The Evolution Continues: iPhone 15’s Impressive Feature Set
Apple threw a lot of iPhone 15 features into iOS 15, including on-device speech recognition and a feature that masks network locations in email. But that’s not all.
CAD files obtained by 9to5Mac show that one or both of the new iPhone 15 models will get some serious camera upgrades, and a periscope lens on the Pro Max/Ultra model.
Operating System
Apple’s latest iOS 17 brings a range of new features that can only be used on the iPhone 15. These include a feature to let friends know you’re coming home, sharing your phone’s battery and reception levels with those close to you, and the ability to use the front camera to unlock your device. Other features include a journalling app, posters to appear when someone calls you, swearing to autocorrect, and StandBy that turns your iPhone into a smart home display while charging.
Apple supplier TSMC is expected to upgrade the A-series processor in the iPhone 15 to a 7nm chip, bringing significant processing power gains while reducing energy consumption by up to 35 percent. The A17 Bionic is also expected to be the first Apple device to support Qualcomm’s X24 LTE modem for up to 1Gbps download speeds.
It’s rumored that the standard iPhone 15 will get Dynamic Island technology, but it won’t include ProMotion or always-on display tech, which remain reserved for the larger 6.7-inch Pro models. Additionally, rumors have suggested that the iPhone 15 will only officially support USB-C accessories that are certified by Apple’s Made for iPhone (MFi) program. This could limit speeds for non-certified accessories, which has already been called a violation of consumer protection laws by one European member of parliament.
Privacy
Apple’s iOS 15 launch included a fleet of new privacy features designed to make it harder for digital marketers to track your movements online. Among them: Mail Privacy Protection, which hides your email address by loading remote content privately in the background; and Safari’s Intelligent Tracking Prevention gets a significant upgrade to mask your web browsing activity by swapping out your IP with a randomized one when you visit websites.
Also included in iOS 15 is a feature that lets you view and control your apps’ permissions and how they use your data. The App Privacy Report is a powerful tool that provides a detailed breakdown of the kinds of information your installed apps can access, including your location, microphone, and photos.
Similarly, a new Siri feature that can generate two-factor authentication codes offline lets you keep them in a safe place without sending any requests to Apple. The feature requires the A12 Bionic processor found in the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR and can be enabled in Settings > Siri & Search.
Camera AR
iPhone cameras are a big differentiator among smartphone makers, and Apple has always managed to keep its edge here. Usually, the company’s new iPhone releases get a bump in camera IQ to help it stand out from the competition.
That’s probably going to be the case for the iPhone 15 too. Respected display analyst Ross Young (who’s got an impressive track record with his predictions) says that the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island will make its way to the standard models of this year’s iPhone range. That’ll include the iPhone 15, iPhone XR and iPhone XS.
Young also believes that the iPhone 15 and iPhone XR will have an adaptive 120Hz refresh rate like the Pro models. That would allow them to support Apple’s iphone 15 2023 ProMotion feature, which helps deliver smoother video playback.
In terms of the camera itself, rumors point to a new Sony sensor for the standard iPhones and a dual-sensor setup for the Pro models. That sensor will reportedly have the power to deliver better low-light performance and double the saturation signal levels in each pixel.