The iPhone 14 is an thrilling addition to Apple’s smartphone assortment, not solely bringing enhancements to the digicam system however distinctive options like satellite tv for pc connectivity and built-in automotive crash detection. There’s additionally the iPhone 14 Professional vary, introducing the primary 48Mp digicam on an iPhone alongside Apple’s all-new Dynamic Island and always-on show tech too.
After all, that gained’t cease Apple from engaged on the subsequent technology of iPhone behind closed doorways at Apple Park.
The query is, what do you have to anticipate from Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15? Whereas it’s early days, right here’s all there may be to know up to now, from launch date and pricing hypothesis to early rumours in regards to the specs and options we predict the telephones will embrace.
Be taught extra in regards to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional individually in the event you’re extra within the present iPhone line-up.
When will the iPhone 15 be launched?
Apple tends to replace its iPhone vary on a yearly foundation with a reasonably predictable schedule, which suggests we should always anticipate the iPhone 15 to look someday in September 2023.
Barring the delayed launch of the iPhone 12 as a result of Coronavirus pandemic, Apple has favoured September reveals for its flagship iPhone vary for the reason that launch of the iPhone 5 again in 2012.
There are studies from mid-January 2023 that the iPhone 15 is already in trial manufacturing at Foxconn in China, giving producers and Apple loads of time to iron out any manufacturing points earlier than launch later this 12 months. It’s price noting that that is round two weeks sooner than traditional, giving Apple a number of additional weeks to iron out points and safe loads of inventory in time for launch.
In the event you can’t wait that lengthy, check out the place to purchase the iPhone 14 vary.
Apple
How a lot will the iPhone 15 price?
Whereas the iPhone 14 vary matched the pricing of the iPhone 13 vary within the US, the identical can’t be mentioned in areas just like the UK, the place the usual iPhone 14 is £70 costlier, and the iPhone 14 Professional is available in at an additional £150 in comparison with final 12 months.
- iPhone 14: From $799/£849
- iPhone 14 Plus: From $899/£949
- iPhone 14 Professional: From $999/£1,099
- iPhone 14 Professional Max: From $1,099/£1,199
The query is, ought to we anticipate the identical with the iPhone 15? After all, it’s far too early to say for certain, however Apple tends to maintain the pricing on the identical tough stage – although foreign money fluctuations might see value will increase like these within the UK this 12 months.
In actual fact, that’s what rumours recommend – although the value hike might be unique to the iPhone 15 Extremely, rumoured to be the brand new identify for the Professional Max mannequin.
Leaker LeaksApplePro claims that the iPhone 15 Extremely might begin at an elevated $1,299 within the US. Pricing for different areas wasn’t offered, however given the truth that the 512GB iPhone 14 Professional retails for a similar value, which interprets to £1,429 within the UK, it appears logical that these costs would apply right here too.
That might imply a possible improve of $200/£230, an particularly onerous capsule for UK followers to swallow. Nonetheless, the leaker says that it isn’t set in stone simply but and Apple may be contemplating a $1,199 price ticket (round £1,309), although that also represents a rise in comparison with the present top-end mannequin.
The leaker claims that components together with an upgraded titanium body, a dual-lens selfie digicam, and 256GB of minimal storage – together with inflation and an increase in manufacturing prices – are accountable for the value hike, however that is all unconfirmed for now.
Tim Cook dinner has made it clear {that a} value improve is no less than potential, discussing the willingness of followers to pay additional for premium fashions throughout an earnings name.
“I feel individuals are keen to actually stretch to get the very best they’ll afford in that class,” Cook dinner mentioned in response to a query in regards to the rise within the common iPhone gross sales value, which is bound to gasoline hypothesis that this 12 months’s iPhones will get even pricier.
What to anticipate from the iPhone 15 specs
Whereas we’re nonetheless fairly a while away from seeing the subsequent technology iPhone, that hasn’t stopped the ol’ hearsay mill from churning. In actual fact, if early studies are to be believed, there might be some large modifications in retailer for the complete iPhone 15 line-up.
Extra energy
This one’s a straightforward guess – it occurs yearly in spite of everything.
We’re anticipating Apple to unveil a brand new A17 Bionic chip to energy the Professional fashions, whereas upgrading the common fashions to final 12 months’s A16 Bionic.
Concurrently, market analysts TrendForce report that Apple will “bump up the capability and specs of the DRAM options featured within the subsequent technology of the iPhone that’s scheduled for launch this 12 months.”
Meaning extra RAM, and quicker efficiency. The report doesn’t specify which telephones will get a bump, however beforehand the corporate had reported that the iPhone 15 Professional will leap from 6GB of RAM as much as 8GB, in order that’s nonetheless the very best guess.
A refreshed design
The iPhone 14 vary definitely appears premium, however the identical might be mentioned of the near-identical iPhone 13 and iPhone 12, which is to say that it has been a number of years since Apple up to date the design of its smartphone vary – however that would change with the iPhone 15.
The hearsay originated by way of leaker ShrimpApplePro, who took to Twitter to assert that the iPhone 15 could have titanium sides, a critical improve even in comparison with the stainless-steel end of the iPhone 14 Professional vary. Although Shrimp’s wording led some to consider it’ll be accessible on all fashions, different leakers recommend that it might be unique to the Professional fashions, so don’t get too excited simply but.
That’s not the most important design change rumoured for the iPhone 15 although; ShrimpApplePro additionally means that the again fringe of the edges of the cellphone will likely be rounded, permitting the body to curve into the rear of the cellphone that “will create a extremely stunning edge transition from the again to the digicam bump”.
The leaker mentioned that it’s nonetheless early days and that we should always “take it as it’s”, which primarily means with a giant heap of salt, and later feedback from LeaksApplePro – one other leaker – suggests it’s removed from set in stone. Speaking to Forbes in December 2022, they declare that whereas the transfer to curved edges is beneath “robust consideration” from the crew at Apple, the change is but to be finalised.
We are able to see the curved edges a bit in CAD renders for the telephones, shared by 9to5Mac. There’s a much bigger change revealed right here although: the transfer so as to add Dynamic Island to each cellphone. Right here it’s seen within the common iPhone 15, although the location additionally exhibits it within the bigger 15 Plus.
9to5Mac
9to5Mac additionally obtained CAD renders for the 15 Professional, and so they reveal extra substantial modifications. For one, there’s a a lot extra noticeable digicam bump, which you’ll see clearly on this comparability of the 15 and 15 Professional cameras (plus a sneak peek of a USB-C port – extra on that down beneath).
9to5Mac
The Professional packs extra advantages, together with a thinner bezel across the show, and 9to5Mac additionally thinks it is aware of what this 12 months’s particular version color for the Professional fashions will likely be – a deep, darkish crimson, which you’ll see their mock-up of beneath:
9to5Mac
The swap to USB-C
Apple has fought off switching to USB-C on its iPhone vary for years regardless of doing so throughout its iPad vary, although with mounting strain from the EU with a brand new legislation that’ll power smartphone makers to change to USB-C by 27 December 2024, it appears Apple is lastly giving in – although it’s not notably completely happy about it.
Discussing the brand new legislation in an interview with the Wall Road Journal in October 2022, Greg Joswiak, senior VP of worldwide advertising and marketing at Apple, conceded defeat.
“Governments get to do what they’re going to do and clearly we’ll must comply, we’ve no alternative,” he mentioned when requested in regards to the new ruling.
Although Joswiak declined to touch upon precisely when the iPhone would make the swap, the renders above recommend that Apple is able to transfer over to the brand new port this 12 months.
We suppose we’ve now seen photographic proof of that, because of the beneath picture initially shared (however since deleted) by URedditor on Twitter. We see what’s clearly a USB-C port constructed right into a brushed metallic body – and the leaker provides that they consider USB-C will likely be discovered on each iPhone 15 mannequin, and never simply the Professionals.
There may be hypothesis that Apple might solely ship USB-C-enabled fashions to nations within the EU – it sells an e-SIM-specific variant of the iPhone 14 within the US, so it’s not an alien idea – nevertheless it’s seemingly that it’ll merely make the swap worldwide to stop charging confusion amongst totally different fashions.
Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that he believes all of this 12 months’s new iPhones will undertake USB-C (suggesting the identical method worldwide) however provides a enjoyable wrinkle: solely the Professional and Max will assist excessive pace information switch equal to USB 3.2 or quicker, with the 2 common fashions restricted to the identical USB 2.0 speeds that Lightning was restricted to. Most individuals gained’t be transferring sufficient information over USB-C to note, nevertheless it’s an odd spec to scrimp on.
Curiously, one report on Chinese language social media Weibo means that Apple will construct an authenticator chip into the iPhones’ USB-C ports which might be used to restrict efficiency or prohibit performance with USB-C cables and units that haven’t themselves been licensed by Apple.
That wouldn’t be unprecedented, as the corporate principally already does the identical factor with Lightning. However there could also be some questions as as to whether that violates the EU’s stipulations round common compatibility, and it’s additionally price noting that the corporate already has USB-C ports in a number of iPads and MacBooks with out utilizing any comparable authentication chips.
Dynamic Island for all
The Dynamic Island – that’s, the redesigned Face ID cut-out – of the iPhone 14 Professional is well one in all its stand-out options, nevertheless it may not be a Professional unique for lengthy.
In response to show trade insider Ross Younger, and as seen within the renders above, Apple intends to convey the redesigned Dynamic Island system to the complete iPhone 15 vary subsequent 12 months.
Replying to a tweet on the topic in September 2022, Younger states that “Dynamic Island anticipated on customary fashions on the 15,” although these hoping for a leap to 120Hz could also be disenchanted, as he claimed that the “provide chain can’t assist it.”
As an alternative, Younger expects the 120Hz LTPO show tech to make an look on the usual fashions in 2024, presumably with the iPhone 16.
Younger has offered a powerful variety of display-related leaks over the previous few years – he was among the many first to tease three sizes of Apple Watch, and was on the cash with Apple’s Dynamic Island the primary time round – so he’s definitely a supply price taking note of.
It’s additionally price noting that Apple leaker Mark Gurman agrees with Younger’s prediction, noting in a January 2023 version of his Energy Up! e-newsletter that each customary fashions of iPhone 15 are set to get the Dynamic Island improve later this 12 months.
Apple
Leaker ShrimpApplePro believes in Dynamic Island for all too, additionally including that each one the telephones within the sequence will get a barely curved bezel across the display – so whereas the show itself will likely be flat, the very edges could have a slight curvature – and the Professional fashions could have a slimmer bezel than earlier than as effectively.
There could also be different upgrades in retailer for the Professional fashions, with leaker @chunvn8888 reporting that these telephones are in improvement with new Samsung M13 panels – although with no indication of what specs these screens may need, it doesn’t give us an entire lot to go on.
Improved cameras
Whereas the iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max noticed important beneficial properties within the digicam division with the introduction of a brand new 48Mp sensor, the vanilla iPhone 14 shipped with the identical 12Mp snapper because the iPhone 13. That’s all set to vary with the iPhone 15 if rumours are to be believed.
In response to analyst Jeff Pu of Haitong Intl Tech Analysis, Apple is planning to introduce the identical major 48Mp sensor because the iPhone 14 Professional vary to the usual iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Contemplating the brand new major lens additionally introduced with it quad-pixel tech, second-gen sensor-shift OIS, and spectacular beneficial properties in low-light pictures, it’s a welcome addition to the usual iPhone 15.
Whereas it nonetheless gained’t be capable to compete with the iPhone 15 Professional digicam vary, nonetheless missing a devoted telephoto lens, the primary 48Mp snapper ought to be capable to present a 2x digital zoom with none notable drop in high quality, giving customers extra flexibility of their pictures.
The iPhone 15 Extremely
Whereas the iPhone 14 Professional and 14 Professional Max sport the identical characteristic set, that hasn’t at all times been the case. In actual fact, up till the discharge of the iPhone 13 Professional vary, there have been minor variations in Apple’s Professional smartphone assortment.
A lot in the identical approach that the 12.9in iPad Professional boasts barely extra premium options than the 11in mannequin, the Professional Max mannequin of iPhone has historically supplied barely higher specs, normally within the digicam division.
If rumours are to be believed, that’ll once more be the case with the iPhone 15 Professional fashions – and Apple might go a step additional by fully re-branding the iPhone 15 Professional Max.
The thought of extra differentiation between the Professional fashions got here first from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Discussing the next-gen iPhone vary on Twitter, the analyst claims that Apple will “begin creating differentiation between iPhone 15 Professional Max and the iPhone 15 Professional” with a purpose to increase orders for Apple’s Professional smartphones.
Whereas Kuo didn’t go so far as to say what these key variations might be, predictions from analysts at TrendForce give us a good suggestion.
In an October 2022 press launch, the analyst agency claims that the iPhone 15 Professional Max (and solely the Professional Max) will characteristic a brand new periscope lens that enables for as much as 10x zoom – an enormous leap from the 3x zoom presently discovered on the iPhone 14 Professional vary. It’s definitely not new tech – periscope lenses have been a factor on the Android aspect of issues for the previous few years – nevertheless it’ll be a primary on an Apple product.
This was later backed up by The Elec in January 2023, suggesting that Apple is sourcing OIS actuators for the periscope lens from LG Innotek and Jahwa Electronics, with the latter additionally mentioned to be supplying parts for Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S23 sequence.
Trendforce additionally believes that each Professional fashions will characteristic a bump in RAM, 8GB as an alternative of the present 6GB, and that like this 12 months solely the Professional fashions will get Apple’s new chipset – presumably the A17 Bionic.
One smaller distinction comes from leaker Unknownz21, shared by way of MacRumors, who discovered an antennae diagram that seems to disclose that the Professional fashions will likely be getting an improve to the quicker and extra dependable Wi-Fi 6E customary this 12 months, whereas the 2 cheaper telephones gained’t. That gained’t matter to you an excessive amount of except you may have a Wi-Fi 6E router – or usually join to 1 at work, maybe – nevertheless it is a vital little bit of future-proofing Apple is already behind the competitors on, and it appears like solely the Professional fashions are catching up.
9to5Mac’s renders above additionally recommend that this 12 months the Professional fashions might swap to capacitive buttons as an alternative of bodily ones, whereas the common fashions stick to the outdated controls.
LeaksApplePro believes that the iPhone 15 Extremely might additionally characteristic a twin front-facing digicam, begin at an elevated 256GB of storage, and sport a Thunderbolt 4-powered USB-C port for very quick information switch. The leaker additionally, slightly oddly, claims that Apple is simply contemplating a single color for the top-end iPhone – the identical as that of the Apple Watch Extremely – with the leaker’s confidential supply but to see every other color possibility inside Apple Park.
As for the identify change, that one comes from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. He means that Apple might rebrand the Professional Max because the iPhone 15 Extremely in a bid to additional separate it from the remainder of the iPhone vary, a lot in the identical approach that the Apple Watch Extremely is above and past what’s supplied from the usual Apple Watch Collection 8.
Gurman has since reported on Bloomberg that there’s one other risk: that the Extremely will likely be a fifth iPhone mannequin, sitting above each the Professional and Professional Max within the vary. “Internally, the corporate has mentioned doing simply that,” he writes, “doubtlessly in time for the 2024 iPhone launch.”
Look ma, no buttons
One of many extra outlandish prospects is that some telephones within the iPhone 15 sequence may not have any buttons in any respect.
That risk comes from a patent Apple filed for buttonless smartphones, which references how the tech might be used each in a daily cellphone and even in a potential folding iPhone.
United States Patent and Trademark Workplace
The patent covers the technical particulars of how this is perhaps achieved, but in addition the sensible aspect:
“Contact enter on sidewalls [could] be used as a management for a digicam (e.g., a digital shutter button enter),” the patent notes, “could also be used as enter in different digital button eventualities, could also be utilized in implementing a quantity slider button or a slider button for controlling different gadget operations (e.g., display brightness, colour settings, distinction settings, and so on.).”
After all, a patent being filed doesn’t imply the tech is coming in a cellphone any time quickly, and the iPhone 15 sequence feels particularly quickly for a significant leap like this – except Apple has one thing actually particular deliberate for that Extremely mannequin. We’ve got seen some proof of capacitive buttons that includes on the Professional fashions this 12 months, however nothing fairly as excessive as proven on this patent.
We’ll proceed to replace this text as new rumours seem on-line, so test again ceaselessly for all the most recent particulars on Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15. Heard something fascinating? Tell us on Twitter.