Apple’s latest iPhone 15 Pro is expected to debut with a new titanium chassis and a dark blue color option. Previously, Pro-branded iPhones have been offered in muted colors to enhance the sheen of stainless steel frames.
Other rumored changes include a new Action button that will replace the mute switch and allow users to set various shortcut functions. The device will also be equipped with a solid-state haptic button design that will simulate the feeling of a click.
Launch Event
Apple has a habit of hosting its iPhone event in the second week of September and allowing consumers to purchase the new phone around the following Friday. This year’s event is reportedly going to take place on Tuesday, September 12.
The invite for the iPhone 15 launch has the tag ‘Wonderlust’ and a silhouette of a palm tree in it. Typically, the word wanderlust suggests a desire to travel and it seems like it might be a hint that this year’s iPhones will include more travel-friendly features.
The event will be a hybrid style, where Tim Cook and other Apple officials will make a pre-recorded keynote presentation. It will be followed by a live stream from Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park where attendees can go hands-on with the devices. It’s expected that the iPhone 15 will feature a larger dynamic island design, which was first introduced on the Pro models last year. It may also include USB-C ports, which will allow the phones to support Thunderbolt 3 data transfer speeds of up to 40Gbps.
Design Changes
A handful of rumors suggest that the iPhone 15 Pro series could see some notable design changes. Some of these changes are functional, while others have to do with a switch in the form factor itself.
For starters, Apple may finally swap out the Lightning port for USB-C. This is expected to help lower component costs and comply with a European Union regulation that will take effect in 2024.
Other rumored design changes include a new Action button that’s supposed to work much like the one on the Apple Watch Ultra. This button will let users launch shortcuts, apps, and built-in features with just the press of a finger.
Lastly, the bezels around the display are likely to slim down. According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone 15 Pro will use a new low-injection pressure over-molding (LIPO) technology that will reduce the bezels to 1.5 millimeters from 2.1 millimeters on the current iPhone 14 Pro. This should make the phones easier to hold for longer periods of time.
Color Variations
Apple has been known to change up its iPhone colors every year. The company usually launches a new color option in the spring and adds it to its lineup later in the fall.
This time around, it looks like the iPhone 15 and Pro Max are getting a new blue shade. According to a report by Unknownz21, the new iPhone will be available in a dark blue finish. This should complement the silver frame and Apple logo of the Pro models, without being too eye-catching or in-your-face.
Another rumor suggests that Apple will be dropping the gold and purple options that debuted with the iPhone 14 and 13 Pro models. It may replace them with a dark red or dark blue option, which would be similar to the Dynamic Island colors introduced by Apple with this year’s iPad Pro.
Price
Depending on your needs, the iphone 15 pro could be worth upgrading to. For one, it’s expected to feature a titanium chassis that’s rumored to be lighter and stronger than the stainless steel used on the iPhone 14. Additionally, it may be the first Apple phone to have a customizable action button, which can be programmed to perform shortcuts with just a single press.
Similarly, the periscope lens on the iPhone 15 Pro is expected to offer better optical zoom than what’s currently available on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. That could be a major selling point for photo-lovers who want to upgrade from their current iPhone model. However, it’s also worth noting that rumors suggest the iPhone 15 Pro might see a price increase in the US. That would be a major disappointment if true, and it’s a good idea to sell your old iPhone before its launch date to avoid this potential cost bump.