It’s official: the next generation of iPhones will make their debut in two weeks’ time.
Apple announced today that it will host its iPhone 15 launch event, dubbed “Wonderlust,” September 12, 2023 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. The event will be broadcast live starting at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT on apple.com, the Apple YouTube channel, and on the Apple TV app.
Here’s what you can expect from the big event. (Also: In celebration of the announcement, Basic Apple Guy put together some fantastic iPhone, iPad, and Mac wallpapers featuring the gorgeous logo Apple has created for the event. Check them out here.)
iPhone 15 unveiled
As it does each year with its fall event, Apple will focus the bulk of this show on the new iPhones. The iPhone 15 lineup is expected to have some interesting, if not exactly seismic, changes.
First up, Apple is expected to announce that all iPhone 15 models will switch from the Lightning port for charging and data transfer to a USB-C connector. This is welcome news for many out there, especially when you consider nearly every other major Apple devices uses USB-C now.
The switch to USB is expected to allow iPhones to charge and transfer data faster than the Lightning port currently allows.
In terms of major changes to the non-pro iPhone 15 models, it is rumored that they will essentially match the features of last year’s iPhone 14 Pro models by adopting the same A16 Bionic CPU, and 48MP main camera sensor. The non-Pro models are also expected to follow the Pro models in ditching the FaceID notch in favor of the Dynamic Island cutout that debuted in last year’s iPhone 14 Pro models.
In terms of colors, according to 9to5Mac, the non-pro iPhone 15 models are expected to opt for a muted pastel palette including a black, green, pink, light blue, and aqua/sea foam green. You can see them in this Thread from 9to5Mac here.
New materials, design, colors (and maybe Thunderbolt?) for iPhone 15 Pro
Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro models will continue to be a step ahead when it comes to cameras. Apple is expected to bring improvements to the Pro cameras, including a new periscope zoom lens on the larger of the two iPhone 15 Pro models. (It’s rumored Apple could change the name of this device from “Max” to iPhone 15 Ultra. We’ll see.)
In addition to camera upgrades, Apple is also expected to unveil a new design for the iPhone 15 Pro models. The new design is rumored to have thinner bezels and sport a new material: titanium. This would replace the stainless steel frame on the current Pro models and likely save a bit of weight, which is sorely needed.
There is also a rumor that while the Pro models will also replace their Lighnting port with a USB-C connector, they will also have Thunderbolt capability. This would be a game changer for creative professionals who use the iPhone for work as it would allow for much, much, much faster transfer of footage, photos, and other data from the iPhone to another device for editing. (Shooting in ProRes on the iPhone Pro might be a thing a lot of people actually start considering if this one happens.)
Apple is also expected to introduce a new line of colors for the iPhone 15 Pro models: a light gray, darker space gray, and a new dark blue color. AppleInsider pointed out that a tipster says these colors are represented by the shades swirling in the Apple logo in the event invite above.)
New Apple Watches
Apple is also expected to unveil Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 during the event. Updates for the watches would include a new, faster S9 processor across all new models, and a new darker titanium color for the Ultra. As 9to5Mac points out, the faster processor would be the first time in “several generations” that Apple has updated the CPU on any Apple Watch.
