This year’s iPhone 15 Pro models will feature “stronger, lighter and more premium” titanium edges, according to a reliable source. And a customizable Action button could be another highlight, letting users quickly enable Focus mode, launch the Camera app or perform other common tasks.
All those new features could jack up the cost of the iPhone 15 Pro line considerably.
iPhone 15 could pack significant upgrades
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman detailed the major changes coming to the entire iPhone 15 series in his Power On newsletter Sunday.
For the regular iPhone 15 models, he says Apple will do away with the notch and switch to the Dynamic Island currently found only on Pro models. They also will feature upgraded cameras and use the faster A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. All models in the iPhone 15 lineup reportedly will ditch the Lightning port and transition to USB-C.
iPhone 15 Pro gets new LIPO screen technology
While those upgrades sound impressive, Apple plans to reserve bigger changes for its Pro models. The high-end phones will use a new LIPO display technology, according to Gurman. This will allow Apple to reduce the bezels surrounding the iPhone 15 Pro’s display to 1.5mm, resulting in a larger useful screen area. The Apple Watch Series 7 already uses the same technology to shrink the bezel size.
Rumors from as far back as March 2023 suggested super-slim bezels on the 2023 iPhones. However, production challenges with such displays reportedly could cause supply problems with the iPhone 15 Pro Max at launch.
Another significant change reportedly coming to iPhone 15 Pro is the switch to more robust and lighter titanium edges. This will replace the current fingerprint-magnet stainless steel chassis. The edges connecting the frosted glass back and that luxurious new screen also should feel “less sharp” than before, according to Gurman. That should improve the iPhone 15 Pro’s premium in-hand feel and make it easier to hold.
Apple will put in a “noticeably snappier” A17 processor fabricated using a 3-nanometer process in the iPhone 15 Pro models, Gurman says. And the company apparently will redesign the phone’s internals in line with the overhaul we saw with the iPhone 14, which made that model easier to repair.
No solid-state buttons, but a customizable Action button is on track
Early rumors indicated iPhone 15 Pro could use customizable solid-state volume and power keys. The behavior of these buttons could change based on the pressure applied. However, Gurman’s sources confirm recent rumors that the feature — codenamed Bongo — was canceled due to engineering problems.
However, Apple apparently plans to turn the iPhone 15 Pro’s mute/ring switch into a customizable Action button. A recent report shed more light on how the customization will work. You can use the switch to enable a Focus mode, launch the Camera app, switch on the flashlight, trigger an accessibility feature and more.
All these upgrades could cost you, though. Apple could hike the prices of new iPhones slightly across the world. A U.S. price hike is also possible, especially for the Pro models. The iPhone 15 Pro Max might go up by as much as $200.
