At its ‘Wonderlust’ launch event on September 12, 2023, Apple announced four new iPhone handsets: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
In this article, we reveal all of the key details you need to know about the new phones: from the price, tech specs and design changes, to any problems with the iPhone 15-series being reported (including overheating and set up issues) and our own buying advice.
What are the new iPhones called?
There were rumors that Apple would create a new ‘Ultra’ branding at the top end, but this was inaccurate. Apple stuck with the same system as last year and went with:
- iPhone 15
- iPhone 15 Plus
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
We may see an iPhone 16 Ultra in 2024, read iPhone 16: Everything you need to know.
When did the iPhone 15 launch?
The iPhone 15-series handsets were announced at Apple’s Wonderlust event on September 12. Pre-orders from Apple’s website then started at 5 a.m. PDT, at 8 a.m. EDT, and 1 p.m. in the U.K on Friday, September 15. The phones eventually went on sale on September 22.
iPhone 15-series price
Here are Apple’s prices of the new iPhones. In the U.S. you will pay more for an unlocked iPhone, you pay more if you don’t want the handset to be locked to a network. In the U.K. these prices are for unlocked iPhones.
In some cases, these prices are better than the 2022 equivalents. In 2022 the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus cost more, and while the price of the Pro and Pro Max have stayed the same in the U.S., it has been reduced in the U.K., but gone up in Australia.
You should also note that the 15 Pro Max now starts at 256GB of storage instead of 128GB, so it isn’t as expensive as it seems.
Want to buy a new iPhone 15? Don’t pay more than you need to! We have also collected the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.S. and the best deals for the iPhone 15-series in the U.K. in separate articles.
Here’s how the iPhone 15 handset prices compare to the iPhone 14 in 2022.
| iPhone | 2023 iPhone 15-series price | 2022 iPhone 14-series price |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 | 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,699 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049 | 128GB: $829 / £849 / AUD$1,399 256GB: $929 / £959 / AUD$1,579 512GB: $1,129 / £1,179 / AUD$1,899 |
| iPhone 15 Plus | 128GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,649 256GB: $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 512GB: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199 | 128GB: $929 / £949 / AUD$1,579 256GB: $1,029 / £1,059 / AUD$1,749 512GB: $1,229 / £1,279 / AUD$2,099 |
| iPhone 15 Pro | 128GB: $999 / £999 / AU$1,849 256GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049 512GB: $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$2,399 1TB: $1,499 / £1,499 / AU$2,749 | 128GB: $999 / £1,099 / AUD$1,699 256GB: $1,099 / £1,209 / AUD$1,869 512GB: $1,299 / £1,429 / AUD$2,219 1TB: $1,499 / £1,649 / AUD$2,569 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | 256GB: $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,199 512GB: $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$2,549 1TB: $1,599 / £1,599 / AU$2,899 | 128GB: $1,099 / £1,199 / AUD$1,899 256GB: $1,199 / £1,309 / AUD$2,099 512GB: $1,399 / £1,529 / AUD$2,419 1TB: $1,599 / £1,749 / AUD$2,769 |
Should I buy an iPhone 15, Plus, Pro or Pro Max?
The answer to this question depends on a lot of things, including the phone you are upgrading from, your budget, and the features that you need from a smartphone. We have various articles that attempt to answer the question, which we will link to below.
For help choosing the best iPhone for you read our iPhone comparison chart 2023: Every iPhone compared.
Wondering if you should upgrade from your specific handset? Read: iPhone 15: Who should and shouldn’t upgrade where we look at whether you should upgrade from iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, XR and older.
Find out what we (and others) think of the 2023 iPhones:
- iPhone 15 Pro Max review.
- iPhone 15 Pro review.
- iPhone 15 Plus review.
We also compare some of the older handsets to the new ones:
- iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 13: Is it time to upgrade?
Problems with the iPhone 15
There are other reasons you may be concerned about buying one of the new iPhones as well. There have been reports about various issues, including the iPhone 15 getting too hot and being easily damaged.
Damage: In this YouTube video it appears that it is very easy to damage the glass on the back of the new iPhone. If this is true then we suggest that once you have your new iPhone don’t forget to get a case to protect it. See our round-up of The best iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro cases and here’s our New iPhone setup guide.
Set-up problems: In Apple warns of potential iPhone 15 issues we discuss news that you should update to iOS 17.0.2 to address an issue with setting up the new iPhone using your old iPhone. Apple also notes that: “For iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the oil from your skin might temporarily alter the color ofthe outside band.
Overheating: There were reports that the iPhone 15 Pro has overheating issues and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thought this might be because of “compromises made in the thermal system design to achieve a lighter weight, such as the reduced heat dissipation area and the use of a titanium frame, which negatively impacts thermal efficiency.” Kuo said Apple would address the overheating issues in a software update and it did so. iOS 17.0.3 included “important bug fixes, security updates, and addresses an issue that may cause iPhone to run warmer than expected,” according to Apple’s notes. Apparently, the update lowers temperatures by as much as 15 degrees at its hottest moment, see: Proof that iOS 17.0.3 fixes the iPhone 15’s overheating issues.
iPhone 15 pros
Lower cost repairs; Apple has cut the cost of repairs for the new iPhones, so, if you break your new iPhone 15 Pro, it’ll be a lot cheaper to fix than the iPhone 14.
Easier repairs: And that repair may be easier according to iFixIt’s teardown. Read: The iPhone 15 Pro is easier to repair—as long as Apple is the one fixing it.
Extend battery life: A new feature should improve the life span of the new iPhones. Users can go to Settings >Battery>Battery Health & Charging>Charging Optimization and choose a new80% Limitoption will stop your iPhone from charging when it reaches 80 percent of full capacity. More here: The iPhone 15’s new battery features will help your phone last longer.
Find out all about the new features in the iPhone 15 series in our guide: Best new iPhone 15 features.
iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, Max and USB-C
If you are wondering what the move to USB-C means for you if you switch to a new iPhone you might like to read: USB-C and the iPhone 15 and Everything the iPhone 15’s USB-C port can do, in which we explain what the move means.
All four 2023 iPhones have USB-C ports. The older iPhones have not been updated. Only the Pro models support faster data transfers at 10Gbps. iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are capped at 480Mbps like Lightning.
There is a USB-C cable in the box, but you will need to buy a 20W adapter plug if you don’t already own one. See Which power adapter do I need to charge my iPhone?
You may be wondering how to charge a new iPhone 15 series phone now that it has a USB-C port. There is no plug in the box (hasn’t been since 2020) but you will find a USB-C cable, which if you have a 20w plug will allow for fast charging. The other option is to charge wirelessly.
These articles should help you find what you need:
- Best USB-C charging cables for iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Best iPhone chargers
- How to charge an iPhone 15 with a Lightning cable
- Best MagSafe wireless chargers for iPhone 2023
iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, Max design changes
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All four iPhone 15 handsets have received design changes from the previous generation, but none of these changes are especially radical. For example, they now have a slight curve on the back edges that should make them slightly more comfortable to hold.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus gain “an industry-first color-infused back glass with a stunning, textured matte finish,” and now have the Dynamic Island which was previously a Pro exclusive.
Here’s what the iPhone 15 looks like:
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As you can see, the iPhone 15 comes in black, blue, green, yellow, and pink.
The Pro models, as usual, feature several additional physical upgrades. Most obviously the mute switch has been replaced by a pressable Action button that silences your phone by default but can be customized to cover a range of functions such as opening the Camera app, activating Voice Memos, or triggering Accessibility features. You’ll get haptic feedback when you press the Action button and the Dynamic Island will provide further visual cues.
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More fundamentally, the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are made of titanium, a first for the iPhone line. This should provide an improved strength to weight ratio compared to stainless steel, and sure enough, weights are down across both Pro models. (The 15 Pro Max, for example, weighs 221 grams, down from the 14 Pro Max’s 240 grams. That’s a drop of just under 8 percent. The 15 Pro is down 9 percent in weight.)
And here are the color options for the iPhone 15 Pro. They are listed on Apple’s website as Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. Why don’t the Pro models ever get interesting colors?
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As with 2022’s iPhone 14 line, the U.S. models all feature dual eSIM support and have no physical SIM slot. U.K. customers do get physical nano-SIM slots, but note that if you’ve got a SIM card in there you’ll only be able to use one eSIM.
iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, Max new features
The new phones can do a few things that their predecessors couldn’t. The inclusion of USB-C, for instance, makes it a little easier to use a single charger for multiple Apple devices. The Dynamic Island is now on all four models (last year it was just on the Pro handsets) and its functions have been expanded. Perhaps the most interesting upgrade, however, is reverse charging: you can now charge an Apple Watch or a set of 2nd-gen AirPods Pro by plugging them into your phone.
You can read about the cheaper models’ upgrades in The five best new iPhone 15 features.
Aside from a bunch of design upgrades, and the super-fast new A17 Pro chip, the Pro models come with some very cool photography features. You can read about our favorites in Top features of iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
It’s also worth mentioning Apple’s environmental claims. All four iPhone 15 handsets use more recycled materials than previous generations. The standard models boast “100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery and 100 percent recycled copper in the main logic board, copper wire in the Taptic Engine, and copper foil in the inductive charger in MagSafe,” along with impressive claims related to aluminium, gold, and rare earth materials, whereas the Pro models feature “100 percent recycled aluminum substructure and 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery–both firsts for Apple.”
The company further claims numerous achievements related to energy efficiency and the removal or reduction of plastic and harmful chemicals, and has pledged to “no longer use leather in any new Apple products.” You can read all about this on Apple’s environment page.
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iPhone 15, Plus, Pro, Max tech specs
Here are the key tech specs of the new iPhones. Note particularly that the 15 and 15 Plus get last year’s processors (the A16 Bionic that appeared in the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max), whereas the Pro models get the brand-new A17 Pro chip. This is the first Apple chip made using a 3nm process–indeed Apple cites it as an industry first–which means far higher transistor density and greater power efficiency.
iPhone 15
- A16 Bionic processor (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU)
- 6.1-inch 2556×1179 460ppi Super Retina XDR display
- Dual-lens rear camera: 48MP f/1.6 Main, 12MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide; up to 2X optical zoom
- 12MP f/1.9 front camera
- Smart HDR 5
- 128/256/512GB storage
- Estimated battery life: Up to 20 hours video playback
- Fast charge: Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter
- Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
- USB-C charging/data connection
- IP68 dust and water resistance (maximum depth 6m up to 30 minutes)
- 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm)
- 6.02 ounces (171 grams)
iPhone 15 Plus
- A16 Bionic processor (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU)
- 6.7-inch 2796×1290 460ppi Super Retina XDR display
- Dual-lens rear camera: 48MP f/1.6 Main, 12MP f/2.4 Ultra Wide; up to 2X optical zoom
- 12MP f/1.9 front camera
- Smart HDR 5
- 128/256/512GB storage
- Estimated battery life: Up to 26 hours video playback
- Fast charge: Up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with 20W adapter
- Wi‑Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
- USB-C charging/data connection
- IP68 dust and water resistance (maximum depth 6m up to 30 minutes)
- 6.33 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches (160.9 x 77.8 x 7.8mm)
- 7.09 ounces (201 grams)
iPhone 15 Pro
- A17 Pro processor (6-core CPU, 6-core GPU)
- 6.1-inch 2556×1179 460ppi Super Retina XDR always-on display with ProMotion
- Triple-lens rear camera: 48MP f/1.78 Main, 12MP f/2.2 Ultra Wide, 12MP f/2.8 Telephoto; up to 3X optical zoom
- 12MP f/1.9 front camera
- Smart HDR 5
- 128/256/512GB/1TB storage
- Estimated battery life: Up to 23 hours video playback
- Fast charge: Up to 50% charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter
- Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, 5G
- USB-C charging/data connection (supports USB 3)
- IP68 dust and water resistance (maximum depth 6m up to 30 minutes)
- 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 inches (146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25mm)
- 6.60 ounces (187 grams)
iPhone 15 Pro Max
- A17 Pro processor (6-core CPU, 6-core GPU)
- 6.7-inch 2796×1290 460ppi Super Retina XDR always-on display with ProMotion
- Triple-lens rear camera: 48MP f/1.78 Main, 12MP f/2.2 Ultra Wide, 12MP f/2.8 Telephoto; up to 5X optical zoom
- 12MP f/1.9 front camera
- Smart HDR 5
- 256/512GB/1TB storage
- Estimated battery life: Up to 29 hours video playback
- Fast charge: Up to 50% charge in 35 minutes with 20W adapter
- Wi‑Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread, 5G
- USB-C charging/data connection (supports USB 3)
- IP68 dust and water resistance (maximum depth 6m up to 30 minutes)
- 6.29 x 3.02 x 0.32 inches (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm)
- 7.81 ounces (221 grams)
The switch from Lightning to USB-C as the charging and data-transfer port, across all four models, is highly significant. (Apple talked this up as a beneficial move, and in many ways it is, but the company was obliged to make the change by looming regulation.) Data transfers will be faster on the Pro models because they support the USB 3 standard.
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