iPhone 15 rumors: Everything you need to know

Apple's iPhone 15 could be one of the the most exciting upgrades in recent years, after the company publicly confirmed that USB-C is coming to a future model of the iPhone. The question is will that be in 2023, or in 2024, when EU legislation mandating the port comes into force. 

Beyond the charging, there could be some other big changes to iPhone including the first major design overhaul since iPhone 12 brought us the squared edges and polished design we've come to love these last couple of years. 

Here's everything you need to know about Apple's next best iPhone. 

iPhone 15 processor

If Apple follows the same path it set out on with iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro we can expect the iPhone 15 to use the same A16 Bionic as the iPhone 14 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro, however, is likely to benefit from an all-new A17 chip, continuing the differentiation between Pro and non-Pro models.

Those A17 chips are expected to use new 3nm chips from long-time chip supplier TSMC, likely improving power consumption and reducing the amount of heat they generate during use. The 3nm process offers chips with speed boosts of up to 15% using the same amount of power, or power savings of 30% at the same speed as 5nm.

Alongside A17, reports have indicated the iPhone 15 Pro line could get a major upgrade with 8GB of RAM. 

iPhone 15 display & sizes

Rumors as of September 2022 have Apple bringing the Dynamic Island to all iPhone 15 models, not just the Pro as was the case with iPhone 14. That's according to DSCC analyst Ross Young who usually has a good track record with these things.

That doesn't mean that the base iPhone 15 models will get a 120Hz refresh rate or an Always-On Display, though. For that, you're going to want iPhone 15 Pro.

If Apple follows the precedent set with the iPhone 14 lineup, we can expect a 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro to be joined by a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 design and USB-C

One insider says the iPhone 15 could actually get a new design that will bring a more rounded rear and new border design, perhaps akin to the old iPhone 5C. It could be the first move away from the squared design language that begun with the iPhone 12. 

In a huge development, Apple has confirmed it will have to comply with EU laws mandating USB-C chargers on its iPhone. The question is, will that take place next year, or in 2024 when the regulations come in?

Both Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have suggested a switch is on the way, with the EU and potentially even Brazil set to mandate a common connector for all phones and similar accessories, including AirPods.

"Apple Inc. is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more prevalent USB-C connector, according to people with knowledge of the situation, a move that could help the company conform with looming European regulations," Gurman says.

While USB-C will make charging easier, better data transfer speeds may be reserved for the Pro models. Ming-Chi Kuo reports that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will get USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 for high-speed wired transfers. However, the iPhone 15 is expected to retain the same USB 2.0 speeds as the old models, despite the USB-C port. 

Previous rumors of the return of Touch ID seem to be unfounded, at least in terms of iPhone 14. It might make a return in the future, but Face ID is expected to be the only biometric authentication system offered in 2023.

Another major change coming to iPhone is reportedly the end of physical buttons. A report claims that Apple will do away with buttons in favor of Taptic Engines like those on its current iPhone SE Home Button for both volume and power.

iPhone 15 Ultra?

While Apple has so far used the Pro Max name for its high-end model, new rumors have that changing in 2023.

Following on from the launch of Apple Watch Ultra, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman believes Apple could rename iPhone 15 Pro Max to iPhone 15 Ultra. It isn't clear what other changes we could expect, but there are suggestions the high-end iPhone 15 will feature a new camera system — one using a periscope as outlined below.

iPhone 15 5G modem

We've been hearing for years that Apple would switch to 5G modems designed in-house around 2023, but that now seems unlikely to happen in time for iPhone 15. A new report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that Apple's 5G modem "may have failed," meaning it will stick with Qualcomm in 2023. Further reports by analyst Jeff Pu back that up, with Qualcomm parts now expected to be used for iPhone 15 and iPhone 16.

Kuo goes on to say that Apple will continue to work on getting its own 5G modem ready with the aim of replacing Qualcomm eventually.

iPhone 15 cameras

We don't yet know everything there is to know about the iPhone 15 cameras, but we're being told to expect Apple's first periscope camera in at least the Pro models — possibly just the iPhone 15 Pro Max. That comes via analyst Jeff Pu who claims that the switch would allow 5x optical zoom. It's possible that the technology could allow for even 10x zoom, however.

Companies like Samsung already use periscope cameras in their flagship phones to offer increased zoom capabilities. Periscope cameras work by increasing the distance between the camera's lens and sensor working in much the same way as a periscope in a submarine. Having the two components at such a distance in a traditional configuration would require the iPhone 15 to be significantly thicker, something Apple doesn't want, and a periscope design negates.

At least one sensor in the new iPhone 15 is expected to be a new state-of-the-art sensor from Sony that will double saturation signal in each pixel, capturing more light and reducing underexposure and overexposure in certain settings. This will be particularly important for improved portrait photos and headshots. 

iPhone 15 colors

We don't know an awful lot about what the iPhone 15 colors will be, but we can use past iPhones as an idea of what to expect.

If Apple sticks to form, expect the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to be more sedate colors, like in some from of black or gray, with silver and gold in there as well. One additional color will likely join them — for iPhone 13 Pro, that was Sierra Blue. For iPhone 14 Pro, it was Deep Purple.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are likely to get the better colors, in some eyes. That means vibrant colors including a (Product) RED option that always looks great, no matter which iPhone it's on.

iPhone 15 storage

Apple's storage plans will likely depend on various things, not least the cost of parts by the time we get closer to a release. 

The real question is whether the lower-end option will change. Expect that to largely be controlled by any data-hungry camera features that are added to the new models, while a 2TB option at the top-end is a possibility.

iPhone 15 price

We're still a long way from Apple making the iPhone 15 pricing public, but we can expect figures to be around that of previous high-end iPhones. That means a starting point of around $1,000 for the Pro models and a low end of approximately $800 for the standard models.

However, we'll know more as we get closer to release, with changing economic situations and inflation potentially impacting Apple's plans. The company didn't increase the price of the iPhone 14 over the iPhone 13, at least in the United States. But international markets saw a price hike due to local exchange rates against the dollar.

There are currently no reputable rumors suggesting the iPhone 15's price will increase over previous models. 

iPhone 15 release date

If Apple keeps to tradition, we can expect the iPhone 15 lineup to be announced in the first week or so of September with pre-orders beginning a few days later. Then the new iPhones should go on sale the following Friday.

For reference, Apple announced the iPhone 14 lineup on September 6 and make them available for pre-order on September 9. They then went on sale on September 16.