The iPhone 14 has only just been released, but there are already rumors about the successor.
Apple’s iPhones are in development for a long time before hitting the market. It sometimes happens that the company is working on several iPhones in parallel. Insiders therefore often report new features long before the next iPhone launch. TECHBOOK summarizes the latest rumors about the iPhone 15 expected for 2023.
When will the iPhone 15 be released?
For the past ten years, Apple has always introduced new iPhones in September and started selling them shortly thereafter. Only in 2020, amid the supply shortages at peak times of the pandemic, did the iPhone 12 arrive a month later, in October. So it is very likely that we can expect the iPhone 15 in September 2023.
Is the iPhone 15 Ultra coming?
In the run-up to the iPhone 14 launch, there was conflicting information about what the new, larger iPhone 14 could be called. Initially, insiders were certain that the iPhone Pro Max nomenclature would be adopted. Instead of iPhone 14 “Max”, Apple has called the new device iPhone 14 Plus – based on previous iPhone generations.
The predictions for the new Apple Watch Ultra, traded as “Watch Pro” before the launch, were also inaccurate. Based on this new naming, the iPhone 15 could now also get a new name for the first time since the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Industry analyst at Bloomberg, Mark Gurman, writes in his newsletter in a subordinate clause: “[in 12 Monaten] we will see major changes including a possible renaming of the Pro Max to Ultra.” According to the site, “Gurman hasApple track‘ an accuracy record of 86.5 percent. With this, Gurman takes up the prediction of insider Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo (72.5 percent according to Apple Track) expects larger differences between the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra. The aim could be to strengthen the purchase incentives for the high-end models through more segmentation:
USB-C can finally replace Lightning
2024 occurs new law in force that all smartphones, tablets and cameras sold in the EU must have USB-C. The iPhone 15 would not be directly affected by this next year. However, some industry analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo suspect that we can expect a USB-C iPhone as early as 2023. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had already reported in May 2022 that Apple apparently iPhone prototypes with USB-C connector work.
With the switch from Lightning to USB-C in the iPhone 15, Apple would finally unify its ecosystem. Most of the company’s devices already use the more modern connection. Benefits include compatibility with other USB-C devices, faster data transfer, and faster charging.
Will all iPhone 15 models get Dynamic Island?
Probably the biggest design change of the iPhone 14 Pro/14 Pro Max is the Dynamic Island surface. In the normal state, the surface covers the new display cutouts, in which the Face ID sensor and selfie camera are located. However, the area can change its size and shape dynamically – depending on what is happening on the screen. If you minimize an app, it appears in the area at the top. If you hold them down, context-based elements appear – such as the playback controls for the Apple Music app. Dynamic Island also displays notifications and alerts. It’s practically a small multitasking control that allows additional action without leaving an app.
Learn more: What does the “Dynamic Island” feature do on the iPhone 14 Pro?
However, Dynamic Island is an exclusive feature of the iPhone 14 Pro models, while the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus still have to make do with the well-known notch. According to industry analyst Ross Young (92.9 percent according to Apple Track), that could change with the iPhone 15. As a result, all iPhone models in 2023 should come with Dynamic Island.
According to Young, however, 120 Hertz and LTPO technology remain exclusive features of the Pro models. The Hertz number describes the refresh rate of a display. The higher the value, the smoother the display appears. LTPO, on the other hand, also allows the Hertz number to be reduced in certain cases in order to save electricity. Apple has received a lot of criticism for only equipping the standard iPhone 14 with 60 Hertz and without LTPO, while the smartphone competition is now using more modern technology even in many budget devices.
A17 Bionic for Pro models only
For the first time since the iPhone 5C from 2014, Apple is installing two different chips in the iPhone 14. The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus have the A15 Bionic from the previous year, while the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max come with the new 16 Bionic. Nikkei Asia, supply chain insider from Japan, now has initial information about the chips in the iPhone 15. According to this, Apple has probably already decided to only equip the iPhone 15 Pro models with the planned A17 Bionic. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, on the other hand, will receive the A16 Bionic from this year’s iPhone 14 Pro models.
According to Nikkei Asia, the A17 Bionic will be manufactured using the brand new 3-nanometer process from Taiwanese chip manufacturer TSCM. The same technology could also be used in the upcoming Apple M3 for MacBooks. With the more efficient chip architecture, the A17 Bionic should not only be faster, but also consume less power than the A16 Bionic.
How much does the iPhone 15 cost?
In view of the tense economic situation and the weak euro, the price structure of the upcoming iPhone is difficult to predict. In Germany, the most expensive iPhone model – the 14 Pro Max – has become a whole 200 euros more expensive. All other models have also seen a price increase. Only in the USA have the prices remained the same as in the previous year. If the value of the US dollar against the euro continues to rise and the ongoing delivery bottlenecks are not resolved, further price increases cannot be ruled out.