As time progresses, we are getting closer to the launch of Apple’s new flagship smartphone, the iPhone 15. There is a growing buzz around the device, with market anticipation and ongoing discussions about its various configurations and features.
According to the latest supply chain news, the iPhone 15 will adopt a “stacked battery” technology, which is expected to enhance battery life and reduce heat generation. This design is sure to improve the iPhone’s battery performance, allowing users to enjoy longer usage without needing frequent recharges.
The stacked battery design increases the overall battery capacity while enhancing stability. It effectively manages heat, mitigating the impact of overheating on battery life and ultimately boosting the battery’s longevity.
Today, we will summarize 18 major rumors surrounding the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro.
01. Four Models, Two Sizes for the iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 lineup will likely continue from the iPhone 14, featuring two sizes: 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. The models will include the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as well as the pro versions, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The specific size configurations are as follows:
- 6.1 inches: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro
- 6.7 inches: iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro Max
Moreover, reports suggest that due to narrower bezels, the dimensions of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro could increase from 6.1 inches to 6.2 inches.
02. iPhone 15 Pro Max May Be Renamed to iPhone 15 Ultra
There have been rumors suggesting that due to the naming conventions of the Apple Watch Ultra, Apple might rename the iPhone 15 Pro Max to iPhone 15 Ultra. However, there is yet to be any confirmation regarding the naming conventions for the iPhone 15.
03. iPhone 15 Pro Features a Titanium Alloy Frame
According to multiple foreign media reports, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a completely new titanium alloy frame, differing from the current stainless steel frame material. The Apple Watch Ultra serves as a point of reference, as it is also made with titanium.
The titanium material for the iPhone 15 Pro offers several advantages compared to the stainless steel used on the iPhone 14 Pro:
- More resistant to bending;
- Excellent corrosion resistance;
- Lighter in weight;
- The matte finish on the titanium alloy reduces fingerprint smudging.
04. iPhone 15 Features a Semi-Circular Edge Design
Reports indicate that Apple may change the flat-edge design used since the iPhone 12 in favor of a new rounded-edge design for the iPhone 15.
05. iPhone 15 Pro Features Ultra-Narrow Bezels
Preliminary CAD design images suggest that the iPhone 15 Pro will feature the narrowest bezels in its history, measuring just 1.55mm between the bezel and the display. This design is expected to enhance the visual experience by maximizing screen real estate.
06. iPhone 15 Color Options Across the Series
Apple introduces new colors for each new iPhone, and this year the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to feature a wine red color with the code #410D0D, replacing the deep purple of the iPhone 14 Pro.
07. iPhone 15 Changes the Mute Switch to an Action Button
Recent reports indicate that the iPhone 15 Pro’s mute switch will no longer be a sliding switch; instead, it will be transformed into a button that corresponds to multiple functions. For example, this button can be used in combination with the side button to restart or power off the iPhone. It can also be used as a shutter for taking photos, as well as for focusing.
08. iPhone 15 Retains Traditional Physical Buttons Instead of Solid-State Buttons
In early rumors, Apple planned to change the physical buttons on the iPhone 15, such as the volume and mute buttons, to solid-state buttons, which would operate in a non-physical manner. Users would feel simulated feedback when pressing these solid-state buttons, executing their corresponding actions.
The benefit of solid-state buttons is improved water resistance, but they require power for the Taptic Engine to provide feedback, which could result in increased power consumption.
However, this plan seems to have been abandoned due to some technical challenges, allowing the decision to revert to traditional buttons before entering mass production for the iPhone 15 Pro. This impacts the previous rumors that indicated the volume buttons would be merged into a single elongated button, as the design will still feature two traditional volume buttons.
09. iPhone 15 Series Eliminates Notch and Uses Dynamic Island
Apple introduced the Dynamic Island feature in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max as a replacement for the traditional notch design. This change created significant buzz during the launch, with many people buying the iPhone 14 Pro simply for this feature.
According to early leaks, all four iPhone 15 models—iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max—will feature the Dynamic Island design, with leaked photos showing the absence of a notch. This implies that Apple will extend the use of Dynamic Island across the iPhone 15 lineup, providing users with a wider display and the convenience of the feature.
However, the adaptive 120Hz refresh rate and always-on display features will remain exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
10. iPhone 15 Series Transitions to USB-C from Lightning
To comply with EU legislation, starting in 2024, electronic devices sold in the EU must use USB-C ports for charging. Accordingly, all four iPhone 15 models are anticipated to transition from Lightning to USB-C charging ports.
Latest reports also suggest that Apple may offer USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This means speeds could reach 20Gbps, and potentially up to 40Gbps if Thunderbolt is implemented.
While the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will also feature USB-C ports, their speeds could be limited to only 480Mbps—equivalent to USB 2.0 and the now-obsolete Lightning standard.
Additionally, there are indications that Apple may slow down charging for products not using MFi certification, and EU regulators have warned Apple against such practices.
11. iPhone 15 to Feature Both A17 and A16 Chips
This is a point that is almost confirmed. Following the trend seen with the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will utilize the A17 chip, fabricated with TSMC’s latest 3nm technology. Engineering tests show that the A17 chip has improved single-core performance by 59% and multi-core performance by 40% over the A16 chip.
In contrast, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be equipped with the A16 chip used in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. This trend suggests that in Apple’s recent product positioning, the Pro series will always use the latest chips, while the standard models will utilize the previous generation’s chips.
12. iPhone 15 Memory Increased to 8GB
In terms of memory, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be upgraded to 8GB of RAM, while the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will retain 6GB of RAM but will upgrade from LPDDR4X to LPDDR5.
This enhancement is expected to improve overall device performance, allowing users to run applications and multitask more smoothly.
| Standard iPhone | Pro iPhone | |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 | 6GB LPDDR4X | 6GB LPDDR5 |
| iPhone 15 | 6GB LPDDR5 | 8GB LPDDR5 |
13. iPhone 15 Battery Capacity Increased
Reports from foreign media suggest the battery capacities for the four models of iPhone 15 have been revealed, reportedly from a conversation between a foreign media outlet, ITHome, and a Foxconn employee. The reported battery capacities are as follows:
- iPhone 15: 3,877mAh
- iPhone 15 Plus: 4,912mAh
- iPhone 15 Pro: 3,650mAh
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: 4,852mAh
When compared to the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15’s battery capacity has increased by approximately 11%, while the iPhone 13 to iPhone 14 only saw a 1% increase. The battery capacities of the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max have increased by about 12% to 14%.
14. iPhone 15 Features a Telephoto Periscope Lens
According to reports from The Elec, Apple plans to include a “folding zoom” periscope lens as an exclusive feature for this year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, confirming previous reports from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro’s telephoto lens provides 3x optical zoom capabilities; however, this will be upgraded to 6x optical zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Additionally, there are indications that the iPhone 16 will support periscope lens capabilities for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, allowing users to achieve better results in long-distance photography.
15. iPhone 15 Supports Wi-Fi 6E
An internal document leak has indicated that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will support Wi-Fi 6E technology, which offers a faster and more stable wireless internet experience. Notably, Wi-Fi 6E can utilize the 6GHz frequency band, significantly reducing latency and congestion issues.
However, as of now, only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have been confirmed to support Wi-Fi 6E technology, indicating that this feature may not be available on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
16. iPhone 15 May Remove the SIM Card Slot in Some Countries
Previous rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 models may be released without a SIM card slot in certain countries, including the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Portugal.
17. iPhone 15 Pricing
In terms of pricing, the standard iPhone 15 is expected to be similar to the iPhone 14, starting at $799. The Pro version, iPhone 15 Pro, will see a slight price increase, starting at $1,099.
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Plus | iPhone 15 Pro | iPhone 15 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $799 | $899 | $1,099 | $1,199 |
| 256GB | $899 | $999 | $1,199 | $1,299 |
| 512GB | $999 | $1,099 | $1,399 | $1,499 |
| 1TB | — | — | $1,599 | $1,699 |
Based on a leaked notice from an Apple retail store in the U.K., which prohibits employees from taking vacations between September 15 and October 7, this time frame is likely to coincide with peak store traffic. Since Apple typically unveils new iPhones in September, it is anticipated that there will be an iPhone 15 launch event on September 5, with pre-orders starting on September 8 and the official release on September 15.
18. iPhone 15 Release and Launch Timeline
Summary of 18 Key Highlights for the iPhone 15
In conclusion, we have summarized the 18 main points currently circulating online about the iPhone 15.
- Four models and two sizes for the iPhone 15.
- Possible renaming of iPhone 15 Pro Max to iPhone 15 Ultra.
- iPhone 15 Pro with a titanium alloy frame.
- iPhone 15 features a semi-circular edge design.
- iPhone 15 Pro with ultra-narrow bezels.
- New colors for iPhone 15 include pink and light blue, with wine red for iPhone 15 Pro.
- iPhone 15 mute switch changed to an action button.
- iPhone 15 retains traditional physical buttons instead of solid-state buttons.
- iPhone 15 series eliminates the notch in favor of Dynamic Island.
- iPhone 15 series transitions to USB-C instead of Lightning.
- iPhone 15 features both A17 and A16 chips.
- iPhone 15 battery capacity increased.
- iPhone 15 memory upgraded to 8GB.
- iPhone 15 includes a long-focus periscope lens.
- iPhone 15 supports Wi-Fi 6E.
- iPhone 15 may eliminate the SIM card slot in some countries.
- iPhone 15 pricing remains stable, with a slight increase for the iPhone 15 Pro.
- iPhone 15 launch expected on September 5, with sales starting on September 15.
That said, it is important to reiterate that these are all speculations currently circulating on the internet and may not necessarily come to fruition. Consider this as news rather than confirmation.