Sneak Peek into iPhone 15: Leaked and Rumored Features and Design Changes

Introduction

The iPhone, a technological icon and a symbol of innovation, has always captured the imagination of consumers and tech enthusiasts worldwide. With each new release, Apple sets a new standard for what a smartphone can be, pushing boundaries and redefining the user experience. As we eagerly await the unveiling of the iPhone 15, the tech world is abuzz with leaks, rumors, and speculations about what Apple has in store for us.

A Comprehensive Overview on the Anticipation of iPhone 15

In September 2022, Apple released the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models. But even before those hit the shelves, there were already rumors swirling about the iPhone 15. As the launch date approaches, more details are emerging.

Apple plans to launch four iPhone 15 models in the same sizes as the iPhone 14 lineup: two 6.1-inch iPhones and two 6.7-inch iPhones. One of the 6.1-inch ones will be the standard iPhone 15, while one of the 6.7-inch models will be called the iPhone 15 "Plus." The other two, both 6.1 and 6.7 inches, will be higher-end "Pro" models, possibly with a higher price tag.

Similar to the previous iPhone lineup, the top-notch features will likely be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro models to justify the extra cost.

Rumors suggest that all iPhone 15 models will come with a USB-C port instead of the Lightning port. The Dynamic Island feature, which eliminates the notch for a cleaner look, is expected for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, as well as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple plans to use Qualcomm modem chips in these new iPhones since their in-house modem chips aren't ready yet. Additionally, there might be new UWB(Ultra-Wideband) chips for integration with the Vision Pro headset. The standard iPhone 15 models will get an A16 chip upgrade, while the iPhone 15 Pro models will feature faster and more efficient 3-nanometer A17 chips. The Pro models are also anticipated to have titanium frames, slimmer bezels, minor design tweaks with more curved edges, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max may get periscope lens technology for better zoom capabilities.

Leakers have unveiled a multitude of fresh details about the upcoming iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, just weeks before Apple's anticipated September 12, 2023 launch. We've gathered all the leaks, reports, and rumors about the iPhone 15 in one convenient location. However, it's essential to remember that these are all speculative at this stage. The final word will only come from Apple's official announcement. But, Here’s everything we know about the iPhone 15 series so far:

Models

Apple is anticipated to follow its previous naming convention for the iPhone 15 lineup, which includes an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The standard iPhone 15 is expected to come with a slightly larger 6.2-inch display compared to the iPhone 14's 6.1-inch screen. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Plus, and iPhone 15 Pro Max are expected to retain the same screen sizes as the previous year: 6.1 inches for the 15 Pro and 6.7 inches for both the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

However, there are circulating rumors that the name of the iPhone 15 Pro Max might see a change. Speculations suggest that "Pro Max" could be replaced with the "Ultra" designation, akin to the nomenclature used for the Apple Watch Ultra.

Design

The iPhone 15 models are expected to maintain a similar appearance to the iPhone 14 lineup. However, a notable change will be the adoption of a pill-and-hole cutout design across the entire lineup, eliminating the notch. Instead, all iPhone 15 models will embrace the Dynamic Island technology initially introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro models.

For the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, there will be design alterations such as the replacement of the Lightning port with a USB-C port and the shift from the notch to the Dynamic Island. While the USB-C port will be a new addition to all iPhone models, the Dynamic Island first made its debut with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

In addition to the Dynamic Island, all iPhone 15 models could feature a more energy-efficient OLED display driver chip produced on a 28nm process. This advancement is expected to reduce power consumption, potentially leading to improved battery life across the entire iPhone 15 lineup.

It's important to note that the standard iPhone 15 models will not incorporate ProMotion technology or an always-on display, despite the transition to the Dynamic Island. These features will continue to be reserved for the Pro devices.

Colors

According to the latest rumors, the iPhone 15 lineup is expected to come in a variety of colors, including blue, a coral hue that falls between pink and orange, white, black, and green/yellow. Among these, blue and coral are the new additions for this year, while yellow/green, black, and white will return as the standard color options.

There has been some confusion regarding the exact colors due to their subtle tones. A recent leak of dummy models, claimed to feature the actual colors, suggests that the information about green and yellow might be due to Apple using a shade that leans toward light greenish yellow, and a similar situation applies to pink.

It's also expected that color-matched USB-C cables will be made available alongside the iPhone 15 models.

Cameras

After elevating the megapixel count to 48MP with the iPhone 14 Pro models, it's now rumored that the standard iPhone 15 models will also sport 48MP cameras. Furthermore, there's speculation about the inclusion of a new "three-stacked" sensor to improve light capture capabilities.

Analysts at Nomura suggest that the regular iPhone 15 will receive camera upgrades akin to those found in the Pro models. They state, "They will have main cameras (wide) upgraded to 48MP with an image sensor size at 1/1.5" (slightly smaller than the iPhone 14 Pro's 48MP sensor size but significantly better than the iPhone 14's 12MP one)." This information is corroborated by another source, which indicates that the 1/1.28-inch sensor featured in the iPhone 14 Pro will remain exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro.

Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is rumored to introduce a periscope camera, enhancing its long-range photography and zoom capabilities. This improvement is expected to include enhanced lenses for higher-quality photos, possibly offering a 6x optical zoom compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max's 3x zoom. However, the periscope zoom feature is not anticipated for the standard iPhone 15 Pro.

Another potential upgrade in the pipeline is for the iPhone 15 Pro's LiDAR sensor. Apple is reportedly changing suppliers for the AR/portrait mode auxiliary sensor, which may lead to improved efficiency or enhanced performance in specific camera modes.

Display

We've been expecting Apple to stick to its usual formula by introducing four models that align with the current iPhone lineup: 6.1-inch OLED panels for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, along with 6.7-inch screens for the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Notably, there are rumors suggesting that the iPhone 15 Pro Max could feature an impressive 2,500-nit display, surpassing the rated 2,000 nits of the iPhone 14 Pro Max and potentially making it the brightest phone display to date.

However, it's unlikely that the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate will make its way to the standard iPhone 15 model. According to Ross Young, this smooth LTPO display feature, which first appeared on the iPhone 13 Pro, might not be available on standard models until at least 2025. This could be disappointing for some, as many top Android phones now offer displays with refresh rates ranging from 90Hz to 120Hz. A standard 120Hz display is something some people hope the iPhone 15 would introduce, but it's uncertain at this point.

Leaked renders and apparent real-life images also suggest that the Pro models of the iPhone 15 will feature slimmer bezels around their displays. The iPhone 15 Pro, in particular, is expected to have 1.55mm bezels compared to the 2.1mm bezels of the iPhone 14 Pro. This design change is said to be made possible through the use of the same LIPO technology found in the Apple Watch.

Specifications & Performance

We anticipate that Apple will introduce the A17 Bionic chipset in select iPhone 15 models, although not necessarily in all four variants. In the previous year, only the iPhone 14 Pro models received a brand-new chipset, while the standard iPhone featured a slightly upgraded version of the A15. This pattern may continue, with the iPhone 15 Pro models potentially equipped with the A17, while the standard iPhone 15 might receive an enhanced iteration of the A16.

According to a TrendForce report, Apple is planning to enhance the RAM capacity and specifications for the iPhone 15. This could mean that the iPhone 15 Pro models might come with a total of 8GB of RAM. As for the standard iPhone 15, it could see a transition to the faster LPDDR5 standard while maintaining a 6GB RAM capacity.

However, a more recent rumor, based on findings within a tvOS beta release, suggests that Apple may not increase the RAM in the Pro models. Instead, the A17 chip might include a sixth GPU core to enhance graphics performance.

The same source mentions that Apple has tested both 6GB and 8GB versions of the iPhone 15 Pro, and the RAM capacity in a specific model could be tied to the chosen storage capacity. It's important to note that RAM capacity doesn't necessarily provide the full picture of performance, but the A17 is expected to be the first chip manufactured using the 3nm process, which could result in significant improvements in speed and efficiency. Specifically, TSMC, the chip manufacturer, predicts a 35% increase in power efficiency, which is promising for the battery life of the iPhone 15 Pro.

Evidence of this speed boost appears in purported Geekbench benchmarks for the A17, showing impressive results surpassing those of the existing iPhone 14 Pro and even rival Android phones. Recent tests further support this leap in performance.

Battery

We're pleased to hear that a significant rumor about the iPhone 15 pertains to increased battery capacities across all models. More battery capacity is always welcome news and could potentially address the battery life drop that some users experienced when transitioning from the iPhone 14 to the iPhone 14 Pro.

This battery upgrade might involve the implementation of a stacked battery system, leveraging technology akin to what's used in electric vehicles. This innovation could also pave the way for faster charging capabilities in future iPhones.

As for charging details, no official news has emerged thus far, but it's widely assumed that the maximum charging capacity will remain at 20W, in line with recent iPhones. However, there's a source suggesting that charging speeds for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could increase to 27W, while a more recent rumor hints at the possibility of a 35W charging speed. Both scenarios would be favorable, but the latter would undoubtedly offer greater convenience.

It's unclear whether Apple will introduce reverse wireless charging in the iPhone 15. While the iPhone 11 Pro Max had the necessary hardware for reverse wireless charging, it remained deactivated. A report from 9to5Mac indicates that development of this feature is ongoing, but the timing of its potential introduction remains uncertain.

There are also rumors suggesting support for Qi2 wireless charging in the iPhone 15, with some even claiming that it will match the 15W charging speeds of MagSafe. Additionally, another rumor proposes that the iPhone 15 Pro may support 15W wireless charging speeds when using third-party wireless chargers — a doubling of the previous model's capabilities.

Software

It's reasonable to anticipate that the iPhone 15 will launch alongside the release of iOS 17. Apple provided a glimpse of its new software during WWDC 2023 in June, and both the iOS 17 public beta and developer betas are presently accessible for download. The notable updates in iOS 17 encompass enhanced features within Messages, improvements to the Phone and FaceTime applications, and the introduction of a fresh Journal app.

Up to this point, none of the iOS 17 changes that Apple has publicly disclosed have provided any clues regarding the features we can expect from the iPhone 15.

Considering these rumors, The switch to USB-C could attract new users to iOS, while the A17 chip's potential gains for the iPhone 15 Pro series and the Pro Max's periscope zoom camera could further solidify Apple's lead in speed and camera performance over top Android phones. Even the standard iPhone 15 seems poised for meaningful improvements based on these rumors.

However, the possibility of a higher price tag for the Pro and Pro Max models is a concern that could dampen excitement for the new features, particularly for users already facing financial challenges due to rising living costs.

Release Date & Price

On August 29, 2023, Apple officially announced its fall event for September 12, 2023, at Apple Park. This event will be prerecorded, but some members of the press received invitations for in-person attendance. Following Apple's usual release schedule, preorders are expected to open on September 15, with the public release on September 22.

While Apple has maintained consistent pricing in recent years, there are speculations that the iPhone 15 lineup might see price increases ranging from 10% to 20%. For the standard iPhone 15, this could mean a starting price of $899 instead of $799. The iPhone 15 Pro models might start at $1,100 or even $1,200, up from the previous $999, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max could begin at $1,300, with the 1TB option potentially reaching $1,800. This price adjustment is attributed to increased manufacturing costs and inflation.

It's worth noting that similar rumors about price increases in the past did not materialize. So, while the possibility of higher prices exists, it's best to approach this information with some skepticism.

Feel free to watch this YouTube video for a closer look at the upcoming iPhone 15:

Conclusion

The iPhone 15 has captured the collective imagination of the tech world. Leaks and rumors offer a tantalizing glimpse into what we can expect from Apple's next flagship device. While these insights are exciting, we must remember that they are unofficial, and the true details will be unveiled by Apple in due course.

The iPhone 15 promises to be another chapter in the ongoing saga of innovation, design excellence, and technological advancement. As we eagerly await its official release, one thing is certain: Apple continues to push the boundaries of what's possible in the world of smartphones.

Stay tuned for more updates and official announcements as we get closer to the grand reveal of the iPhone 15. Until then, let your imagination run wild with the possibilities of what the future might hold.