Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus land with old price, new USB-C, and 14 Pro features
Apple just got off the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus announcement stage at its 'Wonderlust' event, and it seems that most of the rumors surrounding the new 2023 iPhone features materialized.
We were to get them at the same price with faster processors and high-res cameras borrowed from their Pro siblings of last year, as they also offer very little in terms of other hardware upgrades, so a higher tag would've caused an even bigger exodus towards the Pros than last year.
What's new with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus?
- New 48MP main camera
- Dynamic Island cutout
- 2x brighter 2000 nits M12 OLED display
- 4nm Apple A16 chipset
- New U2 UWB chip for 3x farther connectivity
- USB-C charging
- 2-year free Roadside Assistance with satellite connectivity
The new iPhone 15 color palette
Perhaps the biggest visual difference between the design of an iPhone 14 vs iPhone 15 is the cool Dynamic Island display that was heretofore a reserved trademark for the more expensive iPhone 14 Pro line. At the front, the iPhone 15 will now look like an iPhone 15 Pro, and that's a good thing for Apple fans who were feeling left out if they bought one of the... gasp... those cheaper iPhones.
While the Dynamic Island design FOMO is gone, the one of slower display and processing power stays. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are equipped with the same tired 60Hz refresh rate of its 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays. The only change is a newer generation OLED technology which is still of the cheap LTPS variety, but allows for a 2x higher, 2000 nits of peak brightness than on the iPhone 14. To achieve this, Apple has supposedly equipped the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus with Samsung's 12th gen OLED display tech that was heretofore reserved for the Pro models.
iPhone 15 camera specs and samples
Apple iPhone 15's 48MP camera specs
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus borrow two other hardware elements of last year's 14 Pro line - the 4nm Apple A16 processor and the 48MP main camera sensor resolution. The larger sensor would enable them to collect more light for night shots and hit more detailed 2x zoom photos, as it crops from the main sensor.
iPhone 15 connectivity
The Apple iPhone 15 can connect from up to 3x farther away than its predecessor with the new U2 Ultra Wideband chip that was just announced with the Apple Watch Series 9. The improved satellite connectivity now includes Roadside Assistance that will launch in the US with AAA for members, or as a standalone service. These new services will be free for 2 years with each new iPhone 15 purchase.
The iPhone 15 comes with 2 free years of emergency roadside assistance
Battery life and USB-C charging
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus haven't undergone any capacity increase, it seems, despite the rumors. Apple still allows for 20 hours of video playback on a charge, despite that the A16 processor also comes more frugal and the phones got thicker which could've been used for a larger battery.
Capacity isn't the upgrade in the iPhone 15 series battery and charging realm, but wired connectivity is. An European Commission legislation forced Apple to move to the USB-C port standard and these changes could contribute to both longer iPhone 15 and 15 Plus battery life, as well as a more convenient charging experience and less cable waste.
The iPhone 15 can now charge the new USB-C AirPods case
New Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus colors, preorders, and detailed pricing
The new iPhone 15 and its larger 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus sibling come with new colors as well as they are now painted in pink, black, green, blue, and yellow. Gone are the red, gold, and other flashy hues which Apple's fans in China would scoff at, but government workers there recently got advised against using iPhones now anyway. Too soon? Well, we'll see how Apple's stock price fares after the new iPhone announcement.
iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15 128GB/256GB/512GB storage prices
Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus prices
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are priced at the same $799 or $899 for the base 128GB models as their predecessor despite all the camera, processor, and display upgrades.
| Apple iPhone 15 storage prices | Apple iPhone 15 Plus storage prices | |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | $799 | $899 |
| 256GB | $899 | $999 |
| 512GB | $1099 | $1199 |
The iPhone 15 Plus preorders start on Friday, September 15, and the iPhone 15 release date is next Friday, September 22 in all carrier or retail stores, or online. Which iPhone 15 would you get?
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