Apple iPhone leaks typically run throughout the entire year. No sooner does the latest iPhone series arrive – sometimes even before – than rumours start about the next models.
For 2022, there were four iPhone models: the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
We’ve covered off what the rumours are saying about the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max in a separate feature, but here we are looking at what we can expect for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
iPhone 15 release date
Apple has a pretty structured release cycle when it comes to its iPhone launch. While the company occasionally drops a little surprise, like the mid-range iPhone SE into the middle of the year, its flagship iPhone models generally arrive like clockwork.
There is some variation as to what week and day in September the iPhone models appear, but it is usually in September. The iPhone 14 series arrived on 7 September 2022, which was a week earlier than most expected.
For now, there have been no rumours suggesting what date the iPhone 15 series might launch on and it’s likely we won’t hear anything for a while either.
We’d put our money on September 2023, though whether it will be the first or second week – or perhaps a different week altogether – is currently unknown. We would expect the iPhone 15 models to be available before the end of September 2023 though again, there are no guarantees.
Apple / Pocket-lint
Apple iPhone 14 Plus
The Apple iPhone 14 Plus has all the same hardware and features as the iPhone 14 but with a larger display and battery – the latter of which is excellent on this model. It comes in the same five colour options as the iPhone 14 and retains the notch, setting it apart from the Pro models.
iPhone 15 design
- Dynamic Island?
- Aluminium over stainless steel
The Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are likely to look the same as each other, aside from their physical size. They will also probably be a little less premium in their material choice than the iPhone 15 Pro models – aluminium instead of stainless steel for example.
So far, details have been thin on the ground in terms of their designs, though there have been a number of suggestions that the iPhone 15 models will be getting the Dynamic Island cutout we saw on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in 2022. It’s also said that the Dynamic Island will include a proximity sensor within it rather than underneath it for the iPhone 15 models, though this shouldn’t change its appearance.
There wasn’t a huge design change between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 14 so we wouldn’t be surprised to see a bigger difference in the iPhone 15 models, though Dynamic Island would sort of do this.
It’s also been claimed the iPhone 15 models could come in cyan and magenta colour options and it’s been claimed the finish could be frosted rather than glossy, matching what we currently see on the iPhone 14 Pro models. Elsewhere, it’s also been suggested the iPhone 15 models could see a switch to eSIM only for the UK and Europe, matching what Apple did for the iPhone 14 models in the US.
iPhone 15 display
- iPhone 15: 6.1-inch, OLED
- iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7-inch, OLED
- Always On Display?
It’s claimed the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will feature the same display sizes as their predecessors – or at least very close to the same size.
The iPhone 14 has a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with 2532 x 1170 pixel resolution. This results in a pixel density of 460ppi. The iPhone 14 Plus meanwhile, has a 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen with a 2778 x 1284 pixel resolution resulting in a 458ppi.
Both devices have a 1200nits peak brightness and both support True Tone, Haptic Touch and HDR. It’s expected the iPhone 15 models will offer the same, though there is some talk of a 6.12-inch or 6.2-inch display for the standard iPhone 15. There was also talk of slimmer bezels around the display, though this appears to be for the Pro models rather than the standard models.
Whether the iPhone 15 models will adopt the Always On Display featured on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max isn’t clear yet, though it would require them to also adopt ProMotion, and rumours are suggesting that won’t be the case.
iPhone 15 hardware and specs
- A16 Bionic?
- Battery improvements expected
- USB-C for charging?
The Apple iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro opted for the same chip as the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max models rather than running the A16 chip featured on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. It’s possible Apple will do the same for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, moving them onto the A16 chip rather than the A17, which is what is expected to run the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
It’s also claimed that Apple will use Qualcomm’s 5G modem for the iPhone 15 models rather than a modem built in-house as it was initially thought for this year. Rumours suggest the first model to run an in-house 5G modem will be the iPhone SE (2024).
In terms of storage, no rumours have appeared detailing any changes to storage as yet. If the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus offer the same as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, then we can expect 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options. There have been suggestions of improved specced RAM though.
While there might not be huge changes, we’d also expect some battery improvements on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 14 Plus has an excellent battery performance, so we’d expect similar from the iPhone 15 Plus. It’s also been claimed this will be the year Apple will finally make the switch from Lighting to USB-C, though it’s said you will need a certified cable and charging speeds may be restricted depending on the cable.
iPhone 15 cameras
- Upgrade to 48MP main sensor?
- Unlikely to offer telephoto
When it comes to cameras, there have been reports suggesting the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus could see an upgrade to the 48-megapixel main sensor found in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
If this is the case, we don’t expect to see the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus offer the telephoto lens offered by the Pro models in order to continue to offer a differentiation between the standard and Pro models.
We would expect to see similar features across the four models though, with perhaps a couple of extras on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Phone 15 software
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will no doubt run on iOS 17, which is the next iteration of the iPhone’s software, due out around the same time as the new models.
We learned more about iOS 17 and what features it will bring at WWDC and you can read our iOS 17 feature to get the low down on what features will be coming to iPhone later this year. There could be a few more surprises when the iPhone 15 models are announced later this year too though. For now, there are four features we are most excited about seeing, which includes Check In and Name Drop.
iPhone 15 rumours: What’s the story so far?
Here is everything we have heard so far about the Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
5 June 2023: Apple announces iOS 17
Apple announced iOS 17 during its Worldwide Developer Conference, detailing a number of the features that will be launching on the new iPhone models later this year.
18 April 2023: The iPhone 15 sounds sexier with each new design leak
9to5Mac reported that the iPhone 15 models will ditch the glossy back seen on the iPhone 14 models and switch to a frosted rear like the iPhone 14 Pro models offer. It’s also said they may come in a cyan-green colour option.
27 March 2023: The iPhone 15 could go eSIM-only in the UK and other European countries
A report from iGeneration claimed the iPhone 15 could be eSIM only in the UK and Europe, like the iPhone 14 models were for the US.
25 March 2023: iPhone 15’s Dynamic Island could gain a whole extra sensor
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the iPhone 15 will get the Dynamic Island from the iPhone 14 Pro models but that it could also add a proximity sensor within the feature rather than under it where it currently is positioned. He said it wouldn’t change the size of the Dynamic Island though. The report was supported by twitter leaker, Unknownz21.
21 March 2023: iPhone 15 again tipped for USB-C fast charging but with a catch
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed the iPhone 15 could offer faster charger through USB-C, but it will require a plug or cable that carries the MFi (Made For iPhone) tick of approval.
13 March 2023: iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max 3D mock-ups show that’ll you’ll need a new case yet again
A collection of alleged iPhone 15 mockups were tested with iPhone 14 cases and only the iPhone 15 Plus appears to fit into last year’s cases, with the other models being slighty out, or having features positioned slightly differently.
Mac Otakara
8 March 2023: The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might miss out on two big display features
A report suggested that while the standard iPhone 15 models could get Dynamic Island, they may not get the iPhone 14 Pro’s 120Hz ProMotion and Always-On Display features.
28 February 2023: Apple might limit the best thing about the iPhone 15’s USB-C port so you use its certified cables
Apple was already rumoured to have plans to continue its Made for iPhone (MFi) program when it moves to USB-C this year, restricting what cables could be used. Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro also believes that the same program will be used to limit transfer speeds.
24 February 2023: New iPhone 15 colour options tipped, including dark red for Pro models
Apple will reportedly add several new colour options to its iPhone range for 2023, with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus said to be coming in cyan (light blue) and magenta (pink) variants.
23 February 2023: Apple iPhone 15 CAD renders reveal larger screen and Dynamic Island as standard
Artist Ian Zeibo created CAD renders of the iPhone 15 models revealing a number of details, including Dynamic Island, a larger display of 6.2-inches for the iPhone 15 and USB-C.
21 February 2023: iPhone 15 lineup tipped for big RAM upgrades
A report claimed Apple will “bump up the capacity and specifications” of RAM for the new models, though it didn’t specify what models. MacRumours did say the standard models might stick with 6GB RAM but offer LPDDR5 RAM.
15 February 2023: iPhone 15 Pro’s thinner bezel rumour backed up by new sources, leaker says
Twitter leaker ShrimpApplePro claimed the iPhone 15 Pro models would see slimmer bezels, but the standard models won’t.
10 February 2023: Apple could switch the iPhone 15 to USB-C and still get a cut of cable sales
MacRumors reported that a Weibo user claiming to be an expert in integrated circuits believes that Apple has created a new chip that would do the same for USB-C connections that the previous one did for Lightning – ensure secure authentication with authentic cables.
28 January 2023: iPhone 15 Pro models tipped for a big Wi-Fi upgrade
Leaker Unknownz21 claimed iPhone 15 models will have Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, while the iPhone 15 Pro models will get Wi-Fi 6E.
23 January 2023: Apple’s iPhone 15 series tipped for be curvier with thinner bezels
Twitter leaker @ShrimpApplePro suggested that while the displays will be the same size as before for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, there will still be changes afoot in terms of slimmer bezels.
10 January 2023: iPhone 15 production period starts in China, the never-ending cycle continues
Apple has reportedly started its production phase for the iPhone 15 (and variants).
3 January 2023:iPhone 15 buyers might get the iPhone 14 Pro’s camera upgrade
According to analyst Jeff Pu, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will use the same 48-megapixel camera that was reserved for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last year.
iPhone 15 could get a battery boost thanks to this small change
A report claims the TSMC says that a new 3nm process offers a 30-35 per cent reduction in power demand when running at the same speeds , which could translate into increased efficiency in devices like the iPhone 15.
29 November 2022: Apple iPhone 15 said to switch to new “state-of-the-art” Sony image sensor
A report claimed the iPhone 15 family will sport a new, “state-of-the-art” sensor made by Sony Semiconductor Solutions. The new sensor is alleged to double the saturation signal level in each pixel. This allows it to capture more light, while also ensuring the correct exposure in different circumstances.
17 November 2022: Apple’s Lightning to USB-C switch will benefit iPhone 15 Pro models most, claims analyst
Industry analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, claimed Apple will complete its switch to USB-C from Lightning for all devices in 2023 – long before the EU directive demands it. His report said the entire iPhone 15 line-up will ditch the Lightning port.
3 November 2022: iPhone 15 to use Qualcomm’s 5G modem because Apple’s isn’t ready
Qualcomm’s earnings report confirmed that it expects to provide the “vast majority” of modems for Apple’s phones next year rather than Apple using its own as was previously expected.
14 September 2022:Apple tipped to use 3nm chip tech in iPhone 15, 2023 Macs
It’s been reported that TSMC (Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) is developing 3nm-based processors, and that these will be used to build Apple’s A17 processor – which could power the iPhone 15.
27 June 2022: Apple iPhone 15 tipped to feature the same hole-punch design as the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models
A report suggests the iPhone 15 could feature the Dynamic Island design offered by the iPhone 14 Pro models.
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