The iPhone 14 is only some months outdated, however I am already curious to see what’s in retailer for the iPhone 15. Apple gave us lots of the upgrades we have been ready for with the iPhone 14 — particularly on the Professional fashions. Such options embody an always-on show for displaying the time at a look and higher multitasking by way of the Dynamic Island.
Nonetheless, there are a couple of methods Apple may take issues additional with the iPhone 15. For instance, the corporate may do a greater job of bringing sure Professional-exclusive options right down to its less-expensive iPhone fashions. Samsung incessantly does this with its cheaper telephones, and I might wish to see Apple embrace this method extra absolutely, too. The Dynamic Island additionally exhibits lots of promise already, however Apple may make it an much more integral a part of the iPhone expertise.
Apple usually broadcasts its new iPhones in September and releases them shortly thereafter. Here is what I am hoping to see from the iPhone 15 subsequent yr.
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USB-C charging
The iPhone nonetheless wants a Lightning cable to cost, however that is probably not the case for lengthy.
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The Lightning connector has been round for 10 years, and it is time for a change. With so many Apple merchandise making the swap to USB-C, there’s by no means been a much bigger want for one charger that powers all gadgets. Apple at present has 4 various kinds of chargers available on the market: Lightning (for iPhones, the 2021 iPad, AirPods and some different equipment), USB-C (for many new iPads and MacBooks), MagSafe (the wi-fi magnetic charger for iPhones) and MagSafe 3 (the magnetic charger for the 2022 MacBook Air, 14-inch MacBook Professional and 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional).
Making new iPhones appropriate with USB-C as an alternative of Lightning means you can use the identical cable to cost your new telephone, the Mac and new iPads. There is a good likelihood most of your different electronics use USB-C too.
The excellent news is {that a} USB-C iPhone is probably not very distant. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vp of worldwide advertising, confirmed that the corporate would adjust to the European Union’s mandate that every one telephones bought within the area would wish to have a USB-C charging port. He made the feedback throughout an interview on the Wall Road Journal Tech Reside convention. Apple has additionally beforehand examined USB-C iPhones, based on Bloomberg.
Nevertheless, Apple has not revealed any specifics about its plans. We do not know if Apple will start making the swap to USB-C with the iPhone 15 or if it can wait till the next yr, because the new guidelines require USB-C by the top of 2024. Apple additionally has not stated whether or not USB-C might be coming to all iPhones or simply European fashions, though analysts count on Apple to make an entire shift to USB-C.
Larger refresh charges on the common iPhone 15
The iPhone 14 Professional (pictured) has ProMotion, however the common iPhone 14 would not.
James Martin/CNET
Beginning with final yr’s iPhone 13 Professional, Apple added greater refresh charges to the shows on its premium smartphones. The iPhone 13 Professional, iPhone 13 Professional Max, iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max have a function Apple calls ProMotion, which may increase the display’s refresh price as excessive as 120Hz relying on what’s being proven. This leads to extra fluid scrolling and smoother animations.
It is a small contact, however one which makes the expertise really feel extra nice — as my colleague Patrick Holland wrote in his evaluate of the iPhone 13 Professional. Whereas having a excessive refresh price is not a deal breaker, it is change into normal on most smartphones. Google’s $599 Pixel 7 has a 90Hz refresh price and Samsung’s $800 Galaxy S22 features a 120Hz refresh price, as an illustration. Even the $450 Galaxy A53 5G has a 120Hz show, making its absence on the $799 iPhone 14 really feel much more noticeable.
Extra options that use the Dynamic Island
The iPhone 14 Professional Dynamic Island.
James Martin/CNET
The Dynamic Island, which is out there solely on the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max, is basically a second miniature display. As an alternative of eliminating the notch, Apple gave that house a brand new function through the use of it to show info from different apps.
For instance, you may see music that is at present enjoying, timers, and instructions in Maps on the high of the display — eliminating the necessity to swap between apps. The Dynamic Island makes it simpler to multitask on the iPhone 14 Professional, an space through which Apple has historically lagged behind Samsung and different Android telephones that assist split-screen apps.
Now that the Dynamic Island has confirmed its worth, I might wish to see Apple do much more with it subsequent yr. It could be attention-grabbing to see Apple use this house to make proactive strategies, like apps that could be helpful based mostly in your exercise, the time of day or your schedule. A part of the Dynamic Island’s usefulness additionally is determined by what app builders resolve to do with it, too. There are already a handful of apps that incorporate the Dynamic Island, resembling Pixel Buddies, which primarily seems to be like a Tamagotchi in your iPhone. However I am hoping to see extra sensible use instances for the Dynamic Island that make it really feel like a extra vital a part of your telephone, just like the iPhone’s house display widgets.
If Apple does develop the Dynamic Island’s performance sooner or later, there’s an opportunity you could not want the iPhone 15 to reap the benefits of it. As an alternative, Apple may construct new Dynamic Island options into its subsequent main software program replace, which is prone to be referred to as iOS 17.
A smaller notch on the common iPhone 15
The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (pictured) nonetheless have a notch.
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If Apple is not going to convey the Dynamic Island to the bottom iPhone 15, I hope it at the very least makes the notch much less intrusive. The notch hasn’t modified all that a lot since its debut on the iPhone X in 2017, except for the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max. In the meantime, different smartphone makers like Samsung, Google and OnePlus have discovered methods to offer edge-to-edge screens on their gadgets with out carving out a big notch for the front-facing digicam. Decreasing the notch’s dimension would doubtless end in extra display house and a extra trendy search for the iPhone 15.
If Apple does transfer on this course, we’d have to attend till the iPhone 16 to see it. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF Worldwide Securities identified for his Apple predictions, estimates under-display Face ID and front-facing digicam sensors might be coming in 2024.
That stated, there are good explanation why the iPhone nonetheless has a bigger notch than lots of its opponents. It largely comes right down to Face ID, which is extra refined than the facial recognition programs discovered on different telephones just like the Pixel 7, which Google cautions should not be used for authenticating delicate information like fee info.
Reverse wi-fi charging
Sure Samsung gadgets have Wi-fi PowerShare for charging different gadgets.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Many Android telephones have reverse wi-fi charging, which is precisely what it seems like. You should utilize the again of telephones just like the Galaxy S22 and Pixel 7 to cost different gadgets, like a smartwatch or earbuds. Whereas it is doubtless not vital for most individuals, I can think about it being very helpful for avid AirPods customers.
Nobody likes being caught on their morning commute with a lifeless pair of AirPods. Having the choice to get simply sufficient juice to make it by way of my 30-minute practice journey by inserting my AirPods on the again of my telephone for a couple of minutes could possibly be a sport changer. Sure, you will should sacrifice a few of your telephone’s battery. However in case you’re touring to a vacation spot the place you will simply be capable to cost your telephone when you arrive — just like the workplace — it is likely to be price that tradeoff.
The return of Contact ID
The iPad Air contains Contact ID within the energy button.
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Whereas Face ID is handy in lots of conditions, there are situations through which utilizing your finger to unlock your telephone is simply extra sensible. That is why I am hoping Contact ID makes a comeback on the iPhone. Perhaps you have not had time to arrange Face ID in order that it really works with a masks but, or maybe you are simply not holding your iPhone on the proper angle for Face ID.
Apple clearly sees the worth in fingerprint recognition, contemplating the highest button on the most recent normal iPad and iPad Air have Contact ID. Doing the identical for the iPhone 15 would add extra comfort, giving customers the selection to make use of Face ID or Contact ID relying on the state of affairs. Most Android telephones have each a fingerprint reader and a few type of facial recognition, so it could be nice to see iPhone customers get the identical choices.
It is unclear whether or not Apple will ever convey Contact ID again to the iPhone. Whereas the analyst Kuo beforehand predicted that future iPhones would get an under-display fingerprint sensor, he modified his outlook in March 2022.
The iPhone 14 Professional and Professional Max already tackle lots of the earlier shortcomings of Apple’s smartphones. The updates I am hoping to see within the iPhone 15 might not appear revolutionary, however they’re certain to make on a regular basis duties like charging and unlocking your telephone a bit simpler.