iPhone 15 design
December 22,2022
So far, we have seen no early drawings or renderings of the iPhone 15 series, but the elephant in the room has got to be the practically confirmed switch to a USB-C port from Lightning.
For years, Apple resisted using a USB-C port on iPhone, despite betting on a USB-C port for its iPads (first on an iPad Pro in 2018) and Macbooks (first in 2015), but new regulation from the European Commission might finally force it to make the switch. This would mean that users will need to get new cables and throw away their Lightning cables, something that many people may not like. However, we believe, that in the long term this will work out for the better as most gadgets these days use a USB-C port, so you won't need to worry about getting different cables for your trips.
One of the most reliable Apple insiders, Mark Gurman, says that USB-C is "essentially a lock" for the iPhone 15. Renowned insider Ming-Chi Kuo also confirms this.
Faster USB-C transfer speeds on iPhone 15 Pro models
The latest talk on the grapevine suggests that while all iPhone 15 models will switch to USB-C, only the Pro models will supports faster transfer speeds while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will stick with the same slow, USB 2.0 speeds they had with the Lightning connector. The Pro models, however, are said to support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, which would mean transfer speeds of up to 40 Gbps, great for moving large files like ProRes video for example.
As for design, we expect Apple to stick with what works, which is iPhones made of glass with a metal frame. Expect to see glossy glass with aluminum frames on non-Pro models, and frosted finish with stainless steel frames on the 15 Pro.
Interestingly, the rumored iPhone 15 Ultra, is now expected to have a titanium frame rather than a stainless steel one. This would be a significant upgrade as titanium is a lighter weight material with superb scratch resistance, as brushed titanium hides such micro-scratches way better.
Another extremely interesting rumor suggests the higher-end iPhone 15 models will replace the physical volume and power buttons for solid-state ones. Yes, solid state buttons with no moving parts! This also means you will need to add two more taptic engines on each side of the phone that will help simulate the press of a real button when you touch these new haptic keys. And adding fuel to the fire, Apple supplier and maker of the Taptic Engine company Cirrus Logic teased its "stategic customer" will bring a new component in the second half of 2023! We are yet to hear how this will work when your phone is out of battery and what this would mean for case makers, but we are curious.
The Dynamic Island that Apple introduced with the 14 Pro models is likely to remain a Pro/Ultra feature in the iPhone 15 series as well, while the regular models are still likely to ship with the good old notch.
Currently, we don't know much about the iPhone 15 color options. We expect Apple to stick with what it has now, possibly adding a couple of new color finishes for those who want to try something different.