Apple unveiled the long-anticipated iPhone 15 generation at the “Wonderlust” keynote event on September 12. The tech giant’s flagship product was in focus amidst regulatory changes in the EU market and an industry-wide slump in smartphone purchases. Apple announced four new models at the event: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The major takeaways involve charging, the gap in standard versus Pro models, and pricing.
Apple Switches to USB-C Port
The biggest change was the adoption of the USB-C Port which comes as little surprise following increased regulatory pressure. European Union rules on cable standards are pushing tech companies towards standard charging cables with the environment and consumers in mind.
The USB-C port replaces Apple’s unique Lighting port. The proprietary Lighting system has created a business niche focused on this iPhone-specific feature. This business niche is now in tatters. A charging cable compatible with non-Apple products is welcome for many: it will simplify your parking list when going on a trip for example.
Wireless charging, however, is in the offing and might render the USB-C port in future iPhone releases redundant. Apple pointed to this development in its pushback against the EU requirement on standardised charging cables. The tech company may as well adopt wireless charging in the next iPhone release, but the current state of affairs suggests more work is to be done before the change kicks in. Wireless charging technology lags behind cable charging in terms of speed. But iPhone fans who prefer a unique charging experience can expect wireless charging in the future instead of the USB-C Port.
Narrower Gap Between the Standard and Pro Models
Apple has brought the Dynamic Island feature to standard iPhone models, having confined it to the Pro and Pro Max models in the previous generation of the flagship devices. The Dynamic Island comes in handy when you want to view alerts or services such as music and timers in progress while on the Home Screen or using another app.
The Pro model has extra features at higher costs, but they seem somewhat less impressive given the past trend of a large feature divide between the standard and pro offerings. With the iPhone 15, regardless of the model, you get curved edges, matte-textured back covers, sleeker designs, an improved camera system, and Dynamic Island display features powered by iOS 17. The narrower gap in premium features availability across the models makes the standard models more appealing than ever before.
iPhone 15 Prices
Apple is keeping the prices of the new iPhone models roughly the same as the previous generation, with only the Phone 15 Pro Max being priced significantly higher at $100 more than its predecessor. Here are the starting prices in the United States, and are likely to be higher elsewhere:
- iPhone 15: Starts at $799, the same price as the corresponding iPhone 14 model but has significant upgrades.
- iPhone 15 Plus: Starts at $899. Has a larger-screen version of the iPhone 15.
- iPhone 15 Pro: Starts at $999, the same price as the iPhone 14 Pro model. Has extra premium features.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max: Starts at $1,199, amounting to $100 more than last year’s comparable model. It has similar features to the Pro model but with a larger screen and boasts Apple’s most sophisticated camera features.
Other Talking Points
Apple emphasized the gaming capability of its new flagship. As per the company’s website, the iPhone Pro models have the 3-nanometer A17 Pro Chip. Apple says this chip is the fastest in any smartphone and a great choice for gaming.
The standard models of the new iPhone will be available in five new colours: black, blue, green, yellow, and pink.