Apple is expected to launch its next-generation iPhone 15 series in September this year, and the latest leaks suggest some exciting features for the flagship models. According to ChargerLab, a reliable source of Apple-related news, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will come with a Thunderbolt port instead of the Lightning connector, enabling faster data transfer and charging speeds. Moreover, the Pro models will also sport a new camera system that will offer a sensational upgrade over the previous generation.
Thunderbolt Port To Replace Lightning Connector
The Lightning connector has been the standard port for iPhones since 2012, but it seems that Apple is finally ready to switch to a more universal and versatile option. ChargerLab claims that it has seen images of the parts for the iPhone 15 series, and they show an integrated circuit (IC) for Thunderbolt data transfer speeds. The IC, known as a retimer, rebuilds signals and mitigates jitter. It augments signal transmission stability for high-capacity data ports and extends transmission ranges. Such chips are seen in other Thunderbolt/USB 4 devices, and ChargerLab believes it is clearly identifiable on the iPhone 15’s USB-C components.
The Thunderbolt port will allow the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max to connect with a wide range of accessories and peripherals, such as external monitors, hard drives, docks, and hubs. It will also support faster charging and data transfer speeds than the Lightning connector, which is limited to USB 2.0 speeds of up to 480 Mbps. Thunderbolt can deliver up to 40 Gbps of bandwidth, which is 80 times faster than USB 2.0. Additionally, the Thunderbolt port will make the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max compatible with USB-C cables and chargers, which are becoming more common and affordable.
New Camera System To Offer Sensational Upgrade
Another major feature that will distinguish the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max from the rest of the lineup is the new camera system. According to DigiTimes, a Taiwanese publication that covers the supply chain of tech companies, Apple has ordered a large number of voice coil motors (VCMs) from its suppliers for the upcoming iPhones. VCMs are used to control the focus and stabilization of camera lenses, and they are essential for improving the image quality and performance.
The report suggests that Apple will use VCMs to enable sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) for all four lenses on the rear camera module of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Sensor-shift OIS is a technology that moves the image sensor instead of the lens to compensate for hand movements and vibrations. This results in sharper and clearer photos and videos, especially in low-light conditions. Sensor-shift OIS was first introduced on the iPhone 12 Pro Max last year, but only for the wide-angle lens. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will reportedly extend this feature to the telephoto, ultra-wide, and LiDAR lenses as well.
Furthermore, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will also boast a new periscope telephoto lens that will offer up to 10x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom. This will be a significant improvement over the current telephoto lens on the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max, which only offer up to 2.5x optical zoom and up to 12x digital zoom. The periscope lens will use a folded optics design that will allow more magnification without increasing the thickness of the camera module. The periscope lens will also benefit from sensor-shift OIS, which will reduce blur and noise at high zoom levels.
What To Expect From The Rest Of The iPhone 15 Series
The iPhone 15 series is expected to consist of four models: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Mini, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. All four models will feature a similar design as the iPhone 12 series, with flat edges and minimal bezels. However, they will also have some noticeable changes, such as a smaller notch on the front, a larger battery capacity, and a faster A16 Bionic processor.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Mini will be the more affordable options in the lineup, with prices starting at $699 and $599 respectively. They will have a dual-camera setup on the back, with a wide-angle lens and an ultra-wide lens. They will also have a Lightning connector instead of a Thunderbolt port, and they will not have sensor-shift OIS or periscope zoom capabilities.
The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will be the premium models in the lineup, with prices starting at $999 and $1,099 respectively. They will have a quad-camera setup on the back, with a wide-angle lens, an ultra-wide lens, a telephoto lens, and a LiDAR scanner. They will also have a Thunderbolt port instead of a Lightning connector, and they will have sensor-shift OIS and periscope zoom capabilities.
The iPhone 15 series is expected to launch in September 2023, along with other Apple products such as the Apple Watch X, the AirPods 3, and the iPad Mini 6. The iPhone 15 series will likely face stiff competition from other flagship smartphones, such as the Samsung Galaxy S23, the Google Pixel 8, and the OnePlus 10.