

This year’s most affordable new iPhones, the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus, are expected to look like the iPhone 14 models they’re replacing. But inside and out there are lots of really significant upgrades that could make both phones feel like massive improvements. From more powerful processors to iPhone Pro-spec cameras, this year’s entry-level iPhones are starting to sound seriously impressive.
The latest report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman collates multiple leaks to get a good picture of what we can expect later this year. The first and most obvious change will be at the top of the display, where the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will get the same Dynamic Island as the current iPhone 14 Pro. That’s my current phone, and I think if you haven’t already used a phone with the Dynamic Island you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how good it is.
The other changes are less obvious but could be more important.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus: key upgrades for 2023
The first big upgrade is expected to be the processor. This time around the Apple Silicon inside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is likely to be the A16. That’s the processor that currently powers the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, and it’s ridiculously powerful: it’s a six-core processor with four efficiency cores and two high-performance cores to balance speed and battery life. It also has a five-core GPU for smooth graphics.
The other big upgrade is expected in the cameras. According to well-connected analyst Ming Chi-Kuo, the two entry-level iPhone 15 models will be getting a 48 megapixel rear camera lens with a new stacked sensor system that captures more light. That means faster performance and improved low-light shooting, something the iPhone 14 is already pretty good at but always has room for improvement.
The combination of the new sensor and the faster processor should make the cameras much more flexible as well as faster for things like HDR processing. Kuo isn’t the first analyst to talk about this new camera, but previous predictions were then modified when Apple was apparently experiencing manufacturing problems. According to Kuo, those problems have now been solved and Apple is ordering tons of sensors from Sony, which could lead to a shortage for rivals.
And there's one more thing: according to Gurman and others, the iPhone 15 is definitely moving to USB-C for all four models. However, it's still unclear whether Apple will differentiate between the Pro/Pro Max and cheaper models by limiting transfer speeds as previously reported.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Writer, musician and broadcaster Carrie Marshall has been covering technology since 1998 and is particularly interested in how tech can help us live our best lives. Her CV is a who’s who of magazines, newspapers, websites and radio programmes ranging from T3, Techradar and MacFormat to the BBC, Sunday Post and People’s Friend. Carrie has written more than a dozen books, ghost-wrote two more and co-wrote seven more books and a Radio 2 documentary series; her memoir, Carrie Kills A Man, was shortlisted for the British Book Awards. When she’s not scribbling, Carrie is the singer in Glaswegian rock band Unquiet Mind (unquietmindmusic).
-
The 5 Xbox handheld features that would make rumoured console an instabuy
If Xbox's handheld console is real, I want these features
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
This DJI drone launch pad fits to the roof of your electric car
EV maker BYD has teamed up with DJI to make a roof-mounted drone station
By Alistair Charlton Published
-
Your iPhone tipped to get a seismic upgrade with iOS 19 – the biggest in many years
It's said to be the most significant overhaul in over a decade
By Sam Cross Published
-
Google Maps design update finally comes to iPhone after Android owners have enjoyed it for months
It should make one-handed use much easier
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
I tried Apple’s latest budget iPhone and it’s more than enough phone for most people
Forget the 16, the iPhone 16e is the model that most people will end up buying, and I can see why
By Mat Gallagher Published
-
MacBook Air M4 ups the power, battery life and is surprisingly cheaper
Apple announces a new MacBook Air with a big upgrade to M4 processing
By Rik Henderson Published
-
There's an ingenious and cheap way to make sure you never lose your camera
If you're worried about losing your expensive camera, this little device could help
By Chris Hall Published
-
Photoshop's getting a surprise free upgrade on iPhone – and Android's next
The full experience is coming to mobile
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
5 must-know iPhone 16e facts and how it compares to iPhone 16
Apple's newest iPhone is an interesting addition
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Apple's "Google Lens" update is confirmed for older iPhones too, but there's a small catch
Visual Intelligence is Apple's answer to Google Lens and it'll soon be available on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
By Rik Henderson Published