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Jun 29, 2023

Latest iPhone 15 Leaks Reveal Faster Charging, New Colors

iPhone 15 Pro Max scale render showing its ultra-thin bezels 08/25 Update below. This post was originally published on August 22 New iPhone 15 leaks have detailed multiple upgrades, including faster

iPhone 15 Pro Max scale render showing its ultra-thin bezels

08/25 Update below. This post was originally published on August 22

New iPhone 15 leaks have detailed multiple upgrades, including faster charging, new colors and updated cables. Let’s break them down.

The most impactful iPhone 15 rumor comes via 9to5Mac, which claims that the transition to USB-C will see Apple equip the iPhone 15 range with charging speeds of up to 35W. While this is still slower than many Android rivals, 35W charging would represent a 40-50% increase on the iPhone 13 (23W) and iPhone 14 (25W) and a 30% increase on the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Pro Max (both 27W).

What will this deliver in practice? iPhones typically take about two hours to charge fully, while the 45W Galaxy S23 Ultra takes half that. So a circa 30 min saving looks highly realistic. Whether Apple also improves the range’s quick charging (0-50% in 30 minutes), remains to be seen.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max render based on leaked CADs showing the new USB-C port

My only caveat about this leak is whether it will apply to the full range. Earlier leaks claim only iPhone 15 Pro models will get high-speed Thunderbolt 4 data speeds (40Gbps/40,000Mbps) from their USB-C ports, while standard models will be stuck with Lightning’s USB 2.0 antiquated performance (480Mbps). Restricting faster data and charging rates to Pro models could be a powerful upsell tactic.

iPhone charging cables may also be getting a design upgrade, according to MacRumors. Speaking with leaker Kosutami, the site learns that Apple is working on braided USB-C cables which will color-match the iPhone 15 range.

Kosutami states that the cables will at least come in white, black, yellow, purple, and orange. The latter seemingly hints at the first orange iPhone, a long-wanted option among Apple fans, though Kosutami warns that the shade of orange may be closer to pink. Apple released color-matched MacBook charging cables earlier this year.

Orange iPhone 15 Pro Max renders based on multiple leaks

Moreover, the colors align with an additional leak from prolific Apple insider Unknownz21, who has revealed that the iPhone 15 has been tested in Green, Blue, Yellow, Orange and two colors with ambiguous descriptions: Pink/Rose Gold/Blush Gold and Black/Midnight/Dark/Basalt. Test options don’t all come to market, but a true orange iPhone would be a guaranteed best-seller.

In addition to these leaks, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus buyers will see an iPhone 14 Pro-inspired upgrade with a Dynamic Island design, A16 chip and matching 48-megapixel primary camera. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (possibly now Ultra) will move to a titanium chassis, a new solid-state Action button and record breakingly-thin bezels.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will also gain a 10x optical zoom camera, Apple’s first, but come with a big price rise that might just push some upgraders back to the standard models.

08/24 Update: New iPhone 15 leaks have thrown up some confusion about one of the range’s most talked about changes: its switch from a Lightning port to USB-C.

Leakers, Kosutami and Majin Bu, have revealed an all-new braided, color-matched charging cable that they claim will be 1.5 to 1.6 meters long, that’s 50% longer than the charging cable Apple has supplied with every previous iPhone.

In isolation, this is welcome news as the one-meter Lightning cable Apple supplies has long attracted criticism for being too short and too fragile. This new cable would appear to address both of those concerns.

Unfortunately, however, that’s not the end of it because in a subsequent post, Majin Bu breaks down the technical details of the new cable, revealing it has no MFi chips (a fear that Apple may restrict charging to Apple-certified cables, which would significantly increase prices), but that it also only supports USB 2.0 (480Mbps) data speeds. This is surprising because the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to support Thunderbolt 4 data speeds (40,000Mbps).

One explanation could be that these cables are only for standard iPhone 15 models, but introducing two sets of iPhone charging cables is surely a needless overcomplication of its supply chain. The move would also likely cause confusion among owners.

Does this mean iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models may not have Thunderbolt 4 speeds after all? Or will Apple make a Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB-C cable an optional upgrade? With Apple tipped to announce the range on September 12, we won’t have to wait long to find out.

08/25 Update: Further leaks around the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro packaging have likely revealed some extra charges are coming for Pro buyers.

Leakers Kosutami and Majin Bu have both independently confirmed that Apple has tested a new USB 4.0 cable for its iPhone 15 Pro models, but the former states that it will be sold separately. This means iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max buyers are likely to get just the standard USB 2.0 cable in the box, unless Apple plans to remove that too.

Both leakers agree that the new cable will be just 70cm long, a lot shorter than the one-meter Lightning cable it currently bundles with iPhones. It will support 4K output at 60Hz and 150W of power, enough to fast charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro, though you’ll need to be close to the power socket, given its length.

Pricing is unknown, but Apple does sell a 1.8m “Thunderbolt Pro 4 Pro Cable” for a whopping $129. The new cable will need to be significantly cheaper unless Apple wants buyers to shop around for cheaper third-party options.

What the leakers don’t mention is whether the new cable is also needed to unlock the faster 35W charging rumored for both iPhone 15 Pro models. There’s no reason the slower cable couldn’t handle this level of power, but it remains to be seen if Apple will opt to restrict it to the premium cable.

Usually, there’s a catch, and usually, users will grumble but end up paying it anyway.

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