Apple put the iPhone 15 at $799 and the iPhone 15 Plus at $899 when it unveiled both phones on September 12, 2023. Pre-orders opened Friday, September 15. The phones reached customers a week later, on September 22.
The biggest change sits at the bottom edge. Both models drop the Lightning port for USB-C, so one cable now charges the iPhone, Mac, iPad and the updated second-generation AirPods Pro. Users can also charge AirPods or an Apple Watch straight from the phone.
The screens come in two sizes, 6.1 inches for the iPhone 15 and 6.7 inches for the Plus. Both get the Dynamic Island, which had previously been limited to the iPhone 14 Pro models. Peak outdoor brightness reaches 2000 nits, twice the previous generation.
Camera and chip
The main camera is now 48MP, with a 24MP default setting for everyday shots. Apple also added a 2x telephoto option, which gives three zoom levels: 0.5x, 1x and 2x. Portraits no longer need a separate mode. When a person, dog or cat is in the frame, the phone records depth information so the photo can be turned into a portrait later.
Inside is the A16 Bionic chip. Apple says its 6-core CPU is faster than the last generation’s and that the 16-core Neural Engine handles nearly 17 trillion operations per second.
“iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
Design, safety and colors
The back glass is color-infused and finished in matte, and the aluminum frame has a contoured edge. Five colors are on offer: pink, yellow, green, blue and black. Storage goes up to 512GB.
New in the U.S. is Roadside Assistance via satellite, which connects users with AAA when a car breaks down and there is no cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Apple is including it free for two years. The phones also carry the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, which lets two compatible iPhones find each other at three times the previous range.
Apple said it will stop using leather in new products, accessories included. It is introducing a FineWoven case instead.
Sources
- Apple debuts iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
- Apple unveils iPhone 15 with Dynamic Island, A16 bionic chip & 48MP primary camera
