13-9-2023 (CALIFORNIA) Apple made waves during its highly anticipated “Wonderlust” event on Tuesday by announcing that the iPhone 15 is set to hit stores on September 22, just a week away. The tech giant unveiled a range of new models and features, with prices starting at $799 in the US for the base iPhone 15, while the larger iPhone 15 Plus will be available at $899. The iPhone 15 Pro comes with a starting price tag of $999, and the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro Max will retail at $1,199. The event showcased several significant upgrades, including a brighter display, an enhanced camera system, and the much-awaited inclusion of a USB-C port.
For iPhone enthusiasts, the iPhone 15 Pro introduces the new A17 Pro chip and boasts a titanium chassis, making it the lightest Pro model to date. Preorders for the iPhone 15 series will commence this Friday, offering trade-in deals for those looking to swap their older iPhones for the latest models.
Apple’s product unveiling didn’t stop at the iPhone, as the company also introduced updates to its wearable lineup, featuring the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both watches received upgrades in the form of brighter screens and innovative gesture features.
One of the standout features of the new iPhone 15 series is the expansion of Dynamic Island, an animated information hub at the top of the screen that provides contextual data. This feature, which originally debuted on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, is now available across the iPhone 15 line. Another notable change is the replacement of the Lightning port with USB-C for wired charging and connectivity.
The pricing structure starts at $799 (£799, AU$1,499) for the 128GB iPhone 15 and $899 (£899, AU$1,649) for the 128GB iPhone 15 Plus, provided customers activate their devices with a carrier. Preorders for these phones open this Friday, with the official release set for next Friday, September 22.
The Dynamic Island feature closely resembles the one introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro in 2022, offering a secondary display for convenient access to media playback, sports scores, rideshare updates, and more, without the need to switch between apps.
Unlike the previous iPhone 14 lineup, Apple opted not to release a “mini” version of the iPhone 15. Instead, they offer a 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and a larger 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus. Both models feature brighter displays, with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits, and are available in five colors: pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. The main camera on the iPhone 15 boasts 48 megapixels, enabling higher resolution photos and videos and introducing a new 2x telephoto zoom (at 12 megapixels). This represents a significant upgrade from the iPhone 14’s 12-megapixel camera system, though practical differences remain to be seen.
The iPhone 15 introduces a new matte finish, which appears less prone to fingerprint smudges compared to the glossy iPhone 14. Under the hood, the device features last year’s A16 Bionic chip, which was previously seen in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus relied on the A15 Bionic. Although Apple hasn’t disclosed specific battery sizes, the iPhone 15 lineup includes larger batteries.
Continuing with the trend of previous iPhone models, the new devices offer 5G connectivity and satellite connectivity for emergencies. Notably, the iPhone 15 now allows users to call for roadside assistance via satellite, thanks to a partnership between Apple and AAA in the US. This service is included in AAA memberships, and Apple is offering free satellite connectivity for two years with the purchase of an iPhone 15.
In addition to USB-C, the new iPhones are compatible with MagSafe and accessories that support the Qi2 wireless charging standard introduced earlier this year. Overall, the iPhone 15 appears to be a substantial leap forward compared to the iPhone 14, thanks to the introduction of Dynamic Island, an improved camera, USB-C charging, and a fresh design. While it may not match the iPhone 15 Pro in terms of features, the iPhone 15 represents the most significant upgrade in the standard iPhone lineup since the iPhone 12.
