Apple in September 2023 will continue on with its four iPhone flagship lineup, introducing the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. As with the iPhone 14 Pro models, the higher-end iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will have features that are not available in the more affordable iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
This roundup highlights everything that we know about the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max based on circulating rumors, with rumors about the standard iPhone 15 models available in the iPhone 15 roundup. The iPhone 15 Pro is expected to measure in at 6.1 inches, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be 6.7 inches, making them identical in size to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
So far, it looks like the iPhone 15 Pro models will include some minor design updates, with Apple introducing notably thinner, curved bezels and a new titanium material for the chassis that will replace the stainless steel. Apple is also expected to add a redesigned “mute” button that could actually serve as an Action button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra. The so-called Action button will replace the current mute switch, but it will be able to do more than just mute the iPhone. Rumors suggest that users will be able to set multiple functions, from turning on the flashlight to activating shortcuts.
An upgraded 3-nanometer A17 chip will be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, with the iPhone 15 models using the same A16 chip that’s in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The A17 chip will be faster and more efficient, so we could see speed improvements and battery life gains. All iPhone 15 models will feature the Dynamic Island this year and will also transition from Lightning to USB-C, but the iPhone 15 Pro lineup will include an upgraded USB-C port that features faster USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds.
More RAM is expected alongside the A17 chip, but all iPhone 15 models will use the same 5G Qualcomm modem chip technology for connectivity. Apple is also expected to introduce a new Ultrawide Band chip for nearby interactions, with the UWB chip integrating with the Vision Pro headset that Apple will introduce in early 2024. For the most part, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will have the same features, with one major difference — the telephoto camera lens.
Both iPhone 15 Pro models will include telephoto lens technology as part of their standard three-camera array, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a new periscope lens that will enable 5x to 6x optical zoom, a notable improvement over the 3x zoom on the current iPhone 14 Pro models. Rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro models will come in blue, silver, space gray/black, and titanium gray. The camera changes are said to be the “star of the show” at the iPhone 15 event.
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A photo of an iPhone 15 Pro with USB-C port surfaced in February, giving us our first look at the design of the device. Dummy models followed in April, as did several renders.
The USB-C port doesn’t look too much different from the Lightning port in the current iPhone 14 Pro lineup, but it interesting to see the similarities. The image shows off the deeper curve that Apple is expected to add to the iPhone 15 Pro models, and it has a brushed metal finish that could be the rumored titanium chassis. 
Leaked front glass panels designed for the iPhone 15 Pro models give us some insight into the thinness of the bezels, and there is a noticeable difference in size. Thinner bezels will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro models with no change for the standard iPhone 15 models, according to rumors.
The thinner bezel design will be noticeable, as seen in the photo below comparing the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro mockup.
Rumors initially suggested the iPhone 15 Pro models would feature a unified volume button design, but this is no longer the case. The updated design was linked to solid-state button technology, which Apple is no longer using, and so the company is returning to the standard two-button design that it used for the iPhone 14 Pro. Renders and leaks depicting a single button are now outdated since the design has been updated.
While the volume buttons won’t have notable changes, Apple is expected to swap the mute switch for a mute button, which is accurate in renders that we’ve seen.
Images of the USB-C connector parts designed for the next-generation iPhone models leaked in August, further confirming Apple’s transition to USB-C charging technology.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to look similar to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, with 6.1 and 6.7-inch OLED displays and a Dynamic Island cutout for the camera and Face ID hardware.
There have been rumors of some tweaks to the chassis of the two Pro models. Leaker ShrimpApplePro has said that the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected feature notably thinner bezels compared to the iPhone 14 Pro models. The displays would remain flat despite the slimmer, curved edges, a design likened to the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8.
The iPhone 15 Pro’s bezels are expected to measure in at 1.55mm, which means the device will “break the record” for the thinnest bezels in a smartphone. The iPhone 14 Pro, for comparison, has 2.17mm bezels. Bezel size is not rumored to change for the standard iPhone 15 models.
Instead of stainless steel, rumors suggest that Apple will transition to titanium this year, using it for the frame of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Compared to stainless steel, titanium is lighter and stronger, but it is also more expensive because it is harder to work with.
Presuming no other major changes in terms of internal components, an iPhone constructed with a titanium frame will be lighter than an iPhone with a stainless steel frame, so it is likely that the 15 Pro and Pro Max will be lighter than their iPhone 14 Pro predecessors. Rumors suggest that weight could decrease by as much as 10 percent compared to the iPhone 14 Pro models.
Titanium is already used in the Apple Watch lineup, and Apple has in the past featured two titanium colors, a standard silver-like natural titanium color and a darker space black version. Apple could use these same colors for the iPhone 15 Pro models, or design new shades.
In addition to being lighter weight, titanium has a different finish than stainless steel. Rather than being shiny, it has more of a matte texture that will not attract fingerprints in the same way the iPhone 14 Pro’s stainless steel frame does.
Titanium is a much stronger material than stainless steel, so an iPhone chassis made of the material could be more resistant to dents, dings, and bending but it may be easier to scratch because the oxide layer is easily damaged and can make minor scratches stand out.
The iPhone 15 Pro models could be available in a dark blue color, which is not too far off from the blue of the iPhone 12 Pro, but with more gray for a deeper shade. Apple often provides one new color each year, and the blue has been used for iPhone 15 Pro prototype devices.
Other colors will include a lighter silver gray shade, a space black color, and a natural titanium color, with no gold option expected this year.
The iPhone 15 Pro models were originally expected to feature solid-state buttons that would replace the physical buttons, with Apple also using an elongated, single button design. Apple planned to use haptic feedback to mimic the feel of a button press, giving the sensation of pressing when there is no actual button to press on.
For months during the rumor cycle, Apple was said to be using this technology, but in April, the company abandoned plans for solid-state button technology. According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple ran into “unresolved technical issues.”
Kuo says that Apple will instead “revert to the traditional physical button design,” which includes a transition back to the dual-button setup used for the iPhone 14 Pro models rather than the rumored single button. Solid-state buttons could instead be included in the 2024 iPhone 16 models.
Though there won’t be notable changes to the volume buttons, Apple is rumored to be replacing the current mute switch with a button design. Like the volume buttons, this is expected to be a physical button rather than a solid-state button. A source from the MacRumors forums has suggested that Apple might turn this mute button into an “Action” button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra, and multiple sources have since confirmed that it will indeed be a button rather than a switch.
The “Action” button will allegedly replace the current Ring/Silent switch located near the volume buttons, but there is no word yet on what functions such a button might be able to perform. It would likely be customizable similar to the Apple Watch Action button and could be used for things like activating Do Not Disturb, turning on Low Power Mode, activating the Camera app, and more.
Apple is expected to use the new Action button to change how the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are restarted and powered off. Rather than pressing the Side button and a volume button to restart, the iPhone 15 Pro models could instead use the Action button combined with the Side button for force restarting and powering off the iPhone.
iOS 17 code has hinted at some of the features that the Action button might be able to activate. It could be used to toggle on Silent Mode, activate the Camera, turn on the Flashlight, activate a Shortcut, turn on a Focus mode, turn on the Magnifier app, launch the Translate app, start a Voice Memo and more.
All iPhone 15 models could be equipped with a more power-efficient OLED display driver chip that’s manufactured on a 28nm process, allowing for reduced power consumption that could ultimately lead to improved battery life.
A set of 3D printed iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models offers some insight into how prior-generation iPhone 14 cases will fit, and it appears that older cases will not be able to be used with the new iPhones.
Small changes in the dimensions to the iPhone 15 lineup will prevent the cases from fitting for the most part, though the iPhone 15 Plus is able to fit inside an iPhone 14 Plus. The larger rear camera housing of the Pro models prevents iPhone 14 Pro cases from working properly, as does the more curved design and changes to the buttons.
iPhone 15 Pro case leaks confirm that the new models will feature slightly repositioned power and volume buttons, with the buttons just a bit lower than they are on the iPhone 14 Pro models. The cases feature a larger cutout at the bottom to accommodate the USB-C port. 
The cases have a cutout for the mute button that will replace the mute switch. Since it does not need to be gripped like a switch, it requires a smaller cutout.
Multiple rumors have suggested that Apple will not make leather cases for the iPhone 15 lineup, instead offering a new leather alternative case to go along with the Silicone cases. Apple is making this choice as it is more environmentally friendly.
One rumor has suggested that Apple’s new cases will be called “FineWoven” and will feature a sort of suede-like fabric, but it is not yet clear if this is accurate.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Dynamic Island is expected to feature an updated design with an integrated proximity sensor, but this change will not result in notable changes to the look or functionality of the Dynamic Island. It will change component costs, and could be a move that Apple is making to lower device costs somewhat.
All iPhone 15 models are expected to feature a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, a design change that Apple is making because of regulatory requirements in Europe. EU law requires all devices to use a universal charging port, so Apple either needs to design an iPhone just for Europe, or make a worldwide change.
Rumors suggest that Apple has opted to introduce the USB-C port globally, officially adopting it instead of Lightning for the iPhone 15 lineup. USB-C will mean that the same charger and cable setup can be used for iPhones, iPads, and Macs, along with other devices that use USB-C. For those who have USB-C products like an iPad or a Mac, it will be a convenient transition.
Though all iPhone 15 models will get USB-C, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to support higher-speed data transfers. The iPhone 15 Pro models will support USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds, so up to 20Gb/s at a minimum or up to 40Gb/s if Thunderbolt is supported.
The cable that ships with the iPhone 15 models could be limited to USB 2.0 transfer speeds, according to a leaker with a track record for getting some Apple details correct. He claims the cables have USB 2.0 data transfer speeds that max out at 480 MB/s, the same as Lightning. The iPhone 15 Pro models may be able to support faster Thunderbolt transfer speeds with a separately purchased Thunderbolt cable.
Images from ChargerLab suggest that some iPhone 15 models will include a Thunderbolt/USB 4 retimer chip, seemingly confirming the rumor of high-speed data transfer. 
At least some of the iPhone 15 models could support charging speeds up to 35W, which would allow for quicker charging with an appropriate power adapter. It is not clear if this is a feature that will be available for all of the iPhone 15 models or just the iPhone 15 Pro models.
One rumor from Chinese social networking site Weibo suggests that Apple could place some limitations on the iPhone’s USB-C port, preventing them from working with Apple-unapproved accessories. Apple has done this with the Lightning port, but none of the USB-C ports in Apple’s Macs or iPads have any kind of restriction.
The rumor suggests that Apple could add an integrated circuit interface to the USB-C chip, encouraging customers to buy genuine iPhone accessories and protecting from counterfeit and potentially dangerous charging cables and adapters.
Leaker ShrimpApplePro has also said that iPhone 15 models will only officially support USB-C accessories certified by the Apple Made for iPhone (MFi) program. Apple supplier Foxconn is allegedly producing accessories like EarPods and cables with USB-C connectors that are MFi certified.
The MFi USB-C certification could be used to limit features like fast charging and high-speed data transfers to Apple-approved accessories. ShrimpApplePro says that cables with no MFi certification will be limited in data and charging speed.
The iPhone 15 models will support both MagSafe charging and the new Qi2 standard, allowing for 15W charging from non-MagSafe third-party accessories. That will allow for faster wireless charging even from accessories that do not officially support MagSafe, as long as those accessories use Qi2.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could be sold with a color-matched braided USB-C to USB-C cable rather than a plain white cable. Apple currently sells the iPhone with a white USB-C to Lightning cable, but it has used braided color cables for devices like the iMac. If accurate, we could see cables in colors that include blue, black, and white to match the rumored colors that we are expecting this year.
The USB-C cable that’s included with the iPhone 15 models could be 50 percent longer. Rumors suggest that it will measure in at 1.5 meters instead of one meter. With the braided design, it is also expected to be more durable.
Apple could also sell a separate 0.8m USB-C data transfer cable for the iPhone 15 Pro models that is capable of Thunderbolt or USB4 speeds of up to 40Gb/s. There is no word on what such a cable might cost, but Apple already sells a 1.8m Thunderbolt cable for $130.
New periscope camera technology will be introduced with the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, but the update will be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The addition of the periscope lens to the 15 Pro Max will mark one of the few times that Apple has limited new technologies to the larger 6.7-inch Pro iPhone, using an inferior feature in the standard 6.1-inch Pro iPhone.
The periscope lens system will be used for the telephoto camera in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, allowing for 5x or 6x optical zoom. Comparatively, the iPhone 14 Pro Max offers 3x optical zoom, which we’re also expecting for the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple is likely limiting the periscope technology to the iPhone 15 Pro Max because of the internal space needed for the hardware. A periscope lens system generally uses a primary lens to capture a photo, with an angled mirror or prism reflecting the light 90 degrees toward a second lens that then sends it to the image sensor. The image sensor and secondary lens are positioned sideways inside the smartphone to extend focal length, and that takes up valuable surface area.
The directional shift of the light and the use of a prism or mirror allows for a “folded” telephoto lens system that fits in the chassis of a smartphone while still increasing optical zoom.
Because of the way light is reflected at an angle in this system, the actual telephoto lens will likely need to be square-shaped, a departure from the circular telephoto lens used for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Note that the camera cutout can still be circular, but the actual lens inside will be square.
For crisp photos at higher zoom levels, Apple will need to build optical image stabilization into the system to avoid blurriness and mitigate movement.
Apple competitor Samsung has been using periscope lens technology for a few years, and Samsung’s lenses support up to 10x optical zoom. Paired with digital zoom, Samsung offers up to 100x digital zoom. Samsung calls this technology “Space Zoom.” Like Samsung, Apple may not advertise the lens as a “periscope” lens, but we can expect increased optical zoom for the telephoto lens of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
The lenses of the iPhone 15 Pro Max may be rearranged to accommodate the larger periscope camera. Apple is expected to change the positions of the Ultra Wide and Telephoto lenses, though this will not result no notable changes for end users. Apple needs more space for the hardware of the periscope lens, so the ideal position is below the flash and LiDAR sensor. On the iPhone 14 Pro Max, that’s the location of the Ultrawide camera, so Apple will swap camera positions.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use the same 48-megapixel Main camera) that was in the iPhone 14 Pro models. It is equipped with the Sony IMX-803 image sensor with an f/1.78 aperture. The Ultra Wide camera will see an upgrade to a 13.4-megapixel lens with an f/2.2 aperture.
While the iPhone 15 Pro Max will get the periscope telephoto lens, the iPhone 15 Pro will get a smaller upgrade for the telephoto lens. It is expected to have 12.7 megapixels and an f/2.8 aperture, with the periscope technology limited to the larger phone.
The iPhone 15 Pro models are also expected to include an improved rear-camera LiDAR Scanner from Sony. Sony’s VCSEL (laser) used for the LiDAR Scanner has lower power consumption than the current model, so either the LiDAR Scanner in the iPhone 15 Pro will be more power efficient and use less battery, or it will offer improved performance at the same power consumption level.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will use Apple’s next-generation A17 chip, which is expected to be the first A-series chip built on a 3-nanometer process. 
The A15 and A16 chips used in the iPhone 14 models have chips built on a 5-nanometer and 4-nanometer process, respectively, and the shift to a newer process will result in smaller chip sizes because of increased transistor density. The A17 chip will feature a 6-core CPU and a 6-core GPU, which is one GPU core more than the A16.
TSMC has been working on perfecting the 3nm process for some time now, and the technology jump is expected to improve processing performance by 10 to 15 percent while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent. Because the 3nm chips are more expensive to make, the A17 chip will only be available in Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models in 2023. With the improved efficiency, we could see a gain in battery life.
Code found in the tvOS 17 beta confirms that the A17 chip will be limited to two of the upcoming iPhone 15 models (the Pro models), while the A16 chip will be used for the standard iPhone 15 models.
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are could feature 8GB RAM, up from 6GB in the current iPhone 14 Pro models, though one leak has suggested the devices will continue to feature 6GB RAM.
The iPhone 15 Pro models could support up to 2TB of storage, which would be double the capacity of the iPhone 14 Pro models that are limited to 1TB storage at maximum. There is also a possibility that the iPhone 15 Pro models will start at 256GB of storage, rather than 128GB, but rumors have disagreed on this.
All iPhones in 2023 will use Qualcomm’s next-generation X70 chips with improved AI for faster processing speeds, better coverage range, increased power efficiency, and lower latency.
The faster Wi-Fi 6E specification that Apple has started using for some devices is expected to be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Compared to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E offers more bandwidth, providing faster connectivity speeds, lower latency, and increased capacity. Wi-Fi 6E provides 1.2GHz more spectrum in the 6GHz band, and it can support whole home gigabit coverage, multi-gigabit connectivity for venues, and it has the bandwidth for higher data streams like those used for AR and VR experiences. Wi-Fi 6E’s benefits require a connection to a Wi-Fi 6E router.
The iPhone 15 models are expected to include a next-generation Ultra Wideband chip that will integrate with the Vision Pro headset. The processor used for the chip will be upgraded to 7nm, a change that will allow for improved performance and/or reduced energy consumption.
Apple with the launch of the iPhone 14 models removed the SIM card tray in devices sold in the United States. With the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models, the SIM tray could be removed in additional countries.
Rumors right now suggest that it will be eliminated in France, and if that’s the case, it could be removed in iPhones sold in other countries sold in Europe like Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and the UK.
Apple is contemplating raising the price for both the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. Apple may increase the cost of the device to boost revenue amid a decline in the smartphone market. 
Analyst Jeff Pu has also said that the iPhone 15 Pro models could be more expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro models. Pu believes the iPhone 15 Pro could be priced starting at $1,099, up from the $999 starting price of the iPhone 14 Pro. If that’s accurate, the iPhone 15 Pro Max could be priced starting at $1,199.
According to DigiTimes, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will each be $100 more expensive than their predecessors, but TrendForce believes Apple will only increase the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will be easier to repair this year. With the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, Apple added a chassis redesign that makes them easier to open for swapping the back glass.
This change will persist in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and rumors suggest Apple will use the new chassis design for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, all of the iPhone models will be able to be opened from the front and back sides, resulting in lower repair fees for damaged back glass.
Right now, for example, it costs $169 to repair the back glass of an iPhone 14, but $499 to repair the back glass of a 14 Pro because of the need to pull out the display to get to the back glass. The simpler repairs will bring lower repair fees even for Pro models.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models will unveiled at the “Wonderlust” event that Apple plans to hold on Tuesday, September 12. Preorders will likely take place on Friday, September 15, with a launch to follow on Friday, September 22.
The standard iPhone 15 models are expected to be readily available when the devices go up for pre-order, but based on the rumors we’re hearing, supplies of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max could be could potentially be a little constrained. There were issues with display manufacturing, but at least one source says those problems have been overcome, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple has fixed all of the issues, but as the iPhone 15 Pro Max was the last to enter mass production, it could be in shorter supply.
Apple’s iPhone 15 models will have fewer features than the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, with A16 chips, standard cameras with no telephoto lens, an aluminum chassis, and slower USB-C connectivity, but they will be more affordable.
More information on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus can be found in our iPhone 15 roundup.
The 2024 iPhone 16 lineup could see an update to the “Pro” iPhone display sizes, with the smaller iPhone 16 Pro adopting a 6.3-inch display and the larger Pro Max adopting a 6.9-inch display. There have also been options of an even higher-end “Ultra” model.
Other potential additions include solid-state buttons, a faster A18 chip, Wi-Fi 7, and notable camera improvements.
More information on what’s coming to next year can be found in our dedicated iPhone 16 roundup.
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