Top iPhone 15 Leaks
– There may be a super-premium Ultra model
– The best models may have periscope cameras
– All four phones can have a dynamic island
– Titanium frames can be used by some airlines
– Prices may be even higher
– Expect Apple to eventually switch to USB-C
– 48MP main cameras on all four models
– Chip A17 for Pro models, A16 for non-Pro models
Time does not stop for anyone, so we are already looking towards the iPhone 15, even though the iPhone 14 was presented only recently.
There are already quite a few leaks and rumors about the iPhone 15 series – including the possibility of seeing an iPhone 15 Ultra instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Yes, that’s right – pre-release information about the upcoming iPhone is here, so far in advance. This is not a total surprise as Apple leaks sometimes take place years before a product is launched.
To give you a (very early) idea of what the upcoming phone – as well as its sibling family – will look like, we’ve rounded up all the news, rumors and predictions here. Expect this article to contain many updates between now and September 2023.
To the point
- What is this? Apple smartphone generation 2023
- when is it coming out? Probably September 2023
- How much does it cost? Possible price increase over the iPhone 14
iPhone 15 release date
- It will probably start in the first half of September
- The shipping date will probably be a week later
We haven’t heard any rumors about an iPhone 15 release date or release date yet, but that’s to be expected – they rarely go more than a month before the launch itself.
For the iPhone 14, the event was on September 7, with three of the four phones going on sale more than a week later on September 16 (and the iPhone 14 Plus on October 7). Apple typically picks the first or second week of September for its launches, and usually picks Tuesday, though it does occasionally pick a Wednesday event.
In 2023, this means that September 5 or 12 are quite likely (both are Tuesdays), although 6 and 13 are also possible.
iPhone 15 price
- Prices may be similar to last year
- If anything, prices may go up, not down – maybe except for Plus
As for the price, again, we haven’t heard many leaks or rumors, but the iPhone 14 series has shown a slight price increase over its iPhone 13 counterparts. This could happen again in 2023 for the iPhone 15.
For context, while the iPhone 14 family consists of four members, here are the prices of the cheapest and most expensive options:
- iPhone 14 128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,399
- iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB: $1599 / £1749 / AU$2769
This is the full price range of the current range, although of course there are plenty of devices and storage options in between these points.
As for the iPhone 15 lineup, one price rumor points to the iPhone 15 Ultra – a new phone that could land in place of the iPhone 15 Pro Max – starting at $1,199 (probably around £1,309 / AU$2,099 based on typical prices Apple) for the best.
The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1099 / £1199 / AU$1899, so if accurate, the next model would be at least $100 more expensive.
This is believable, especially since Apple suggests that people are willing to spend huge amounts of money on a phone.
However, according to a leak, the iPhone 15 Plus may be cheaper than the iPhone 14 Plus. This change would be because the iPhone 14 Plus isn’t selling great. By comparison, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 / £949 / AU$1,579.
iPhone 15 design and display
- Each model can have a dynamic island
- One or more models may have a titanium frame
The big feature of the iPhone 14 Pro is “Dynamic Island,” a fancy marketing name for the “punch hole” front camera Apple uses, and a leak suggests non-Pro iPhone 15 models could get it as well.
We’ve also recently heard from multiple sources that every iPhone 15 model will get Dynamic Island – but the standard phone and iPhone 15 Plus will still have a 60Hz screen.
However, contradicting Dynamic Island’s claim is the belief of some that the iPhone 15 series may use under-display cameras that sit beneath the phone’s screen to ensure it doesn’t take up display space. However, at TechRadar, we’re not too sure about that.
As for the design, one source claims that at least some iPhone 15 models may have titanium sides. They added that the sides may curve towards the back of the phone on the iPhone 15 lineup, instead of being at right angles like on the iPhone 14.
Apple is still deciding on those curved sides, though according to another source, so there’s a chance they won’t occur.
That said, a leaked image has now surfaced showing these curved sides, along with a brushed metal (probably titanium) finish on the rumored iPhone 15 Pro, so there’s a good chance these changes will follow. There’s also a USB-C port – more on that below.
Another rumor suggests that all four iPhone 15 models will have slightly curved edges – so we can go back to the look of the iPhone 11 – while the Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra) phones will also have thinner bezels. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus apparently get a new camera.
Also on the design front, the iPhone 15 Pro – and possibly the Ultra as well – could get solid-state volume and power buttons that don’t physically move.
Some unofficial renders based on the specs of the case have also surfaced online, and you can see one of them below. If they’re accurate, the Pro models will have thinner display bezels, more curved edges, and larger camera bumps compared to the phones that came before them.
iPhone 15 camera and battery
- The top model could have a periscope camera
- We may see all four phones equipped with a 48MP main sensor
We’ve heard that on the camera front, the Pro models could come with periscope cameras, which should improve the telephoto capabilities.
That said, a major leak suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will actually be called the iPhone 15 Ultra – after Apple adopts that suffix elsewhere – and will bring additional features over the iPhone 15 Pro.
A key example is listed in the cameras section, as while the iPhone 15 Pro apparently retains the 14 Pro’s telephoto zoom lens, the iPhone 15 Ultra is rumored to get a periscope lens for even more magnification, possibly around 5x. So we can only see the top periscope snapper phone.
We’ve heard this a few times already, from various sources, which makes it sound very likely – although whether the periscope camera phone will be called Ultra or Pro Max is less clear.
That’s not the only possible camera upgrade, though, as another source says Sony’s new sensor will be used in the iPhone 15 lineup, which is state-of-the-art, captures more light than current sensors and avoids overexposed or underexposed photos.
Also, according to analyst Jeff Pu, all four models could have a 48MP main sensor (via 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab)), which would be an improvement on the cheapest two.
We haven’t heard anything about the battery yet, but when it comes to charging, one report suggests Apple is working on a reverse wireless charging feature that could let you use your iPhone to wirelessly charge other gadgets like the Apple Watch.
Leaks around this feature have been around for years, so don’t get your hopes up, but it’s possible.
iPhone 15 specs and features
- A17 Bionic chipset for Pro models and A16 Bionic for others
- All four phones can get USB-C
When it comes to the iPhone 15’s base specs, there are a few things we’re pretty sure about. For example, one report says that Apple is working on a 3nm A17 Bionic chip for the iPhone 15. Given that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use A16 Bionic, and the 17 is one higher than the 16, we could have guess that.
One report goes into more detail, however, saying that the A17 Bionic should be more powerful than the A16 Bionic, which would likely lead to improved battery life.
However, the iPhone 14 used the older A15 Bionic chip, also seen in the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, and another report suggests this new trend – of non-Pro phones using older chipsets – could continue. It’s a claim we’ve heard many times, so in other words, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus can use the A16 Bionic.
Sticking to the chipsets, it seems likely that Qualcomm will ship a 5G modem again. It looks like the Snapdragon X70 will be chosen, offering better performance than the Snapdragon X65 in the iPhone 14.
As for other specs, we’ve heard predictions that the Pro models will jump to 8GB of RAM in the iPhone 15. Another difference between the Pro and non-Pro models could be Wi-Fi 6E support for the Pro models.
We may also see a USB-C port on every iPhone 15 model. The EU has told Apple it needs to add USB-C charging ports to iPhones from 2024, but many fans believe Apple will adopt the charging standard sooner, in 2023 – and at least one leak points in that direction.
We recently heard another reputable source say the entire iPhone 15 lineup will get USB-C, but added that only the Pro models will offer improved data transfer speeds. This has now been stated by multiple sources.
The two phones may apparently have data transfer speeds of 20Gbps or 40Gbps, while the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Max are reportedly stuck at the same 480Mbps speeds as current models.
We’ve also now seen the image you’ll find in the Designs section of this article of an iPhone with a USB-C port, so adding one of these seems increasingly likely. But Apple may limit the accessories that can be connected via USB-C.
That being said, some fans are hoping Apple won’t ditch its own Lightning port any time soon, even suggesting the company might unveil a completely portless iPhone first.
This seems unlikely as Apple has now confirmed it will switch to USB-C – at least in Europe, although the company has not said if it will make the switch globally. It also didn’t specify which model will be the first iPhone with USB-C, so it may not be the iPhone 15.