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Apple’s ‘Wanderlust’ September 12 event is just around the corner, and it’s no secret that it will unveil the new iPhones. In fact, very little remains a secret anymore when it comes to smartphones, whether they are iPhones or others. Therefore, we already have a good idea of what Apple has in store.
We can expect four new iPhones – the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus (here’s what to expect from them), as well as the two Pro models – the smaller iPhone 15 Pro and the Pro Max.
While the benefits of the Pro models are usually equal in capability but differ in size, this year, the Pro Max stands out as a more advanced phone, thanks to its periscope zoom lens.
Now, let’s break down what we can expect from Apple’s top-selling devices.
USB-C
You can thank the European Union because Apple is finally catching up with the times and including the universal USB-C port on the iPhone.
This makes sense as most devices nowadays use USB-C ports, even Apple’s own MacBooks and iPad Pros. At this point, iPhone users probably have more USB-C cables lying around than they have lightning cables.
However, the iPhone 15 Pros may have access to faster USB speeds compared to the standard models. Rumor has it that the 15 Pro and Pro Max could support USB 3.2 speeds and possibly even Thunderbolt.
This would mean that the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus would have USB 2.0 speeds reaching 480 Mbps, while the Pro models could reach the higher speeds of USB 3.2 at 20 Gbps or even Thunderbolt at 40 Gbps.
New Titanium Frames
The Pro iPhones will use a new titanium alloy for their chassis, departing from the stainless steel frames used until now. Titanium offers several advantages over stainless steel – it is much stronger and, most importantly, it is much lighter. However, steel is more resistant to scratches.
The new titanium-clad iPhone Pro models may feature a brushed metal finish instead of the current mirror finish of the existing Pro models.
There will be a new dark blue color option, as well as a lighter silver grey, a space black, and a natural titanium. We may not see a Gold model this year.
Thinner Edges
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will retain their respective 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens. However, the screens could be brighter, have more efficient LTPO controllers, and thinner bezels.
According to rumors, the bezels will shrink from 2.17mm to 1.55mm, making the iPhone 15 Pro models the phones with the thinnest bezels.
A17 Chip, 8GB RAM?
While the standard iPhone 15 models will come with last year’s A16 SoC, the Pro models will feature the revolutionary A17 chipset. It is the first chipset built on a 3nm process, which will result in a 10% to 15% increase in processing performance and up to 30% better efficiency.
The A17 will have a 6-core processor and a 6-core GPU, with one extra core compared to the graphics in the A16 chip. Apple will likely pair the new chip with 8GB of RAM, an upgrade from the 6GB in the iPhone 14 Pro.
New Ultra-wide Camera
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to retain the 48MP IMX803 main camera but gain a new 13.4MP f/2.2 ultra-wide camera with a superior 7p lens.
The iPhone 15 Pro is also expected to keep the 12.7MP f/2.8 3x zoom from last year, but it will improve image quality through software enhancements.
Periscope Zoom for the Pro Max
The main difference between the two phones is the new periscope zoom, which will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The larger size of the Pro Max allows it to accommodate the larger periscope camera system.
The periscope zoom will offer a 5x or even 6x optical zoom, and Apple can further extend it through digital zoom, similar to Samsung and other competitors. Some reports suggest that the periscope sensor may measure 1/2.9″, and the lens will have a relatively bright aperture of f/2.8.
Due to the larger size of the periscope camera system, Apple may need to rearrange some lenses to optimize the internal components.
Price Increase, but 256GB as the Base Option
Reports suggest that Apple may increase the prices of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max to counter the decline in sales. Expect a price increase of around $100 per model, and potentially even more in markets outside the US.
On the other hand, the Pro models may no longer offer the 128GB base storage option and instead start with 256GB, resulting in equivalent pricing for the same storage, at least in the US.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max Could Launch in October
Apple will announce the iPhone 15 series on September 12, with pre-orders starting on September 15, and the devices hitting the market in the first wave of countries on September 22.
However, supply issues may lead to the delayed release of the iPhone 15 Pro Max to October.
That’s all. We will be covering Apple’s announcements live tomorrow, so stay tuned!