THE iPhone 15 the leaks and rumors show no signs of stopping, and now we have new renders of the flagship Pro model which is due out in September – one that shows quite a few changes from the model currently on sale.
This comes from information obtained by 9to5Mac (opens in a new tab): Renders are based on details provided by a “trusted case maker”, and this is a source we are more likely than not to trust when it comes to previews of Apple hardware.
As for these differences with the iPhone 14 Pro, we have thinner bezels on the sides of the screen and a more rounded shape overall. The Lightning port has been replaced by a USB-C port, which we were already expecting this year.
Curves and bumps
“The frame itself is also more curved than before, resembling the design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air M2,” writes 9to5Mac. “It might make the phone more comfortable to hold and less prone to accidental touches.”
We also have a thicker camera bump on the back, again something that was mentioned in earlier rumors. We’re likely looking at an upgraded rear camera module, although this leak only relates to the external aesthetics of the smartphone.
These renderings correspond to a leaked photo from the iPhone 15 Pro that appeared yesterday: it only shows the USB-C data and charging port on the phone, but there are also hints that the frame and edges of the device are going to be a bit more rounded.
Analysis: Other iPhone improvements
If these renders are accurate – and we have no real reason to think they aren’t – it shows that we’re going to see a subtle change in iPhone design in 2023. It’s not going to be a year where Apple throws away tradition and does something significantly different.
From what we can tell from this leak, we like the direction Apple is taking with this, with the flatter, more angled edges of the iPhone 14 the models round out a little. It’s a more user-friendly phone than those that came before it.
As for thinner bezels (again previously predicted), it’s still a win. That means more screen space in a phone of the same size, although the screens’ resolution probably won’t change – there will still be the same number of pixels.
It’s also good to see Apple switching the iPhone to USB-C, in line with iPads, even though it may come with tied strings. This should mean things like cables and chargers will be easier to swap between Apple devices in the future.