iPhone 15 Pro: What To Expect

Thinner Bezels

When you look around at the entire smartphone market, it’s pretty obvious that there’s a reason why Apple stands above the pack. It’s design and hardware uniformity are second to none, and that includes things like the bezel surrounding the display.

One of the more minor complaints that we’ve seen about the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is that the bezel just seems a bit too big. However, according to recent CAD renders that were leaked, Apple could be making a change.

The renders reveal bezels that are slightly thinner, resulting in the “body of the device” being “a few mm smaller”. Despite these changes, they won’t be enough to warrant larger screen sizes. Instead, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 6.8-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max are said to be equipped with a “slightly smaller body.” More recently, rumors claim that the iPhone 15 Pro’s bezel measure at 1.55mm compared to the 2.17mm bezels found on the current iPhone 14 Pro.

iPhone 15 Pro: Specs

Rumors claim the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be upgraded to the Apple A17 chip, which is said to be Apple’s first 3nm chip, providing about a 10-15% increase in performance while also being about 35% more power efficient than previous models.

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will also support Wi-Fi 6 and Ultra Wideband, with the latter being implemented ahead of the release of Apple’s Vision Pro headset. The Pro models are said to see an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E, which offers faster connectivity, lower latency, more bandwidth, and increased capacity. These devices will also get the upgraded Ultra Wideband chip for the same reasons as the non-Pro iPhone 15 models.

Finally Moving To USB-C

The Lightning charging port has overstayed its welcome, as the rest of the world has since moved onto USB-C. There’s nothing inherently wrong with using Lightning for charging, but it offers slow transfer speeds and is already being phased out from other Apple products. A move to USB-C would be huge, as this would bring it in line with the latest iPad models, along with the various MacBooks that Apple is currently selling.

But it’s important to note that this isn’t a move that Apple is doing willingly, as recent EU regulations are stipulating that any future iPhone model will be required to have USB-C by 2024. Technically, Apple could wait until the iPhone 16, but many reports claim that Apple will be making the transition with the iPhone 15 instead of holding out for another year.

One of the big reasons why we’re excited to see Apple transition from Lightning to USB-C is because of the transfer speeds. As it currently stands, Lightning is capable of reaching USB 2.0 speeds, which translate to 480Mbps, whereas Thunderbolt 3 and Thunderbolt 4 can reach an incredible 40Gbps.

Unfortunately, recent reports claim that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be “upgraded” to USB-C, but the transfer speeds will still be limited to the same 480Mbps if using the cable that Apple will be including in the box. There is some hope that Thunderbolt 4 speeds can still be achieved, but you’ll need to purchase a separate, more expensive, cable in order to do so. In fact, Apple could go so far as to introduce a new cable entirely, which would support USB 4 and charging speeds of up to 150W. The rumor also claims that this USB 4 Gen 2 cable would be able to offer transfer speeds up to 80Gbps.

As for those who are considering an upgrade to either the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, the USB-C cable will support faster transfer speeds. One leak claims that the higher-end iPhone models will “support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3. This spec upgrade means the wired transfer and video output user experience will significantly improve.”

Lastly, it’s possible that Apple will finally move away from using the same boring “white” cable in the box. Instead, we could see color-matched USB-C cables in the box that are also braided. This would definitely be a welcome addition, but we’re still more excited to see braided cables in the box as opposed to the older ones.

Higher Price Tag

While most of the world is dealing with layoffs and a recession-like economy, Apple could end up looking the other way. A recent report claims that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will cost more than their predecessors.

The report doesn’t go so far as to say just how much more expensive Apple’s flagship iPhone models will cost. However, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the base model comes in at $100 higher.

Changes To The Volume Buttons

Did you know that the current generation of iPhone models still rely on “clicky” Side and Volume buttons? If a rumor from Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed, there are some big changes on the horizon. According to Kuo, Apple will switch to using “solid-state buttons” with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which will work in tandem with the Taptic Engine to make it feel like you’re still pressing a physical button.

“My latest survey indicates that high-end iPhone 15 models will feature solid-state buttons and will equip with additional Taptic Engines to simulate the feel of physical buttons’ force feedback.

As the exclusive supplier of Taptic Engine’s controller IC for solid-state buttons, Cirrus Logic stands to benefit markedly from this new design. If users respond well to this new design, I think it may be adopted in other high-end models of product lines in the future.”

This technology isn’t ground-breaking, as it’s the same feature that you’ll find with Apple’s Magic Trackpad. Every time you push down and click using the trackpad, you’re not actually moving the trackpad. Instead, it’s a simulated experience and one that removes the concern for the potential of dust or other particles rendering your trackpad useless. Additionally, Kuo claims that these solid-state buttons would likely make their way to future iPhone releases, depending on the “reception” of this implementation with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

No More Ringer Switch

Besides some of the basic features of a smartphone, along with the Apple logo on the back, the only hardware feature that has been on every single iPhone released is the ringer switch. This is found on the left side of the phone placed above the volume rocker and allows you to quickly silence your iPhone without actually unlocking it.

However, according to CAD files that were revealed by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra) could introduce a drastic change. As noted by the 9to5Mac report, “the iPhone 15 Pro models will ditch the separate volume up and volume down buttons for a new single button that works both ways depending on where the user presses it.”

What makes this even weirder is that those CAD renders show a cutout specifically for the ringer switch. But perhaps Apple just plans to have a long and slim button on the left side to control everything from the volume levels to the ringer switch.

Action Button Comes to iPhone

One of the more surprising additions of the Apple Watch Ultra was the inclusion of an “Action Button” that allows users to quickly activate different options such as starting workouts or even activating Shortcuts. Rumors and leaks claim that the Action button will replace the Ring/Silent switch, but could offer quite a bit more functionality.

Code found in the iOS 17 beta suggests that the Action button could be used to toggle Silent Mode, activate the Camera, activate a Shortcut, turn on a Focus Mode, enable the Flashlight, start a Voice Memo, launch the Translate app, and much more. It will definitely be interesting to see if Apple actually brings this to the iPhone, and could really change the way that you use your phone on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there will likely be those who are disappointed with the move, as the Ring/Silent switch has been a staple of the iPhone since the original iPhone 2G was released back in 2007.

Replacing the Pro Max With the iPhone 15 Ultra

There have been rumors about an “Ultra” iPhone for the past few years. Until recently, we expected this to be a fifth option added to the yearly upgrade cycle, but recent reports claim that won’t be the case. Instead, Apple is expected to replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max with the iPhone 15 Ultra, and it’s also possible that this means there are more differences between the Pro and Ultra than just screen size. However, it’s not currently clear what those differences could be.

There are even rumors that Apple is working on a “portless” iPhone, which would solely rely on wireless charging via MagSafe. This would definitely be a sticking point for those who rely on plugging their iPhone’s in to transfer files, so we would suggest taking this rumor with a grain (or bucket) of salt.

Even Better Zoom

For the first time in what feels like forever, Apple upgraded the camera hardware on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Instead of using a slightly-tweaked and updated 12MP lens, the main camera on the Pro and Pro Max models now use a 48MP sensor. While we aren’t sure whether Apple will be upgrading the main camera again with the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, there are claims that Apple will implement a periscope camera.

It’s possible that this periscope camera will replace the existing 3x telephoto lens, while also aligning the iPhone with the latest Android handsets that already have a periscope lens for greater zoom capabilities. With this periscope lens, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could offer either 5x or 10x optical zoom, vastly superior to the 3x available on the current Pro and Pro Max models. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra utilizes a periscope telephoto camera that offers between 4x and 10x optical zoom, but is also capable of reaching 100x digital zoom, greatly outperforming the current iPhone models.

Unfortunately, rumors and leaks point to the iPhone 15 Pro Max being the only model to implement this new periscope camera. This decision is likely being made due to the larger case sizing of the Pro Max, as Apple would likely need to figure out a redesigned model entirely in order to pack the periscope camera into the iPhone 15 Pro’s case.

Other Design Changes

The design first introduced with the iPhone 12 was applauded as it reminded everyone of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S with flat edges, along with a flat back panel. Three iterations later and we still have the same design with the iPhone 14 lineup, with the exception of the Dynamic Island and larger camera housing.

According to ShrimpApplePro and others, Apple is considering making a slight, yet welcome, change to the design for the iPhone 15 lineup. In this latest report, Apple would return to having curved edges on the side rails and back, invoking nostalgia for the iPhone 5C.

This would make the iPhone more comfortable to hold in the hand, without feeling like the edges of your iPhone are digging into your palms. However, it’s also possible that these design changes are going to come to the iPhone 15 as there are issues with the supply chain in regard to the way Apple implements MagSafe wireless charging.

Along with the slight-redesign to make the iPhone more comfortable to hold, it seems as though Apple is gearing up to move away from the stainless steel chassis with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max models. Instead, the company is rumored to be using Titanium, which will hopefully make the devices lighter than their predecessors, without sacrificing durability in the process.

Apple is already using Titanium, as this is what the Apple Watch Ultra is made from, so it makes perfect sense for Apple to bring it to its more premium devices. The biggest downside to this change would be that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max could be more susceptible to scratches, despite being more resistant to other forms of damage compared to the stainless steel construction.

Announcement and Release Date

Apple recently announced that its iPhone 15 event will take place on September 12 at 1 PM ET in Cupertino. It seems that this might be another hybrid event, allowing for some in-person attendees while also providing pre-recorded videos for everyone to watch. From there, pre-orders are expected to begin on Friday, September 15 before being officially released on Friday, September 22.

There are rumors and rumblings that Apple could be dealing with constraints when it comes to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, specifically when it comes to the display. However, we can only hope that we don’t end up with another iPhone 14 Plus scenario, where the phone was announced, but didn’t launch until a few weeks after the rest of the models were made available.