[software] iPhone 15: latest news, rumors and everything we know so far

[Happy boy]

Several months have passed since the launch of Apple's iPhone 14 line, so it's high time we looked ahead to what the iPhone 15 and its siblings might bring to the mobile table in 2023. 

Indeed, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro leaks are now appearing in earnest, with rumors concerning everything from the phones' display and camera credentials to their price and availability. We're also hearing that an iPhone 15 Ultra could be arriving in place of a Pro Max iPhone this year, which could really shake things up. 

So, to give you an early idea of what to expect from Apple's next iPhones, we've put together this one-stop-shop guide to all the latest news, rumors and predictions, which we'll be updating with new information throughout the year.Cut to the chase
What is it? Apple's 2023 generation of smartphones
When is it out? Likely September 2023
How much will it cost? Possible price increase over iPhone 14

Likely to launch in the first half of September
The shipping date will probably be a week or so later
We haven't heard any iPhone 15 release date or launch date rumors yet, but that's to be expected – they rarely occur more than a month before the launch event itself.

For the iPhone 14, that event fell on September 7, with three of the four phones going on sale over a week later, on September 16 (and the iPhone 14 Plus on October 7). Apple generally picks the first or second week of September for its launches, and usually opts for a Tuesday, though occasionally goes for a Wednesday event.

In 2023, that means September 5 or 12 are quite likely (both are Tuesdays), though September 6 and 13 are possibilities, too.v

Pricing could be similar to last year
If anything, prices may rise rather than fall for everything except the Plus
With regards to the price, again, we haven't heard many leaks or rumors, but the iPhone 14 range presented a slight price increase over the iPhone 13 equivalents. This could be repeated in 2023 for the iPhone 15. There are sometimes Apple promo codes that can help reduce the cost.

For context, while there are four members of the iPhone 14 family, here are the prices for the cheapest, and most expensive, options:

iPhone 14 128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,399
iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB: $1,599 / £1,749 / AU$2,769 
So, that's the full scope of the current range's pricing, though obviously there are many devices and storage choices between those points.

As for the iPhone 15 line, one price rumor points to the iPhone 15 Ultra – a new phone that could land in place of an iPhone 15 Pro Max – starting at $1,199 (likely around £1,309 / AU$2,099 based on Apple's typical pricing) at best.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899, so, if accurate, the next model would be at least $100 more expensive.

That's believable, especially as Apple has suggested that people are willing to spend enormous amounts on new iPhones.

However, the iPhone 15 Plus might be cheaper than the iPhone 14 Plus, according to one leak. This change would be because the iPhone 14 Plus isn't selling brilliantly. For reference, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 / £949 / AU$1,579.

A big iPhone 14 Pro feature is the 'Dynamic Island', a fancy marketing name for the 'punch-hole' front-facing camera that Apple is using, and a leak suggests that the non-Pro iPhone 15 models could get the Dynamic Island, too.

We've also heard now from multiple sources that every iPhone 15 model will get the Dynamic Island. Potential evidence for this claim has emerged, too, with leaked videos – one of which you can see below – showing the front glass for reportedly three iPhone 15 models. They all include Dynamic Islands along with slightly curved bezels, with the Pro models having smaller bezels than the standard ones.

We're not expecting the iPhone 15 line's Dynamic Islands to be identical to the ones currently featured on Apple’s flagship devices, though. According to a recent tweet(opens in new tab) from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15’s proximity sensor will be integrated inside the ‌Dynamic Island itself, rather than positioned below it (as on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max).

As Kuo notes, the new sensor arrangement is unlikely to result in any material difference to the appearance or functionality of the iPhone 15 versus the iPhone 14 Pro, but the former's Dynamic Island will technically be more advanced than the latter's given the inclusion of a previously isolated sensor. 

Less exciting news is the rumor that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus won't inherit the iPhone 14 Pro's ProMotion technology and always-on display functionality.

For those not in the know, both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max boast adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (dubbed ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of their displays to suit whatever’s happening on-screen. Apple’s always-on display functionality relies on ProMotion to function, so it looks like both of those high-end features will again be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra. 

As for the design, one source claims that at least some iPhone 15 models might have titanium sides. They added that the sides might curve towards the back of the phone on the iPhone 15 line, rather than being positioned at a right angle as with the iPhone 14. These curved sides are still being decided on by Apple, though, according to another source, so there's a chance they won't happen.

That said, a leaked photo has emerged showing those curved sides, along with a brushed metal (likely titanium) finish, on what's reportedly an iPhone 15 Pro. There's also a USB-C port – more on this further down.