyst expects Apple to further differentiate its Base and Pro models in the coming years. He expects that to happen by giving iPhone 15 Pro models solid-state volume and power buttons instead of the standard keys found on today’s devices, he said. he writes in a Tweeter in October.
The solid-state buttons, which Kuo says will be similar to the iPhone SE and iPhone 7 home button, mimic the tactile feel of pressing a button using haptic feedback . The apparent advantage of this type of button is that it also protects against water ingress.
Look at this: No real buttons on iPhone 15 Pro? This rumor worries me
Power of the iPhone 15: RAM increase for pro models
According to a Taiwanese research firm trend strength, Pro models in the iPhone 15 lineup will get a RAM boost from 6GB to 8GB to complement the planned A17 Bionic chipset. Base models will continue to receive 6GB of RAM, according to TrendForce. This rumor is also apparently supported by a research report by Haitong International Securities analyst Jeff Pu, according to a MacRumors article, which referenced Pu’s report.
Look at this: iPhone 14 and 14 Pro 3-month review: More to offer
iPhone 15 price: high, high and far?
Prices have risen dramatically since the original iPhone arrived in 2007. And it could happen again in 2023 with the iPhone 15, but not in the way you might think. Pricing for the standard iPhone 15 is currently expected to remain the same, according to analysts who previously spoke with CNET.
However, the upper limit of the price range could be pushed higher if rumors of a luxury iPhone 15 Ultra turn out to be true. Rumored Ultra model could potentially replace iPhone 15 Pro Max next year Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes. This matches Kuo’s predictions, who is waiting for apple to further differentiate between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models. However, other rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 Ultra will be a step up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Prices in the US currently range from $829 for the entry-level iPhone 14 (128GB) model all the way up to $1,599 for the highest-end iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage. According to tipster Revengus, the iPhone 15 Ultra will feature a telephoto lens with a vari-zoom lens, which is the camera setup supposed to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Learn more: What Apple could do with iPhone 15 prices in 2023
iPhone 15 Ultra camera: variable zoom
According to tipster Revengus, the iPhone 15 Ultra will feature a telephoto lens with a vari-zoom lens, which is the camera setup supposed to feature on Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra. Variable optical zoom (continuous zoom) cameras are not commonly found on smartphones for a variety of reasons, including the size and design of phone cameras limit the type of lenses that can be used.
iPhone 15: launch and release schedule
Apple holds its annual iPhone event in September almost every year, so we expect the schedule to stay the same for the iPhone 15. New iPhones usually release soon after, usually on the Friday of the following week . Sometimes Apple staggers release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. It is therefore possible that the iPhone 15 line has more than one release date.
Here’s what we know:
- Apple tends to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 14 event took place on Wednesday, September 7, while its iPhone 13 event took place on Tuesday, September 14.
- iPhone release dates are usually a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.
- Typically, new iPhones come out on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, pre-orders started on September 17 and the phones went on sale on September 24.
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