We are just a few weeks away from Apple announcing the latest iteration of the iPhone. When the iPhone 15 comes, it will include a number of changes to the model it supersedes. There’s at least one anticipated feature that will have me reaching for the new version while a number of others will further sweeten the deal. And there’s one highly likely change that guarantees my upgrade.
What do we know (expect?) from the iPhone 15?
1. The transition to USB-C
The easiest change to predict is the demise of the Lightning connector in favour of USB-C. Despite the market confusion over USB-C, the European Union has made it law that all small devices will need to use USB-C connectors for charging.
While Apple is reluctant to be regulated into this change, it has little choice unless it decides to sell different models in the EU compared to the rest of the world.
For me, the shift to USB-C would be a significant boon as it means I can reduce the number of cables I need to pack on a trip to just two – one for my Apple Watch and another for my MacBook Air, iPad Pro and iPhone.
2. Better cameras
Each generation of the iPhone improves the software an hardware underpinning the iPhone’s photography platform. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says we can anticipate “Major rear camera upgrades, including updated lenses and the ability to get a much wider range of optical zoom on the largest model.”
Modern smartphones are more like cameras that can make calls that phones that take pictures making this a major benefit.
3. Faster processors
Each year, Apple updates the A-series processors it has created for its mobile devices. Its usual practice is to offer the latest version in the iPhone Pro models and the previous generation in the non-Pro models. That means the new models will all get a processor bump. But the Pro models will see a significant boost.
The next generation of Apple’s mobile processor, the A17, will be made with a new 3nm processor. This means more transistors can be packed into a smaller space, thus boosting performance.
4. Design changes
Each of the changes I’m listing here could qualify for an article of its own. Individually, they aren’t a big deal in their own right by collectively they represent a significant update on previous iPhone models.
- A shift away from aluminium for the edges to titanium. We can expect this in the iPhone 5 Pro models with the regular iPhone 15 sticking with their lower cost aluminium.
- The end of the infamous with the Dynamic Island becoming standard fare across all new iPhone models.
- A slightly less sharp edge around the iPhone’s body.
- Better repairability as all models adopt the new internal design first seen in the iPhone 14. This is a big step forward for repairability and likely will make battery replacements easier – something else the EU has been legislating.
- We can expect displays to be slightly larger as Apple’s designers and engineers find ways to make the bezels narrower. This will happen through a technology called low-injection pressure over-moulding, or “LIPO”.
- A new action button, like the one on the Apple Watch Ultra, is expected to preface the mute switch. This button will be software configurable so you can customise its action to open a specific app or, one assumes, launch a custom shortcut you’ve created.
What I really want (but probably won’t get)?
I really wish Apple had not killed off the iPhone mini. I’ve been using and iPhone 13 mini for a couple of years and the iPhone 12 mini before that. It’s a great form factor for one-handed use and fits comfortably into a pocket.
If an iPhone 15 mini was released, I’d be in the store on Day One.
Why I’ll upgrade to the iPhone 15
The transition to USB-C is a major benefit for me. Combined with the other changes, the iPhone 15 represents a decent step forward from the iPhone 13 mini I’m currently running.
The big question for me will be whether I go for the iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Pro. I can rule the Max versions out as they are just too big for me. They’re hard to use with one hand and won’t fit into the pocket of my jeans easily.
I typically hold on to my iPhone for at least two years. The Pro version would tip me over to at least three years because of its increased cost and the faster processor, improved camera and use of titanium – a stronger and more ‘life-resistant” material than aluminium. But the big win will come from the adoption of USB-C. That will vastly simplify what I stash in my cable drawer and what I carry when I travel.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.