Apple’s iPhone 15 upgrade is expected to keep the same sleek aesthetics as its predecessor. A new color option and a larger storage capacity are also likely.
9to5Mac reports that the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro will come in an all-new deep red color, with code 410D0D, to join White, Space Black and Gold as Apple’s other color options.
Refined Design Aesthetics
The iPhone 15 is reportedly getting a few upgrades in terms of aesthetics. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to have a titanium frame and super-thin bezels, while the iPhone 15 Ultra might be a bit thicker with a curved display and a new button – presumably that rumored Action Button. Both the Pro and Pro Max are also supposedly gonna ditch Apple’s Lightning port for USB-C.
According to MacRumors, which spotted some dummy units, this means that the phones will only be compatible with accessories certified by Apple’s Made for iPhone program. ShrimpApplePro claims that this could mean cables that don’t meet the MFi standards will be limited in data and charging speeds.
It’s also been reported that the standard iPhone 15 will have a textured matte back panel instead of the glossy ones found on the iPhone 14 Pro and the Pro Max. The same Weibo user that floated the cyan color option for the iPhone 15 also suggested this, and it’s worth noting that this is the same person who correctly forecast the yellow iPhone 14.
In addition to that, there’s been speculation that the iPhone 15 will have physical power and volume buttons rather than a Taptic Engine-based haptic Home Button. It’s a bit surprising given that top Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reportedly predicted that the company would switch to solid-state buttons for its flagship handset.
A17 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will feature a number of upgrades that are sure to impress consumers. For starters, they will have a titanium frame design that is expected to be a significant improvement over their aluminum counterparts. They will also use a more efficient USB-C port and have support for Wi-Fi 6E. Additionally, the upcoming phones will likely have a higher-powered LiDAR sensor that could improve depth scanning capabilities for augmented reality apps.
The most significant upgrade will be the A17 Bionic chip, which is reportedly set to offer major improvements in both speed and efficiency compared to its predecessor. The chip will be manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process, which is considered a cutting-edge manufacturing technology. Apple’s exclusive acquisition of the first production run of the chip is expected to inspire replacement demand from users with older iPhone models.
According to DigiTimes, the A17 Bionic chip will be used exclusively in this year’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models. The Pro versions will also receive a periscope camera that can provide up to 5x-6x optical zooming capabilities. Next year, however, TSMC will reportedly switch to a more cost-effective N3E processor manufacturing process. While N3E has lower transistor density and fewer extreme ultraviolet (EUV) layers, it is still expected to deliver superior performance.
Voice Recognition
In the past, Apple has offered privacy features for Siri that keep voice requests on your device and away from data brokers. With iOS 14.5 in June, the company made several updates to Siri’s on-device speech recognition, requiring app developers to get your permission before tracking you across apps or sharing your personal information with third parties.
Apple’s rumor mill has been predicting some major changes for the iPhone 15. One is a titanium design that’s supposedly a bit more durable than stainless steel and much lighter. It may be exclusive to the Pro models, but it could make a difference for anyone who needs an extra-durable phone.
Other rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 series will be more energy efficient. A source claims that the display driver chip — which controls the screen on every iPhone model — will be more energy efficient, which should help improve battery life on all models.
A Weibo post claiming that a cyan color option is iphone 15 coming to the standard iPhone 15 has been verified by MacRumors, which sourced dummy units with a frosted back instead of the glossy finish used on previous generations. The post also hints at a new programmable “Action Button” key that can be used as a mute switch or for other purposes.
