Apple iPhone 15: release date, design, specs, price

Almost like clockwork, Apple releases a new iPhone model each year. Last year it was the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max versions. It may be a bit early, but there are already rumours about the next iPhone release, the presumed iPhone 15. In this article we will look at what we can expect from this latest model.

What is the iPhone 15 release date?

We will have to wait until Apple holds its September Keynote event to have the final dates, however if Apple continues to follow their long established trend, then the iPhone 15 will be released around the second week of September (a best estimate is around the 14th/15th of September). 

What are the iPhone 15 features?

Features that were exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Plus models will likely trickle down and be incorporated into the standard iPhone 15, such as, the Dynamic Island (a way of quickly checking alerts, current activity - music, timer, AirDrop, map directions etc). The standard iPhone 15 is rumoured to have the same screen as the iPhone 14 Pro. The new iPhone 15 range could also include USB C charging, following the ruling from EU. The legal deadline for USB-C ports is in 2024, however Apple may want to get ahead of it, or upgrade at the last minute, optimising the life span of the Lightning port. The new iPhone's should also receive the high-res 48MP camera that was on the iPhone 14 Pro range. 

Additionally, speculation suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro may include a customisable Action button, similar to the one found on the Apple Watch Ultra. This button would replace the traditional Ring/Silent switch and allow users to assign various system functions, such as Ring/Silent, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Low Power Mode, and more.

The iPhone 15 Pro models are also rumored to adopt a titanium frame, differentiating them from the stainless steel frame used in the iPhone 14 Pro. The titanium frame is said to feature a brushed finish, adding to the premium aesthetics of the device.

In terms of performance, the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to be equipped with Apple's next-generation A17 Bionic chip. This chip is rumored to be manufactured using TSMC's advanced 3nm process, promising significant improvements in performance and power efficiency compared to the A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro models.

What is the iPhone 15 lineup?

According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone 15 range will be based on the same two screen sizes: 6.1 inches (15.5 cm) diagonally for the "small" models and 6.7 inches (17 cm) for the large models. In other words, we should not expect a return of a mini model equipped with a 5.4-inch (13.7 cm) screen, despite the commercial underperformance suffered by the iPhone 14 Plus. The latter had replaced the Phone 13 mini which, like the 12 mini before it, had not seduced the crowds. So we'll see if the large standard iPhone 15 model can make things right for Apple.

Even with similar screen sizes, it's possible the Pro models still stand out for using a titanium chassis rather than a steel one. This would reduce the wight of the iPhone 15 Pro somewhat, titanium being much lighter than steel, and yet more resistant. However it is also much more expensive to produce.

We can therefore think that titanium would be reserved for the top of the range, namely the iPhone 15 Pro Max which could even change its name for the occasion and become the iPhone 15 Ultra. Apple would take back the name inaugurated by the Apple Watch Ultra, one of the characteristics of which is precisely that of having adopted titanium for its case.

What will the iPhone 15 look like?

The iPhone 15 is expected to continue the same design language of the iPhone 14 range - larger screens, smaller bezels and the Dynamic Island (replacing the notch). There should be a range of colours to choose from, like the iPhone 14: Blue, Purple, Midnight, Starlight, (Product) Red. Although it is possible that a new colour is added to the lineup, in a similar way that the Green and Pink of the iPhone 13 lineup were replaced with Purple. 

What will the iPhone 15 screen be like?

According to Mark Gurman, all iPhone 15 models, Pro or not, will benefit from the Dynamic Island, this perforation at the top of the screen introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro. Recall that the latter replaces the notch, which already contained part of the sensors of the iPhone – front camera, light sensor, Face ID – that Apple has not yet succeeded in hiding under the screen. With the iPhone 14 Pro, the fixed notch has become a dynamic hole-punch, in that the area can expand to show certain thumbnail information like the remaining time of a timer or the thumbnail of the current music album you are listening to.

What features will the iPhone 15 camera have?

For many years, iPhones were content with one, then several, 12 Mpxl photo sensors. This changed with the iPhone 14 Pro, whose main lens is now based on a 48 Mpxl sensor, which greatly improves the level of detail. On the other hand, even if the photo block on the back is still a little thicker compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, it is not enough to really increase the optical zoom capacities of the iPhone 14 Pro, still limited to 3x. This is normal though, because we are reaching the physical limits of the device. In order to obtain a greater level of optical zoom it is necessary to move the lens away from the sensor, as we do with a magnifying glass to enlarge small print on paper. 

The iPhone 15 should solve this problem by being the first to integrate a perpendicular periscope inside its chassis. The principle is simple: rather than thickening the photo block or, worse, adding a motorized zoom, a lens system is added inside the iPhone, behind a prism oriented at 45°. Result, it becomes possible to move the lens away from the sensor in the width or in the length of the iPhone and thus obtain a much higher magnification factor. There is talk of a 6x zoom for the iPhone 15, possibly up to 10x. It's a safe bet that this periscope zoom is reserved for the large iPhone 15 Pro model, whether it's called Pro Max or Ultra.

How much will the iPhone 15 cost?

The iPhone 15 will most likely go up in price, considering the impact of inflation on tech products across the world. It could be difficult for Apple to keep the prices the same for another year. As a quick reminder, the iPhone 14 model prices were the following:

• iPhone 14: from $799.
• iPhone 14 Plus: from $899.
• iPhone 14 Pro: from $999.
• iPhone 14 Pro Max: from $1,099.

Will there be a new iPhone SE in 2023?

There are several reasons why Apple could release a new iPhone SE in 2023:

• It hasn't been updated for several years and the design language is now slightly dated compared to the iPhone 14 models.
• The iPhone SE is in an increasingly competitive market. More and more budget phones are being designed and released with more competitive features than the iPhone SE.
• There has been a tendance for all tech products to increase in price lately, may be more difficult to release a budget iPhone without negatively impacting the releases of future iPhone 15s.
• You can still get an iPhone 13 mini for only $170 more than the current iPhone SE. Arguably worth making the financial investment to have a better and slightly more future proof model.
• If you are looking for a more compact iPhone, then the iPhone 13 mini still is the best option, before it is no discontinued.