The iPhone 14 hasn’t appeared yet, and we’re already hearing reports about what to expect from next year’s so-called “iPhone 15”.
Since Apple’s 2023 iPhone plans haven’t been finalized yet, most of these rumors should be taken with a hefty dose of skepticism — but there are enough interesting bits and pieces to give us an idea of ​​the direction Apple is taking. likely to move towards.
Goodbye Lightning, Hello USB-C
The most compelling report comes from well-known supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who predicts that 2023 could be the year we finally see a USB-C iPhone.
Andy Boxel/Digital Trends
This is very preliminary information, but Kuo has found that many of Apple’s suppliers are preparing to order a lot more USB-C chips and port components — too many to account for Apple’s current USB-C product lineup.
While it’s still likely that Apple’s endgame is to ditch ports altogether and rely on its MagSafe technology instead, the European Union (EU) is expected to keep the world from being ready for a completely wireless iPhone. Will force Apple’s hand first.
Apple’s 5G Modem Chip
Apple has been working on its own 5G modem chip for a few years now, and many experts expected it to be here now. Unfortunately for Apple, 5G modems are hard to make. Over the past few months, Apple has been talking to major chip suppliers to package its first 5G modem chips.
Qualcomm Snapdragon X55 5G chip, world’s first 7Gbps 5G modem. Qualcomm
It’s too early to say what concrete advantage Apple’s own 5G modem chip will offer over the Qualcomm Snapdragon X60 chips that Apple currently uses. At the very least, it’s likely to save Apple a ton of money, which will allow the company to add other improvements. This year’s iPhone 14 is expected to compete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X65, but if the reports are accurate, we may never see the recently announced Snapdragon X70 in the iPhone.
cameras
Another rumor that has been doing the rounds for a while now claims that Apple is working on new periscope lens technology. Recently, some pretty credible analysts have put a strong 2023 timeline on the new camera technology.
Periscope lenses have been appearing in Android smartphones for years, so Apple has been a little late in the game here. However, this will allow the iPhone to eventually move past the 3X zoom barrier, making better use of the 48-megapixel (MP) primary camera coming to the iPhone 14 this year.
design
It’s almost certain that Apple will discontinue the troubled 5.4-inch iPhone Mini with the iPhone 14 this year, instead replacing it with the 6.7-inch “iPhone 14 Max”. Since Apple rarely makes significant changes to its lineup for only one year, the lineup is also expected for 2023.
That means a pairing of the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models along with the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Max and iPhone 15 Pro Max phones. We’re not sure if Apple will use the “Max” designation for standard iPhone models, but the iPhone 15 version will adopt whatever name the 6.7-inch standard iPhone 14 gives this year.
Although Apple is widely expected to eliminate the notch this year, it is likely only on the iPhone 14 Pro model, which will move to a tablet-shaped cutout, while retaining the standard iPhone 14 notch. Next year’s iPhone 15 will eliminate the notch across the lineup.
There’s a slight chance that the iPhone 15 Pro may eliminate the front-screen cutout altogether by shifting to in-display Face ID, but most credible reports suggest that won’t happen until 2024.
And what’s coming?
With more than a year to go before the iPhone 15 will see the light of day, we’re likely to hear more as 2023 approaches. Apple typically finalizes its designs about 10 months before the release of a new iPhone and locks them down for final production around January. So, by early 2023, we should have a better idea of ​​what the iPhone 15 will look like, but for now it’s important to note that even Apple hasn’t made its final decision on a 2023 design yet.
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