by Scaled render of the iPhone 15 Pro Max showing its record thin bezels
04/04 Update below. This article was originally published on April 1
Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are getting more and more expensive, according to multiple reports. But a new leak has revealed that this isn’t the biggest price shock for the two new phones.
In an exclusive report, respected analyst and supply chain specialist Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will exclusively equip the iPhone 15 Pro Max with a periscope lens, used for optical zoom photography. That brings the Pro Max in line with rivals like the Galaxy S23 Ultra and Huawei Mate 50 Pro, lines that have used periscope lenses for years.
The shocking detail, however, is that Kuo says Apple has decided to exclude the periscope lens from the iPhone 15 Pro, despite negotiating a discounted price of just $4 (including prisms) for the module with the Largan supplier. Kuo says Largan can’t profit from the deal at this price. Equally odd, Kuo says Apple will introduce periscope lenses for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in 2024, making it a one-generation difference in functionality.
iPhone 15 Pro renders are based on its leaked new dark red finish
This all seems weird to me. First, an at-cost deal for components on this scale is amazing, but if anyone can, Apple can. Second, why differentiate the Pro Max for a single generation? If Apple renamed the Pro Max to Ultra, as it was rumored for a long time until recently, I could understand that it was going down a new path. But making the separation for a generation is only likely to confuse buyers.
Third, pricing. Apple is expected to raise the prices of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max by up to $200 this year. It would be the biggest generational boost in iPhone history. And to do so while also splitting their feature sets, which Apple hasn’t done since the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in 2017, and leaving one model clearly as the poorer relative, would be a shock. .
That said, 2023 seems like the year Apple wants to take a risk with the iPhone. In addition to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s camera and price changes, it will replace the volume buttons and mute switch with programmable action buttons, finally renew its LiDAR push, introduce the first 3nm smartphone chip and will use record glasses in the design. . The entire range will also move to Dynamic Island and an MFi-locked USB-C version, which is sure to divide opinion.
That said, I suspect it will be the prices of the iPhone 15 Pro models and their gap in features that really make tongues twitch.
Update 3/4: There’s a lot of optimism surrounding Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 series right now, but today the company’s display roadmap has leaked, and it brings bad news not only for 2023 but also for 2024.
According to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants and arguably the most trusted industry insider in recent years, Apple’s iPhone display plans have taken a hit. Young reveals that Apple’s plans for an under-display Face ID module in iPhone Pro models and high refresh rate ProMotion displays on standard iPhones won’t materialize until 2025.
In the case of the iPhone Pro models, this means that we can expect a larger dynamic island thanks to the Face ID module hidden in the iPhone 17 Pro. Young previously revealed an Apple roadmap showing it plans to make this change in 2024. Looking even further ahead, Young says Apple will place the front-facing camera below the display to deliver an all-screen iPhone Pro model in 2027.
As for the standard iPhone models, there has been some early speculation that ProMotion might be coming to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now that it’s an increasingly commonplace feature. . But Young’s roadmap also states that ProMotion will only be available on standard iPhones in 2017. I suspect that’s no coincidence, because only then will Apple be able to differentiate the design of the iPhone. iPhone Pro with Face ID under-display module.
Of course, Apple is notorious for keeping its fans waiting for new features, and this proves it yet again.
Update 04/04: Details leak on the software that will be at the heart of the iPhone 15 launch: iOS 17. The next-generation operating system is expected to be unveiled at WWDC on June 5, but six main iPhone and iPad models may be missing.
According to a anonymous lessor which has a consistent track record on iOS updates, Apple will drop support for iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad (fifth generation), iPad Pro 9.7-inch (first generation) and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (first generation). ).
Yes, these are major devices. The iPhone X was arguably the most significant redesign in iPhone history, and the iPad Pro models were the first indication that Apple had truly premium intentions for its tablets.
Why would Apple drop support for devices that are still very capable today? MacRumors makes the astute observation that Apple may be looking to drop support for A11 and older chips due to their sensitivity to checkm8 permanent security vulnerability, which affects Apple silicon ranging from A5 to A11.
It’s a solid theory and coupled with the fact that these devices are 6-7 years old, Apple can also justify it from a longevity perspective, given that Android rivals offer a maximum of four years of support.
The news also follows an intriguing, albeit vague, flee from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman over the weekend that iOS 17 will be a bigger release than expected:
“When Apple set out to develop iOS 17, the original idea was to call it a debug release… The hope was to avoid the problems of iOS 16, an ambitious update that suffered from missed deadlines and a buggy start. But later in the development process, the strategy changed. iOS 17 should now offer several “nice to have” features, even if it lacks a major improvement like the screen last year’s revamped lock.The aim of the software, codenamed “Dawn”, is to tick off several of the most requested features by users.
It’s a fascinating tidbit, and given that iOS 17 is prepping software support for Apple’s next-gen devices, we should also expect some strong hints about the iPhone 15 lineup and new accessories in the code of the operating system once the first beta is released. iPhone leak season is in full swing.
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