iPhone 15: rumored release date, price predictions, latest leaks and more
1. Model comparison
2. Release date
3. Price
4. Colors
5. Design
6. Camera
7. Features
8. Display
9. USB-C
10. Battery and charging
Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone 15 line is now just days away, with the company all but certain to unveil the next generation of its best iPhones in September 2023.
Myriad rumors surrounding the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have been swirling ever since the iPhone 14 line launched last year, but we’ve now got a pretty clear picture of the key iPhone 15 upgrades heading to all four phones ahead of their global unveiling.
We’ve also heard that an iPhone 15 Ultra could be arriving in place of the Pro Max iPhone this year, and although that rumor has lost traction in recent months, some last-minute iPhone 15 leaks suggest that Apple’s first Ultra-branded iPhone could still release in 2023.
In any case, to give you an idea of what to expect from Apple’s successor to the standard iPhone 14, we’ve put together this one-stop shop guide to all the latest news, rumors and predictions surrounding the iPhone 15.
Latest leaks, rumors and news (Updated September 8)
- The iPhone 15 is predicted to carry the same price as the iPhone 14
- The iPhone 15’s camera upgrades could be the “star of the show”.
- The iPhone 15 could be released as expected but the iPhone 15 Pro Max might be delayed by up to four weeks.
- Here’s a reason to skip the iPhone 15: the iPhone 16 could get a better OLED screen.
- We think you really shouldn’t buy a new iPhone right now.
- This is how we think the iPhone 15 Pro Max will stack up against the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
- An unlikely rumor points to an iPhone 15 Pro Max and an iPhone 15 Ultra.
- Some Apple fans are divided over this iPhone 15 feature.
Model comparison
This guide refers to the standard iPhone 15, specifically, but we’re also expecting Apple to unveil an iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in September. Here’s how all four models could compare:
iPhone 15 release date predictions
- Apple event scheduled for Tuesday, September 12
- Actual shipping dates will likely come a week or so later
- iPhone 15 Pro Max was rumored to face delays, but now back on track
The iPhone 15 release date is now all but confirmed ahead of Apple’s September 2023 event, which is set to take place on Tuesday, September 12. If you want to follow along, here’s how to watch the Apple event online.
This event will almost certainly play host to the launch of the iPhone 15 line, with iPhone 15 pre-orders likely to begin a few days later on Friday, September 15. Shipping dates will probably follow another week later on Friday, September 22.
Previous reports had suggested that the actual shipping dates for some iPhone 15 models could be delayed until October, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max, in particular, set to arrive later than its siblings. But there’s no consensus on whether this delay will indeed happen, so we took a deep dive to discuss if the iPhone 15 Pro Max will actually be delayed or not.
With all that in mind, we reckon this is the worst time to buy a new iPhone; you really should wait for the iPhone 15 lineup to be revealed and released first.
iPhone 15 price predictions
- Price expected to be similar to the iPhone 14 across the globe
Naturally, we don’t yet know the price of the iPhone 15, but we can make an educated guess at the figure using a combination of rumors and the launch prices of the iPhone 14:
- 128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,339
- 256GB: $899 / £959 / AU$1,579
- 512GB: $1,099 / £1,179 / AU$1,899
We expect the iPhone 15 to match the iPhone 14 for price, with a starting price of $799 / £849 / AU$1,339 looking likely. That said, some analysts have predicted that the iPhone 15 will cost more than the iPhone 14, owing to increased production costs on Apple’s part.
If accurate, a series-wide price increase for the iPhone 15 line would mark the first of its kind in the US since 2017. International markets have seen price increases as recently as last year’s iPhone 14 line.
However, the most recent iPhone 15 price prediction suggests it will cost the same as the iPhone 14, so we’re inclined to believe that.
Apple may also opt to forgo the 128GB storage option with the iPhone 15 this year, as other manufacturers – including Samsung and Oppo – have done with their respective 2023 flagships. However, we suspect that the company will take this decision for its next Pro models, exclusively, if at all.
iPhone 15 colors
Going by rumors and previous iPhone models, Apple will likely offer five iPhone 15 colors at launch. We’ve heard much talk about a green iPhone 15 and a pink iPhone 15, but any of the six shades listed below could make the cut:
- Cyan / Green
- Light blue
- Pink
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Product (RED)
The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will most likely be offered in a different selection of shades to the iPhone 15, but in the same colors as each other. We’re expecting four different color options in total:
- Dark red
- Silver
- Gold
- Graphite, Space Gray, or Space Black
Reports also suggest that every iPhone 15 model will come with a color-matched braided USB-C cable. The use of braiding should make these cables more durable to the rigors of long-term use, as well as better retain their colors.
iPhone 15 design
- All four models could get iPhone 11-style curved edges
- iPhone 15 rumored to feature textured matte glass rear panel
- USB-C charging ports expected
Rumors surrounding the iPhone 15 design are particularly interesting, not least because they hint at some noticeable differences between Apple’s next vanilla iPhone and the base iPhone 14.
Chief among the design rumors is the suggestion that all four iPhone 15 models are going to get slightly curved edges, meaning the iPhone 15 could look more like the iPhone 11 (where the iPhone 14 rocks a straight-sided aesthetic akin to the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13).
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are apparently getting a new camera bump, too, which is a rumor that’s been further corroborated by unofficial iPhone 15 renders based on case specifications (obtained by 9to5Mac).
Another iPhone 14 Pro-level design feature could also be making its way onto Apple’s next standard iPhone. According to the same Weibo user who correctly leaked the existence of the yellow iPhone 14, the standard iPhone 15 will ship with an iPhone 14 Pro-style textured matte glass rear panel, instead of the traditional glossy rear panel used by its predecessor.
On the port front, the iPhone 15 is expected to get a USB-C charging port instead of the iPhone 14’s Lightning port (which has remained a fixture of every iPhone since the iPhone 5). The EU has told Apple that it has to add USB-C charging ports to iPhones from 2024, but all the signs point towards the company adopting the new charging standard in 2023. How Apple will handle the transition to USB-C with the iPhone 15 will be an interesting thing to watch.
Some (but not all) of those rumors are backed up by dummy iPhone 15 units that MacRumors has been able to source. You can see from the video below how the iPhone 15, the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max are likely to look.
Further renders of the iPhone 15 Plus emerged in February 2023, showing more of those aforementioned design changes: USB-C, more rounded edges, and the addition of the Dynamic Island on the less expensive models (which you can read about in the ‘screen sizes’ section of this guide).
It looks as though the dimensions of the iPhone 15 handsets are going to be more or less the same as their iPhone 14 equivalents – although, as mentioned, there are reportedly going to be some slight variations in the size of the camera bumps.
Annoyingly, however, it looks like the remainder of the design differences between the iPhone 14 series and iPhone 15 series – titanium sides, thinner bezels and so on – will be reserved for the latter’s Pro models. But that’s just what we’ve come to expect from Apple in recent years.
It’s also worth noting that Apple may be preparing to move to eSIM in countries outside the US for the iPhone 15, with eSIMs reportedly coming to the next generation of Apple’s best iPhones in France. Given the scale of integration with mobile carriers needed to support the implementation of eSIMs in countries that don’t already use them widely, it’s unlikely that Apple will be able to flick a switch and ditch the SIM card tray for every iPhone 15 model sold in Europe come September – but major Apple markets like the UK seem ready to join France in its adoption of eSIMs.
iPhone 15 camera
- Will likely ship with a 48MP main sensor
- Might use a different 48MP sensor to the Pro models
The iPhone 15 camera setup is likely to in part follow that of the iPhone 14, which has a 12MP main (26mm, f/1.5) and 12MP ultra-wide (13mm, f/2.4). But rumors indicate that the iPhone 15 will inherit the 48MP main sensor boasted by the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, rather than the 12MP main sensor used by the vanilla iPhone 14.
That said, one leak suggests that, while a 48MP camera is planned for the iPhone 15, it will use a different, smaller sensor than the Pro models, which could make it a lesser camera.
However this could still make for a massive upgrade, with a TrendForce report suggesting that the iPhone 15’s cameras will be the key upgrade on this phone, thanks to a new Sony-made main sensor that offers extended dynamic range.
We haven’t heard about changes to the ultra-wide camera, so that will probably be the same as last year, and on the selfie-snapping front, the iPhone 14’s 12MP selfie camera is expected to remain in place on the vanilla iPhone 15.
iPhone 15 features
- Expected to inherit the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic chipset
- More RAM for iPhone 15 Pro models
When it comes to the core specs of the iPhone 15, there are some things we’re almost certain of. For example, we expect the standard iPhone 15 to inherit the iPhone 14 Pro’s A16 Bionic, just as the standard iPhone 14 inherited the iPhone 13 Pro‘s A15 Bionic.
The inclusion of an A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15 should technically make the device feel snappier than the iPhone 14 (though the latter is certainly no slouch when it comes to performance). The bad news is that we’re also expecting to see an A17 Bionic come September, which – you guessed it – seems destined for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, exclusively.
That said, the iPhone 14 is fast enough for most users, and the iPhone 15 – by offering even more power under the hood – will likewise meet the demands of streaming, swiping, snapping and gaming with ease.
Sticking with chipsets, it seems likely that Qualcomm will be supplying the 5G modem again. The Snapdragon X70 looks certain to get picked for the iPhone 15, offering improved performance from the Snapdragon X65 in the iPhone 14.
As for the other specs, we’ve heard predictions that the Pro models are going to make the jump to 8GB of RAM with the iPhone 15. Another difference between the Pro and non-Pro models could be support for Wi-Fi 6E in the case of the Pro models.
iPhone 15 display
- Will likely use the same 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display
- Every model expected to get the Dynamic Island
When it comes to iPhone 15 screen sizes and displays, we’re expecting the standard iPhone 15 to deliver one major improvement over the iPhone 14.
The latter sports a 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED display that offers a 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution, and rumors suggest the iPhone 15 will follow suit. However, the iPhone 15 is all but certain to inherit the Dynamic Island – Apple’s fancy screen cutout – from the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which should give the phone a more premium feel.
Potential evidence for this claim has emerged, too, with leaked videos showing the front glass for reportedly three iPhone 15 models. They all include Dynamic Islands along with slightly curved bezels, with the Pro models having smaller bezels than the standard ones.
We’re not expecting the iPhone 15 line’s Dynamic Islands to be identical to the ones currently featured on Apple’s flagship devices, though. According to a recent tweet from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor will be integrated inside the Dynamic Island itself, rather than positioned below it (as on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max).
Beyond the Dynamic Island, though, the iPhone 15’s display is expected to remain identical to its predecessor’s. Both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max boast adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (dubbed ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of their displays to suit whatever’s happening on-screen, but it looks like the iPhone 15 will again be sticking with the iPhone 14’s static 60Hz refresh rate.
There could be one good reason to skip the iPhone 15 in the form of the iPhone 16, as the 2024 Apple phone has been tipped to get a new OLED display. The new display could make use of a Multi-Lens Array panel that would likely translate to a brighter screen.
iPhone 15 USB-C
- All four phones might get USB-C, but faster transfer speeds for Pro models
As mentioned, we’ll almost certainly see a USB-C port included on every iPhone 15 model, though reports suggest that only the Pro models will offer upgraded data transfer speeds. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could apparently have data transfer speeds of either 20Gbps or 40Gbps, while the standard iPhone 15 will reportedly be stuck with the same 480Mbps speeds as the current models. This has now been stated by multiple sources, and it’s thought that Apple could even release a special data transfer accessory cable just for the iPhone 15 Pro, too.
We’ve also now seen multiple photos, which you’ll find in the design section of this article, showing iPhones equipped with USB-C ports, so their addition is looking all but certain. Apple has actually confirmed that it will soon switch to USB-C – at least in Europe – so this feature is pretty much a shoo-in for the iPhone 15 line.
iPhone 15 battery and charging
- Larger batteries tipped across the board
- Faster charging via USB-C
Judging by Apple’s history when it comes to updating (or rather, not updating) battery sizes with each iPhone iteration, we were expecting the vanilla iPhone 15 to boast a similarly-sized power pack to the iPhone 14 (3,279mAh), however recent rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 lineup will feature significantly larger batteries across the board.
The iPhone 15, specifically, will reportedly feature an 18% larger battery than the iPhone 14, taking its capacity up to 3,877mAh. In theory, then, it’ll boast better battery life than its predecessor. We also think the batteries might be switched to a stacked type of technology, as used in electric vehicles.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has stated that Apple’s tipped proprietary USB-C chargers will offer faster iPhone 15 charging speeds than accessories produced by other manufacturers. This suggestion was recently backed up by images showing a mystery iPhone 15 chip that could be used to impose these charging limits, but the EU has warned Apple against making such a move, owing to its desire to keep the charging playing field level.
As for how fast these charging speeds might be, reports suggest that at least some of Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 devices will support charging up to 35W. At present, the standard iPhone 14 is limited to 20W charging, while the iPhone 14 Pro Max is capped at 27W. The former takes around an hour and a half to recharge to full capacity, so we’ll gratefully accept any improvements on that figure for the iPhone 15, though we suspect that the fastest charging speeds will be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Another interesting battery rumor surrounding the iPhone 15 line is the potential addition of reverse wireless charging, which would see the vanilla iPhone 15 capable of wirelessly charging other Apple gadgets, where its predecessor can’t. We’re less certain about this particular feature prediction, though. And if it does turn out to be true, reverse wireless charging seems likely to be exclusive to Apple’s next Pro iPhones.
iPhone 15 outlook
While the iPhone 15 isn’t expected to offer huge changes from what we’ve seen from iPhones before, a combination of tweaks and upgrades could lead to a phone that’s more than the sum of its parts.
An improved main camera, curved edges, USB-C connectivity, and a boost in performance, all for a price that may be similar to the iPhone 14, could see the standard iPhone 15 shape up to be one of the best phones of the year.
More iPhone 15 stories
Hubs
- iPhone 15 Plus: everything we know so far
- iPhone 15 Pro: everything we know so far
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: everything we know so far
- iPhone 15 Ultra: everything we know so far
- iPhone 15 pre-orders: here’s what to expect
- iPhone 15 deals: here’s what to expect
FAQs
- iPhone 15 release date rumors: when will Apple’s next iPhones arrive?
- iPhone 15 specs predictions: everything we expect to see
- iPhone 15 camera predictions: rumored sensor sizes and zoom ranges
- iPhone 15 screen sizes: What we’re expecting
- iPhone 15 design predictions: what Apple’s next phones might look like
- iPhone 15 colors: every rumored shade
- iPhone 15 price predictions: how much might each iPhone 15 model cost?
- iPhone 15 always-on display: what is it and will every model have one?
- iPhone 15 models: what iPhone 15 models will there be?
- Will the iPhone 15 have Touch ID? Here’s everything we know
- Will the iPhone 15 finally get USB-C? Here’s everything we know
Comparisons
- iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: the rumored key differences
- iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro: the rumored key differences
- iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: how will Apple’s next vanilla model stack up?
- iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro: the rumored key differences
Buying advice