iPhone 15 Pro: everything we know | MacRumors

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to look similar to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, with 6.1- and 6.7-inch OLED displays and a Dynamic Island cutout for the camera and Face ID hardware.

There have been rumors of some changes to the chassis of the two Pro models. Leaker ShrimpApplePro has claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to feature curved bezels that are slimmer than the iPhone 14 Pro models. The displays would remain flat despite the thinner bezels and curved, a design likened to the Apple Watch Series 7 and Series 8.

The iPhone 15 Pro’s bezels are expected to measure 1.55mm, meaning the device will “break the record” for the thinnest bezels on a smartphone. The iPhone 14 Pro, for comparison, has 2.17mm bezels.

Titanium frame

Instead of stainless steel, rumors suggest Apple will switch to titanium this year, using it for the frames of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Compared to stainless steel, titanium is lighter and stronger, but it’s also more expensive because it is more difficult to work with.

Assuming there are no other major changes in terms of internal components, an iPhone built with a titanium frame will be lighter than an iPhone with a stainless steel frame, so the 15 Pro and Pro Max are likely to be lighter than the their predecessors iPhone 14 Pro . Weight will ultimately be determined by the alloy used by Apple, as the devices will not be made from pure titanium.

The Apple Watch Ultra in titanium

Titanium is already used in the Apple Watch range, and in the past Apple has introduced two colors of titanium, a natural titanium color similar to standard silver and a darker space black version. Apple may use these same colors for iPhone 15 Pro models or design new shades.

In addition to being lighter, titanium has a different finish to stainless steel. Rather than being shiny, it has a more matte texture that won’t attract fingerprints in the same way as the stainless steel frame of the iPhone 14 Pro.

Titanium is a much stronger material than stainless steel, so an iPhone frame made from this material might be more resistant to dings, dings, and bending, but it might be easier to scratch because the oxide layer is easily damaged and can bring out small scratches .

Colors

The iPhone 15 Pro models may come in a dark blue color, which isn’t too far from the blue of the iPhone 12 Pro, but with more gray for a deeper hue. Apple often supplies a new color every year, and blue was used for the iPhone 15 Pro prototype devices.

We’ve also heard of a dark red color, close to a brown or burgundy undertone, but blue seems more likely.

Volume buttons

Initially the iPhone 15 Pro models were to feature solid-state buttons that would replace the physical buttons, with Apple also using an elongated single-button design. Apple planned to use haptic feedback to mimic the feeling of pressing a button, making it feel like you’re pressing when there’s no actual button to press.

For months into the rumor cycle, Apple was rumored to be using this technology, but in April, the company abandoned plans for solid-state button technology. According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple ran into “unresolved technical issues.”

The physical volume and power buttons on the iPhone 14 Pro

Kuo says Apple will “revert to the traditional physical button design instead,” which includes a transition to the dual-button configuration used for iPhone 14 Pro models rather than the single button. Solid-state buttons could instead be included in 2024 iPhone 16 models.

Action button?

While there won’t be any notable changes to the volume buttons, Apple is said to be replacing the current mute switch with a push-button design. Like the volume buttons, this is supposed to be a physical button rather than a solid state button. A source of MacRumors Forums have suggested that Apple may turn this mute button into an “Action” button similar to the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra, and multiple sources have since confirmed that it will indeed be a button rather than a toggle.

The “Action” button will presumably replace the current Ring/Silent switch located near the volume buttons, but there’s no word yet on what functions such a button might be capable of performing. It would likely be customizable similar to the Apple Watch’s Action button, and could be used for things like toggling Do Not Disturb, activating Low Power Mode, activating the Camera app, and more.

Apple is expected to use the new Action button to change how iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max restart and shut down. Instead of pressing the side button and a volume button to restart, iPhone 15 Pro models could instead use the Action button combined with the side button to force restart and shut down the iPhone.

Screen

All iPhone 15 models may feature a more energy-efficient OLED display driver chip manufactured in a 28nm process, enabling reduced power consumption which could lead to longer battery life.

Case fit

A series of 3D printed iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro mockups offer some insight into how previous-generation iPhone 14 cases will fit, and it appears that older cases won’t be able to be used with the new iPhones.

Small changes in the dimensions of the iPhone 15 range will for the most part prevent the cases from fitting, although the iPhone 15 Plus is able to fit inside an iPhone 14 Plus. The larger rear camera housing of the Pro models prevents to the iPhone 14 Pro cases to work properly, as well as the more curved design and button changes.

iPhone 15 Pro case leaks confirm that the new models will feature slightly repositioned power and volume buttons, with the buttons just a little lower than the iPhone 14 Pro models. The cases feature a larger cutout at the bottom to accommodate the USB-C port.

The cases have a cutout for the mute button which will replace the mute switch. Because it doesn’t need to be gripped like a switch, it requires a smaller cutout.

Dynamic island updates

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Dynamic Island are expected to feature an updated design with a built-in proximity sensor, but this change will not significantly change the look or functionality of Dynamic Island. It’s going to change component costs, and it could be a move Apple is making to bring device costs down a bit.