Apple announced the iPhone 15 at its September 2023 event, and there were a couple of eye-catching changes compared to the ordinary iPhone 14. Users will gain access to some of the features that existed on higher-end iPhone 14 models, and there are a couple of other things to look forward to.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are also receiving an upgrade compared to their predecessors. Today, you’ll discover some of the biggest design-related changes coming to each of these devices. Let’s get started.
A New Charging Port
Credit: Apple/YouTube
By far the biggest design change coming to the iPhone 15 is a brand-new charging port. Those of you who’ve been Apple customers for long enough will remember when the iPhone 5 received the thinner lightning to USB cable in 2012. Well, the iPhone 15 is about to get another significant change that’s arguably even bigger than that.
In recent years, Apple has made more of a push toward USB-C with its devices. For example, some of the newer iPhones come with a lightning to USB-C cable rather than the previous USB-A. With the launch of the iPhone 15, you’ll be able to use the same charger for both your iPhone and Mac. That will likely make things much easier if you want to deal with fewer wires.
The Action Button
Credit: Apple/YouTube
Another change coming to the iPhone 15 is the introduction of an Action button on the side. However, unlike the charging port, this feature will only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
The Action button lets you perform several actions more easily, such as enabling a Focus Mode or using your device’s flashlight. It’s a great feature if you don’t want to continuously unlock your iPhone to perform different actions.
You can customize the Action button in your iPhone settings.
The Dynamic Island
Credit: Apple/YouTube
If you’ve already owned or used an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max, you might be familiar with the Dynamic Island feature. However, from 2023 onwards, you won’t need to have one of the elite-level iPhones to gain access to this feature.
The standard iPhone 15 model will receive the Dynamic Island when you unlock your device, and it will sit at the top of your iPhone screen. With this feature, you can view numerous actions – such as viewing the song that’s currently playing on your device.
Removable Back Glass
If you’re anything like us, you’ve probably endured that awful feeling of your iPhone slipping out your hands and dropping on the floor. You pick up your device in more hope than expectation that it’s fine, and your worst fears – cracked glass – are realized. Over the years, iPhones have become more durable – and the iPhone 15 might make repairing your devices easier than before.
Removable back glass is another feature that already existed on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, but is now coming to the newest standard iPhone models. The store repairing your device will be able to easily take off the back glass on your device, which means that you should save money whenever you need to get your iPhone fixed. Hopefully, you won’t need to get your device repaired, though—you can always get an iPhone case (just make sure you consider these factors).
Thinner Borders and Titanium Materials
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will have what Apple claims are the thinnest borders yet on its iPhone devices.
Apple also mentioned that the Pro and Pro Max will use titanium in its external casing, which should hopefully make devices more durable than what you might have experienced in the past. At the September 2023 Apple Event, the company also said that the material is the most premium it has ever used on one of its smartphones.
Thanks in part to the material used, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the lightest ever.
A Couple of Important Changes Coming to the iPhone 15 Range
The iPhone 15 has a lot of similarities to the higher-end iPhone 14 devices, but they’ve now become more accessible. Removable back glass will be useful for lowering repair costs if the worst happens and you need to get your device fixed. Meanwhile, the Action button will make it easier to perform tasks that you’d normally go to your Control Center or wake up your iPhone for.
Perhaps the biggest change, though, is that the charging port on iPhones will change after 11 years. You should hopefully find it easier to connect your device to your Mac and other gadgets moving forward, and if you live in Europe, the EU’s USB-C law from 2024 onwards means that you may not even need your iPhone-specific charger.
While the iPhone 15 hasn’t received a huge overhaul, it still promises to be a solid device and a step into the next phase of Apple products.
Danny is a freelance writer who has been using Apple products for over a decade. He’s written for some of the largest technology publications on the web and previously worked as an in-house writer before carving his own route. Danny grew up in the UK, but now writes about tech from his Scandinavian base.
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