There are many unanswered uncertainties surrounding Apple’s next-generation iPhone 15, which is not expected to be released until the autumn of 2023. Will USB-C be included in the iPhone 15? In 2023, do you think Apple will raise iPhone prices? Is the iPhone 15 even going to have a name? While no one outside of Apple has definitive knowledge, we can be certain that speculation will abound until the next iPhone event is held by Apple. Let’s take a look at some of the most prominent and plausible rumors surrounding the iPhone 15 so far.
Is the iPhone 15 price skyrocketing?
Since the first iPhone came out in 2007, prices have climbed considerably. This might happen again in 2023 with the iPhone 15, but not in the manner you would expect. Analysts who have previously spoken with CNET have predicted that the standard iPhone 15 will maintain its current pricing.
However, if speculations regarding a high-end iPhone 15 Ultra prove accurate, the maximum limit of the range might be pushed much higher. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg speculates that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be replaced by the Ultra variant in the following year. Kuo, who believes Apple will further define the differences between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max, sees this as a confirmation of his forecasts. Currently, in the United States, iPhone 14 prices vary from $829 for the base model (128GB) to $1,599 for the top-tier model (iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage).
Other features
- iPhone 15’s redesign brings Dynamic Island to all models. With the iPhone 15, it’s probable that Apple will keep offering four different iPhone versions. All versions are expected to look quite similar, however the Dynamic Island cutout from the iPhone 14 Pro is rumored to make an appearance. This speculation originates from a tweet from display expert Ross Young from September, in which he also said that he does not anticipate the standard iPhone 15 models to feature a faster refresh rate like Apple’s Pro iPhones.
Yes, Dynamic Island expected on standard models on the 15. Still not expecting 120Hz/LTPO on standard models as supply chain can’t support it.
— Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) September 18, 2022
- Pro versions of the iPhone 15 will have solid-state button technology. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst at TF International Securities and a well-known Apple watcher, believes Apple will further separate its entry-level and professional products in the near future. That’s why, as he said in a tweet back in October, he plans to replace the traditional volume and power buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro with solid-state versions. With the use of haptic feedback, the solid-state buttons, which Kuo claims will be the same as the home button on the iPhone SE and iPhone 7, will provide the impression of being pressed. One apparent benefit of this button design is that it seals out moisture.
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My latest survey indicates that the volume button and power button of two high-end iPhone 15/2H23 new iPhone models may adopt a solid-state button design (similar to the home button design of iPhone 7/8/SE2 & 3) to replace the physical/mechanical button design.— 郭明錤 (Ming-Chi Kuo) (@mingchikuo) October 28, 2022
- The new telephoto lens for the iPhone 15 cameras is fashioned like a periscope. Another one of Kuo’s forecasts has been gaining traction, this time about the camera on the iPhone 15. The expert believes that Apple will install a periscope-style telephoto lens in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Kuo predicts that the iPhone 15 Pro Max may have a whopping 6x optical zoom thanks to the inclusion of a telephoto lens. The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has a 10x optical zoom, but the iPhone 14 Pro Max can only manage a 3x magnification.
- The USB-C charging port is integrated into the design of iPhone 15. Given the European Union’s regulation that iPhones sold in the EU must migrate to a USB-C connector by 2024, speculation around the iPhone’s charging port has been the most popular thus far. The big issue is whether or not all iPhone models, or simply those sold in the EU, will be updated to use USB-C. Already, with the iPhone 14, Apple has made regional adjustments to iPhone models. The US variation eliminates the physical SIM card in favor of an electronic one, whereas other versions keep the SIM card slot.
