When will the iPhone 15 launch date be? We share all the rumours

Is the iPhone 15 fact, rumour or myth? Despite this being the 15th generation of iPhone, Apple is continuing their tradition of not officially confirming the existence of new products, let alone specific specifications or an iPhone 15 launch date.

However, there are enough credible rumours (including from suppliers of components) that we can firmly place the iPhone 15 far closer to fact than myth.

We can also share likely trends, features and tech-spec details, including that the charger will likely switch from Lightning to USB-C, the camera will have ‘periscopic zoom’ and that there will be four versions of the iPhone 15 (regular, Plus, Pro and Pro Max or possibly renamed Ultra)

However, remember none of this is confirmed official information, so the reality might end up being somewhat different!

Let’s look at iPhone 15 rumours in more detail.

September seems to be Apple’s favourite release month so experts are predicting that the iPhone 15 will be launched in early-mid September 2023. There’s even speculation in the news, based on past launches taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, that the specific dates could be either the 5th, 6th, 12th or 13th September.

While Australians had to wait over a year longer than US customers to buy their very first iPhone (called either’ iPhone 1’ or ‘Original iPhone’), these days new models are generally available worldwide.

In fact, the fact that Australia’s time zones are ahead of the US (launches usually happen at Apple’s headquarters in California) meant that Australians were the first in the world to get their hands on iPhone 14s!

Remembering that all the following information is yet to be officially confirmed, here’s what those-in-the-know think we’ll see when the iPhone 15 is released:

Models: Apple analysts are suggesting that there will be four versions of the iPhone 15, all with different pricing. ‘Ultra’ is the rumoured new term to replace ‘Pro Max’:

• iPhone 15
• iPhone 15 Plus
• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max or Ultra

Size: Like recent iPhone versions, there will likely be a difference in size between the different models. The following measurements are taken diagonally across the screen.

• iPhone 15 - 6.1 inch (15.5 centimetres)
• iPhone 15 Plus - 6.7 inch (17 centimetres)
• iPhone 15 Pro - 6.1 inch (15.5 centimetres)
• iPhone 15 Pro Max - 6.7 inch (17 centimetres)

Looks: The overall look of the iPhone 15 isn’t expected to be hugely different to previous models, perhaps with more curved edges and narrower bezels (the border between the screen and the frame). At least some of the iPhone 15 models will see the use of titanium frames, a lighter and stronger material than aluminium. There are even more whispers that the iPhone 15 Pro Max (Ultra) might get an orange action button similar to that in the Apple Watch Ultra.

Tech specs: Some are reporting that the iPhone 15 Pro will be the first iPhone to have an A17 chip, which would bring even better performance compared with the already-powerful A16 chip.  In good news for keen photographers and videographers, there are reports a planned increase in RAM from 6 to 8 gigabytes.

Camera: Like the last few iPhones, the camera specs will likely vary significantly between models, with the iPhone Pro Max (Ultra) potentially offering options for 8K video and increased storage (potentially up to 2 TB). Then, there’s the rumoured ‘periscopic camera’ that could have up to 6x optical zoom for the Pro models non-Pro. However, it is likely that all models will have the upgraded 48-megapixel main camera (that currently only the iPhone 14 Pro models have).

User interfaces: The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max introduced the ‘Dynamic Island’, which is a notification display of important information like privacy, AirDrop status and low-battery warnings. It’s rumoured that all iPhone 15 models will have this Dynamic Island feature.

AI: With artificial intelligence quickly becoming a larger part of our lives, it’s likely that the iPhone 15 will make more use of AI. This could include improvements to existing apps like Health and sleep analysis. Some are saying it could go as far as to have AI interpreting our messages and speech to determine our moods utilising the new iOS 17.

Operating system: Though iOS upgrades happen independently to new hardware releases, Apple has confirmed the development of iOS 17 so it seems likely that this will be the standard initial system on iPhone 15.

Current standard colours for iPhones seem to be black, white and red, though some think the iPhone 15 could see a deeper, closer to burgundy version of red. Some think that the trend for also offering some brighter shades, potentially pink and blue, will be followed.

It seems likely that Apple will change the charging port from Lightning to USB-C. Apple’s marketing boss, Greg Joswiak, told the Wall Street  Journal that he felt Apple had no other option to switch to this more generic charging port rather than the Apple-specific Lightning tech in order to comply with European Union legislation designed to reduce digital e-waste.

If you remember the switch in 2012 from the old 30-pin dock connector to Lightning, you might not love another change. However, the upsides of this change, if it happens, is cable co-compatibility with non-Apple devices and potentially increased data transfer speed capacity (rumoured to only be for the iPhone Pro models).

Experts are predicting that the iPhone 15 price will be higher than previous models, in keeping with the new materials and capabilities of this phone. As has been the case for previous launches, the different models of the iPhone 15 will have different levels of pricing.

Here’s a quick-reference overview of previous iPhone releases up to and including the iPhone 14, noting that the dates may have varied slightly depending on the specific region and the telecommunications company.

So, stay tuned about further news of developments with regards to the iPhone 15.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a new phone, please make full use of our iPhone comparison page.