By Philip Michaels on Thursday, 15 June 2023
Category: Technology

iPhone 15 rumored release date, price, specs and latest news

The iPhone 15 is tipped to bring some big changes in terms of design and features, and we're tracking all the rumors and leaks for the new iPhones. 

For example, it looks as though Apple will finally embrace USB-C charging and ditch the Lightning port. We could also see the iPhone 15 feature a more rounded design so that it's more comfortable to hold one of Apple's new phones. Upgrades to the cameras and chipsets may also be in the works.

Rumored features also suggest that Apple plans to keep a very large divide between iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are both expected to feature a powerful new 3nm A17 Bionic chip and a titanium-sided design, with the Pro Max possibly boasting a new periscope zoom lens on top of that. 

Here's a deep dive into everything we know about the iPhone 15 series so far. For a look at all the differences between the new models. consult our iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max comparison.


iPhone 15 news (Updated June 15)​


iPhone 15 release date predictions

Of all the early iPhone 15 rumors, this one is the easiest to predict. The iPhone 14 launched Wednesday, September 7 and the release date was Friday September 16. If Apple stuck to a similar pattern, we could see the iPhone 15 launch September 6 with a release date of September 15.

In the last decade, Apple has only announced its new flagship smartphones outside of September once. That was the iPhone 12 series in October 2020, amid a once-in-a-generation pandemic that necessitated stay-at-home orders and disrupted tech supply chains.

As such, it is highly likely that the iPhone 15 will arrive in September 2023. Typically Apple announces its phones about ten days before they're released, with pre-orders opening a week ahead of go-time. One source claims it could be September 22/23 specifically we see the iPhone 15 go on sale.

There is a slight wrinkle now, however. Trial production reportedly began for the iPhone 15 lineup in January, a start date that's a month earlier than it has been in the past. This seems to be due to Apple's mass-production plans in India and China rather than an indication that we will see an iPhone earlier than usual, but we cannot rule it out for sure.

Similarly, display production for the iPhone 15 is due to start next month - earlier than normal - and with a focus on iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro panels. Perhaps Apple's trying to avoid stock shortages at launch with this strategy, rather than trying to launch this year's iPhone early.

So expect a September unveiling for the iPhone 15 until someone convinces us otherwise.

iPhone 15 price speculation

With the iPhone 14, there was strong speculation that we would see a 15% price increase, but this turned out to be incorrect — if you live in the United States. Other regions saw a substantial increase, but in the US the only change in pricing was the elimination of the cheapest 'mini' model.

That means that prices currently go from $799 / £849 / AU$1,399 for the 128GB entry-level iPhone 14 all the way up to $1,599 / £1,749 / AU$2,769 for the 1TB iPhone 14 Pro Max. We would expect something similar this time around, but it's entirely possible that the iPhone 15 will see the price rise that the U.S. missed out on in 2022.

As it happens, a $100 price hike has been tipped for the iPhone 15 Pro. This could be down to more advanced features coming to the next-gen iPhone, which is why analyst Jeff Pu believes an iPhone 15 Pro price increase is likely. If the $100 figure is accurate, the iPhone 15 Pro would top $1,000, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max would cost as much as a $1,199 Galaxy S23 Ultra. It's not clear if this price hike will apply to the U.K., Australia or other regions.

An alternative take claims we could see the price for Apple to build an iPhone 15 price go up by at least 12% from last year, which would logically lead to Apple passing some of the additional cost to consumers. Hopefully, the retail price won't go up quite that high, but it feels like an increase of some order is inevitable.

Another opinion from a stock market analyst believes that at least the average price of iPhone 15 units will exceed that of the iPhone 14. That means either the iPhone 15 line-up will get a price rise as others have predicted, or more users will be buying more expensive models, such as ones with more than the default storage capacity, or a Pro model instead of a basic model.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Korean leaker yeux1122 raises the possibility that Apple could lower costs for the iPhone 15 in response to soft iPhone 14 Plus sales. The idea is that Apple might adjust pricing to make its lower-cost iPhones more attractive to shoppers looking for value.

However much Apple decides to sell the iPhone 15 for, chances are it'll shift a lot of units. One analyst believes that because so many iPhone users are on outdated hardware right now, the iPhone 15 could be what finally tempts them to upgrade. 


iPhone 15 possible models

For its 2022 releases, Apple killed the iPhone mini, and introduced the iPhone 14 Plus instead. That simplified the choice: whether you wanted to go Pro or not, you could get either a 6.1- or 6.7-inch screen. We have more on why the iPhone 15 mini is unlikely to return this fall.

When the iPhone 15 lineup does emerge, we will probably see the following four models: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. A recent TrendForce report used these names to highlight expected iPhone 15 features, so keeping the same naming conventions seems like a real possibility.

However, we could see huge iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro differences this year, as only the Pro models are tipped to feature the new A17 Bionic chip and titanium design. We could see grander changes in future as Apple's apparently looking into more exotic materials for iPhone designs.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is also expected to get a periscope zoom camera, a rumor that's popped up again recently (with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max slated to get it the year after). This leads us to believe Apple may be neglecting the regular iPhone 15.

There had been talk of an iPhone 15 Ultra model, mostly from reliable tipster Mark Gurman. But Gurman subsequently updated that forecast, saying that an iPhone Ultra won't appear until 2024, with the expectation that such a phone would launch alongside the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Evidentially the iPhone 16 Plus may be the one getting the boot. But we may be getting ahead of ourselves, talking about 2024 when 2023's phones have yet to arrive.

For a breakdown of what to expect from Apple's highest-end model, check out our iPhone 15 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro Max comparison for the biggest upgrades.

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iPhone 15 design rumors

The last iPhone to sport a curved-edge display was the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Several design leaks for the iPhone 15 suggests that it could restore that phone's curved design, even if leakers say that the display will remain flat. Indeed, dummy units for the likely iPhone 15 models show devices with rounded edges that match the size and shape of current iPhones.

In addition, all iPhone 15 models could have thinner, curved bezels.

Similarly, the camera bump on the back of the iPhone 15 could have a new design. The rumors have yet to tell us how though, beyond it being larger and thicker than before. The iPhone 15 Pro may see the most dramatic increase, as early renders show the individual lenses have doubled in size from the previous generation.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn't appear to have anywhere near as big an increase planned. Leaked designs show its lenses protrude less than the iPhone 14 Pro Max's, which would support rumors that the Pro Max could sport a new periscope zoom lens. 

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims all iPhone 15 models will get the Dynamic Island, which has been backed up by alleged real-life photos of the standard iPhone 15. This could see more developers get spurred on to making apps that adapt to the morphing camera cutout/display feature, further adding to its capabilities.

It may well be a new type of Dynamic Island too, as Apple's rearranging some of the sensors inside the phone, leaks say.

Don't expect to see the ProMotion adaptive refresh rate appear on the standard iPhone 15 model, however. Despite originally launching on the iPhone 13 Pro, Ross Young claims that the standard models won't be getting the silky-smooth LTPO displays until at least 2025.

This would be a little disappointing, as many of the best Android phones now have 90Hz to 120Hz displays. And a 120Hz display as standard is something we feel would be a problem the iPhone 15 could fix, but we're not going to hold our breath.

Renders reportedly based on CAD files for the iPhone 15 Plus show off the above changes, with a Dynamic Island replacing the notch found on the iPhone 14 Plus, and the Lightning port getting replaced by USB-C. 

Some CAD-based renders for the iPhone 15 Pro Max show off the phone's dimensions; it has slightly thicker sides but a smaller overall camera module. A separate set of iPhone 15 Pro renders shows a bigger camera but smaller bezels and capacitive buttons. Additional leaked renders seem to confirm the smaller bezels, with the iPhone 15 Pro likely to have 1.55mm bezels compared to 2.1mm for the iPhone 14 Pro. 

Initially, Ming Ching Kuo claimed that two iPhone 15 models would feature solid-state buttons, similar to the home button found in the likes of the iPhone SE. This was lent more weight by another claim by Barclays analysts, who have the iPhone 15 Pro tipped to get solid-state buttons, and analyst Jeff Pu, who added that Apple would use extra Taptic Engine vibration motors to give feedback for these buttons.

The benefit to such a design would be fewer moving parts exposed to external elements, potentially making for a more durable iPhone, while still delivering a tactile button feel via haptics.

However, both Kuo and Pu have since changed their tune, and now claim Apple won't be offering solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro after all, citing the complexity of the feature. Instead, solid-state buttons may get pushed back to the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has echoed those claims, saying that Apple is skipping solid-state buttons for the iPhone 15 Pro. He cites "manufacturing complexity, higher associated costs and software integration issues." Added to this is a report from Cirrus Logic, one of Apple's production partners, which says it won't be producing a new High-Performance Mixed-Signal (HPMS) chip for a major company, which previous reports suggest would have been the driver for the rumored haptic solid-state buttons.

A more believable rumor claims that both iPhone 15 Pro models could come with an 'action button' like that of the Apple Watch Ultra. According to reports, the iPhone 15 Pro's action button would be customizable and double as a mute button. We've seen some iPhone 15 Pro CAD renders that show this action button along with the camera bump for the Pro and Pro Max. 


iPhone 15 and USB-C

The biggest iPhone 15 design rumor so far is that 2023 is the year when Apple finally abandons the Lightning port on its phones. This isn't wholly surprising: not only has the company adopted the connection for its laptops and tablets, but the European Union has officially mandated that all phones will have to use USB-C by 2024.

Really, it's a question of when, not if, for USB-C iPhones. Apple has already confirmed the change is coming, and all that's left to decide is if it's included in the iPhone 15 to get ahead of the 2024 deadline or if Apple puts off the move to next year's phones. 

This seems to have been further confirmed by leaked images of a test iPhone 15 unit. There's no mistaking the port in these images for the Lightning port of previous iPhones. 

Furthermore, it seems that Apple had been testing USB-C iPhone 15 prototypes since March of 2022. There were originally Lightning-ported versions being looked at though, so the new connector hasn't always been a sure thing for the iPhone 15. Nevertheless, a leaker claims that mass production has started on USB-C accessories from Apple, signaling that the move to USB-C will happen this fall.

The type of USB-C used could differ between Pro and non-Pro models though, says Ming-Chi Kuo. He says that the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus could still have the same data transfer speeds as current Lightning iPhones, while only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max would get faster speeds as a result of their USB-C ports.

These speeds could be of the Thunderbolt 3 variety, another rumor has claimed. That would be a huge increase in data transfer speeds, as well as display functionality like displaying live video from an iPhone onto a separate monitor.

In another potential wrinkle, a report on Chinese site Weibo claims that Apple could restrict come USB-C functions to accessories that it approves, an extension of the Made For iPhone program it has for Lightning accessories. The speculation is that faster data transfer speeds would be restricted to only accessories certified by Apple.

The leaker ShrimpApplePro has backed up these claims, and Ming-Chi Kuo also thinks Apple will require certification for USB-C accessories. However analyst941 believes that Apple won't do so, making for an uncommon split opinion between leading rumormongers.

One member of the European Parliament says that slowing speeds of non-certified accessories would be "a direct violation of the law" and has asked Apple to clarify its plans. A second member has threatened a ban on iPhone 15 sales if Apple does only allow certain USB-C accessories to work properly with the phone.

Support for Qi2 wireless charging could also come to iPhone 15, with at least one rumor even claiming it'll match MagSafe's 15W charging speeds. This could also mean new accessories to take advantage of the new speeds, suggested by mysterious MagSafe products listed in the iOS 17 beta but not currently available. 


iPhone 15 colors

Not a lot of rumors about what colors Apple will include with the different iPhone 15 models have emerged just yet. The most prominent rumor from 9to5Mac claims the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a dark red color option. 

That same report also claimed Apple was look at light blue and pink as color options for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. A subsequent post on Weibo claims that a cyan (or green) color option is slated for those two models as well. 


iPhone 15 camera​

One of the earliest rumors of the iPhone 15 includes a likely upgrade to a new camera. After raising the megapixels bar to 48MP on the iPhone 14 Pro models, word is that a new iPhone could finally get a periscope camera for better long-range photography and zoom capabilities, supposedly along with improved lenses for better quality photos. This is something that Android handsets in our best camera phones list have done for some time, and it would be great to see Apple finally offering this. Though, as ever, we'd be very surprised if this wasn't initially Pro only — if it arrives in 2023 at all.

Analysts at Nomura believe that the basic iPhone 15 will get a Pro-like camera this time. In a note, they mention, "They will have main cameras (wide) upgraded to 48MP with image sensor size at 1/1.5" (slightly smaller than the iPhone 14 Pro's 48MP sensor size, but much better than i14's 12MP one)".

Analyst Jeff Pu agrees, claiming the standard iPhone 15 models will get 48MP cameras like the iPhone 14 Pro. It could be a new "three-stacked" sensor too for enhanced light intake.

We've since had apparent confirmation from Apple's supply chain too. Allegedly, Sony's been asking for help making enough 48MP sensors for the iPhone 15 series, precisely because all models, rather than two out of four, will supposedly use this sensor.

Speaking of "Pro" differentiation, the analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks that Apple will give its Pro models some unique features and could be looking to upsell its larger 6.7-inch handsets with exclusive features over the smaller models. What these could be was left open to speculation at this point, but it's possible that a periscoping variable zoom camera could be an iPhone 15 Pro Max-only feature.

This new periscope zoom for the iPhone 15 Pro Max could offer double the zooming power, so an optical zoom of up to 6x. The iPhone 14 Pro Max maxed out at 3x. This rumor was recently corroborated by leaker Unknownz21.

Kuo has said not to expect a new 8P, or eight element lens, for the iPhone 15 Pro's main camera, which was previously rumored. Instead, the iPhone 15 Pro will allegedly stick with a 7P lens. More elements in a lens would result in more light being absorbed into the lens and less distortion in images, which could be essential for wide-angle lenses.

A report from Nikkei claims that Apple will work with Sony on the iPhone 15's main camera, with the Cupertino phone maker allegedly opting for Sony's new "state-of-the-art" sensor, potentially a new model that's almost an inch across, which should make for brighter and more colorful photos.

However another rumor claims that the Pro Max will have the exact same sensor as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, with another leaker backing up that claim about an unchanged iPhone 15 Pro Max main camera.

Another potential upgrade could be on the way for the iPhone 15 Pro's LiDAR sensor. Apple's apparently moving suppliers for the AR/portrait mode auxiliary sensor, which will apparently mean enhanced efficiency or better performance for those specific camera modes. 


iPhone 15 displays

We had assumed Apple would stick to form and come out with four models that match the current iPhone offerings, with 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro OLED panels, and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 Pro Max screens.

There could be a slight change to that though, as the iPhone 15 could be a 6.2-inch phone. Also, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will get Dynamic Islands instead of notches, and all four models in the family will get slightly curved bezels, say new leaks.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max has been tipped for a 2,500-nit display. This would be well above the rated 2,000 nits the iPhone 14 Pro Max and possibly the brightest panel ever on a phone. This tidbit comes form ShrimpApple Pro and OreXda on Twitter.

Another source has claimed Apple will be upgrading the iPhone 15 series' display driver chip to one on a much smaller (and more efficient) process. That could mean better battery life across the board without having to increase the battery capacity.

In worse news, Apple will apparently keep using 60Hz displays for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. This isn't too surprising but is a big strike against these models given nearly every other smartphone sold today has a 90Hz refresh rate or higher.

Anyone looking for a bigger display update before swapping iPhones may want to wait another couple of years. Apple's alleged move to micro LED displays won't be coming for a while yet, with its Apple Watch Ultra smartwatch rumored to be the first device to get this new type of panel. 


iPhone 15 expected specs

It's early days, but two rumors have emerged. One feels extremely likely, while the other could yet be wishful thinking.

Starting with the "likely," adoption of the A17 chipset would once have felt like a certainty, but only the iPhone 14 Pro models benefited from an all-new chipset, while the regular iPhone used a slightly souped-up version of the A15. We would assume this is the new normal, so the iPhone 15 Pro handsets could get the A17, while the regular iPhone 15 might get an enhanced version of the A16.

A report from TrendForce also suggests that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will keep the A16 Bionic CPU and only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra) will get upgraded to the rumored A17 chipset.

Speaking of chips, one sketchy rumor has the iPhone 15 Pro models pegged to get a form of mid-generation refresh to their rumored A17 Bionc chips. This would be a new move by Apple and not something we can fully see the company doing. However, with a potential goal to ensure a smooth supply of chips, perhaps Apple could tap into multiple suppliers, which could cause this rumored split in chips.

Yet another TrendForce report claims that Apple plans to bump the capacity and specification of the iPhone 15's RAM. For the Pro models, that could equal 8GB total. For the iPhone 15, that might means LPDDR5. The report doesn't specify, so we have to speculate. 

Obviously, that doesn't tell us much about performance, but the A17 is expected to be the first chip to be made with the 3nm manufacturing process which could mean big things for both speed and efficiency. Specifically, chip manufacturer TSMC predicts a 35 percent improvement in power efficiency, which bodes well for iPhone 15 Pro battery life.

This speed increase seems to be in evidence in alleged Geekbench benchmarks for the A17. The results are much more impressive than even the existing iPhone 14 Pro or rival Android phones.

A Digitimes report suggests other chipmakers are undecided about making 3nm chips of their own this year. If that's true, it could mean a big advantage for devices like the iPhone 15 Pro in terms of performance and power efficiency. In fact, suppliers are now tipping the A17 Bionic to drive a lot of interest among people upgrading their phone, suggesting the iPhone 15 Pro models could be the most popular of Apple's upcoming releases.

An early iPhone rumor that suggested Apple might be ready to start building its own modems, starting with its 2023 phones. Indeed, signs suggest that Apple is ramping up to eventually build its own modems. But current supplier Qualcomm says it expects to supply the "vast majority" of modems for the 2023 iPhones, and Apple's apparently just put in a big 5G modem order with Qualcomm too, says one source. That means the iPhone 15 is likely to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon X70 modem.

The Apple modem itself is now tipped to arrive alongside the iPhone 16. Or, at least, Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon isn't expecting the company will provide Apple any modems in 2024.

There's also a rumor based on a Barclay analysis that says that Wi-Fi 6E could come to the iPhone 15, though it may be a Pro exclusive. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has further corroborated this rumor.

Charging speeds for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could be increasing from 20W to 27W, according to one source, although the vanilla and Plus models will stick with the existing 20W standard. It's not clear whether Apple will introduce reverse wireless charging in the iPhone 15. The iPhone 11 Pro Max was the first model to have the right hardware for reverse wireless charging, albeit deactivated. A report from 9to5Mac claims that development of the feature is still happening, but it's not entirely clear if and when it might arrive. 


iPhone 15 software

You'd expect the iPhone 15 to ship at the same time iOS 17 comes out. If Apple follows its well-established pattern of software updates, we'll get a preview at the Worldwide Developer Conference on June 5. A public beta will take place during the summer, leading up to a full release in the fall — here's when we think the iOS 17 public beta will come out.

Details about iOS 17 changes are starting to pick up, with the biggest rumors suggesting an overhaul to IMessage. Apple may also open up the iPhone to third-party app stores, though some rumors suggest that move will be limited to Europe.

While initial reports claimed a more scaled-back iOS 17 release than in recent years updates, it now appears iOS 17 will include more substantial changes than first anticipated. We've heard reports that the Wallet and Health apps will get overhauls; there could also be a new journaling app on the iPhone. 


iPhone 15 outlook

iPhone 15 rumor season is about to heat up as temperatures rise during the summer, but we've already heard plenty about this fall's release. The expected introduction of USB-C could tempt those yet to fall for the charms of iOS, while the anticipated gains of the 3nm A17 chip for the iPhone 15 Pro series could cement the already commanding lead Apple has over the best Android phones in terms of raw speed.

A possible increase in price is a big worry for the Pro and Pro Max, and we would like to hear more firm rumors about improvements to the cameras, but considering we're several months away from the iPhone 15's release date at this point, there's plenty of time for more exciting speculation to emerge 

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