The iPhone 15 will be a welcome upgrade for many Apple users still stuck on older hardware. There are a few major changes to look out for.
One big change is that all new models will get USB-C ports. This is confirmed by several reliable sources including renowned insider Ming-Chi Kuo and leaked CAD renders.
Operating System
For iPhone users that are currently on an older operating system, the iPhone 15 may be the push they need to upgrade. Rumors indicate that the upcoming model will use a new 3-nanometer A17 Bionic processor, which should enable significant specification upgrades. Sources within the supply chain expect that this will spur replacement demand among those on older devices.
The 6.1-inch standard iPhone 15 is also expected to receive an upgraded display driver chip. This should help reduce power consumption and improve battery life.
The 6.7-inch Pro models are expected to use a new USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3 capabilities, which should allow for faster data transfer speeds. It’s not clear whether Apple will implement this across the entire iPhone 15 line or limit it to the Pro models.
Increased RAM Capacity
The internet is buzzing with rumors about the iPhone 15. Some of these rumors involve improving the RAM capacity. It is possible that the upcoming iPhone 15 will feature 8 GB of RAM, which will increase its multitasking capabilities and speed.
According to a report from TrendForce, Apple is set to improve the “capacity and specifications of its DRAM solutions.” This is a good thing as it will make the phone faster and more efficient.
The new A17 Bionic chip should also help to reduce the power consumption on the iPhone 15. This will allow for longer battery life while doing more tasks.
Another great rumor about the iPhone 15 is that it will have an upgraded display. It could reach 2,500 nits of peak brightness, which would be significantly brighter than the current 2,000 nit level on the iPhone 14. This is a major upgrade and one that will make the screen much easier to use during the day.
Camera Time of Flight Sensor
At the tail end of 2018, there was a brief flurry of phones adding Time-of-Flight (ToF) cameras to their specs. This specialized camera sensor measures depth or distance by shooting an infrared beam of light, measuring the amount of time it takes for the light to bounce back, and then recording the returned signal. This is similar to how bats use sonar.
A ToF camera can give your phone a whole host of new features. Some of these include gesture recognition, face detection to unlock the device, augmented reality, and even help your computational photography apps with better portrait mode shots.
There are several companies that make ToF sensors for the mobile market including Sony, which supplies Apple with 3D cameras for their iPhones. Other manufacturers include AMS/Heptagon, Riegl, TeraRanger One, and Lucid/Helios. Apple is also rumored to iphone 15 be using a more advanced Samsung ISOCELL GN2 camera sensor in the Pixel 8 Pro versus the current GN1. This may mean an upgrade to the phone’s autofocus.
Other Changes
Another upgrade to look forward to is a new port for charging and data transfers. Renowned Apple insider Ming-Chi Kuo hints that all iPhone 15 models will ditch Lightning for USB-C, which offers faster data transfer speeds than the Lightning port on current iPhones.
Additionally, Kuo believes that the Pro and Pro Max will get a wireless charging feature called Wi-Fi 6E, which uses a new radio chip that’s manufactured on a more efficient process than last generation’s model. That could make for significantly better battery life in the Pro and Pro Max, especially when using LTE.
Other changes that are expected across the entire iPhone 15 lineup include a new color option for the Pro, which is reported to be cyan. Also, rumors suggest that the programmable “Action Button” switch will no longer be used as a mute button; instead it’ll be more versatile and can be set to do other things like launch Siri or the camera.
