Apple is not going to go straight from
Lightning to portless. They’ll go USB-C on regular iPhones and I’m guessing at least USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 on Pro models.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
8 Features Rumored for the iPhone 15 Coming in 2023
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Lightning to portless. They’ll go USB-C on regular iPhones and I’m guessing at least USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 on Pro models.
I'm waiting to see, with baited breath, what they come out with in the iPhone 32. Seriously, when I'm in the market for a new phone I will just buy whatever looks appealing, at the time.
USB4/Thunderbolt 4 if they end up putting M-series chips (or some future variant/equivalent) in pro iPhones. The current A-series SoCs don't support Thunderbolt.
I'm in the same boat with my iPhone X, but it needs a new screen as well as a battery, and that's expensive. Thinking of getting a refurb 12 or 12 Pro to tide me over until the USB-C models come out since it will barely cost more than fixing up the X.
I hate to break it to you but USB-C is coming next year; USB-C 2.0 on the regular 15s, Thunderbolt on the 15 Pros. iPhone Mag-Safe is inferior to even Lightning when it comes to charging and data speeds.
Lightning is history.
Cutouts on cheap cases and capacitive buttons on expensive cases.
I just went from a 12 to a 13 mini. The size of the 12 made me angry every day. I am literally more relaxed with the mini. If fits in everything better: pants and jacket pockets, car pockets, my hand ( haha no “mini” jokes). I picked up my wife’s 12 yesterday and it felt gigantic and clumsy.
I hear next year the block of plastic in the sim slot is going to be much nicer.
You hope a ton of people have to get a new car to continue to use Carplay? Ok.
When you can make a phone that still works after 25 years, then we can talk about an actual feature. In other words, the only feature I really care about is a phone that lasts. The rest of this is mostly gimmicks. After I took that last photo I went looking for the charger for the Ericsson.....
Even that charger wasn't an issue with all that cable, I got used to it. I bought this phone new in South Africa in 1997 for ZAR400, which at the time was about a months salary. Was it worth it? Yes, because I used this phone for a solid 10 years, the only reason I stopped using it was my dad offered me a 2005 Nokia from an old contract. That was in 2007, and that Nokia is still in occasional use to this day.
Another point for consideration. I was in Cape Town in 2006 when I got held up at knife point by 5 guys. They told me to empty my pockets. All I had on me was a pack of smokes, and the Ericsson. They laughed, told me to keep my sh## phone and just give them each a cigarette. They even let me keep the rest of the pack of smokes. I guess they felt sorry for me. Now suppose I had a brand new $1200 phone in my pocket?
Ok, the Ericsson starts up and connects to the network. It rings, with that classic 3 tone ring, and picks up a call when I answer it, but it doesn't dial out. Maybe the 'software' isn't sending the number properly. I'm still playing with it. Either way, after 25 years, that it still does this much is a feature all on its own.
Here's the Nokia. I sometimes use it as my sacrificial phone, because I know no one will want to relieve me of it. But it's also a standby for making emergency calls when a modern smart phone can't get signal in places like the middle of the Namib desert. The original battery still stands by for several days. Turned off, several months.
So yea, I guess this post demonstrates well enough what I think of modern smart phone 'features'. All I use my 12 mini for is music, photos, iMesssage/whatsapp, some banking, some browsing, that's about it really. I still have a cassette Walkman from the 90's that still works....think Guardians of the Galaxy ;-)
Says a lot about ‘environmentally friendly low carbon footprint modern tech’….yes, I chuckle at the new green energy charging feature on iPhones.
Even that charger wasn't an issue with all that cable, I got used to it. I bought this phone new in South Africa in 1997 for ZAR400, which at the time was about a months salary. Was it worth it? Yes, because I used this phone for a solid 10 years, the only reason I stopped using it was my dad offered me a 2005 Nokia from an old contract. That was in 2007, and that Nokia is still in occasional use to this day.
Another point for consideration. I was in Cape Town in 2006 when I got held up at knife point by 5 guys. They told me to empty my pockets. All I had on me was a pack of smokes, and the Ericsson. They laughed, told me to keep my sh## phone and just give them each a cigarette. They even let me keep the rest of the pack of smokes. I guess they felt sorry for me. Now suppose I had a brand new $1200 phone in my pocket?
Ok, the Ericsson starts up and connects to the network. It rings, with that classic 3 tone ring, and picks up a call when I answer it, but it doesn't dial out. Maybe the 'software' isn't sending the number properly. I'm still playing with it. Either way, after 25 years, that it still does this much is a feature all on its own.
Here's the Nokia. I sometimes use it as my sacrificial phone, because I know no one will want to relieve me of it. But it's also a standby for making emergency calls when a modern smart phone can't get signal in places like the middle of the Namib desert. The original battery still stands by for several days. Turned off, several months.
So yea, I guess this post demonstrates well enough what I think of modern smart phone 'features'. All I use my 12 mini for is music, photos, iMesssage/whatsapp, some banking, some browsing, that's about it really. I still have a cassette Walkman from the 90's that still works....think Guardians of the Galaxy ;-)
Says a lot about ‘environmentally friendly low carbon footprint modern tech’….yes, I chuckle at the new green energy charging feature on iPhones.
Last edited:
I’m in, and USB-C too. The transition is happening.
There's almost a year to go until we get new iPhone 15 models in September 2023, but we've been hearing rumors for months now. It's looking like the iPhone 15 models could get more notable updates than we saw for the iPhone 14, including features many iPhone users have wanted for years.
We've rounded up some of the best features coming to the iPhone 15 that we've heard so far so MacRumors readers know what to look forward to.
USB-C Port
2023 is expected to mark the end of the Lightning port for the iPhone, with Apple transitioning to USB-C. That means you'll be able to charge your modern Mac, iPad, and iPhone all with the same connector.
Apple isn't exactly swapping to USB-C in order to make your life more convenient, it's making the change because the European Union is demanding it. iPhones sold in Europe need to have USB-C ports by 2024, so Apple either needs to make a worldwide design change or create special iPhones for Europe.
Apple has confirmed it will comply with local regulations, and rumors indicate that Apple will make the change in 2023.
Solid State Volume and Power Buttons
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently said that Apple might add solid state volume and power buttons to the iPhone 15 rather than physical buttons, which would be similar to the trackpad on Macs and the iPhone 7's Home button. The haptic feedback would mimic the feel of a button press on the solid button, replacing the mechanical button press.
Using solid state buttons would likely protect against water ingress and could allow Apple to provide better water resistance. Using haptic feedback for buttons would require Apple to add new Taptic Engines.
Dynamic Island for All Models
Apple introduced the Dynamic Island for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the cheaper iPhone 14 models continue to use a notch. With the iPhone 15, the entire lineup is expected to get the Dynamic Island, so if you want access to the Dynamic Island but don't want to shell out for a Pro iPhone, wait for the iPhone 15.
Same Sizes
We haven't heard rumors about notable design changes for the iPhone 15 lineup as of yet, so it's looking like we're going to get the same sizes. The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro will measure in at 6.1 inches, and the iPhone 15 Plus and Pro Max will be 6.7 inches.
Periscope Lens Technology
We've been hearing about Apple's work on periscope lens technology for years now, and 2023 might be the year that it's introduced. Periscope lenses, which are already used by some Android smartphone manufacturers, have optical zoom capabilities that exceed the zoom range available with a standard telephoto lens.
With a periscope lens, Apple could offer 5x or even 10x optical zoom, up from 3x in the current iPhone 14 Pro models.
A Name Change?
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said that Apple might replace the "Pro Max" version of the iPhone 15 with a new high-end "Ultra" model. That would be in line with the Apple Watch Ultra, and it could give Apple an excuse to limit certain features to the highest-end iPhone, like periscope lens technology.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has already said that the periscope lens could be limited to the largest iPhone.
3-Nanometer A17 Chip
The iPhone 15 Pro models might be the first to feature a 3-nanometer chip from Apple supplier TSMC. 3nm chip technology is expected to increase processing performance by 10 to 15 percent, while also reducing power consumption by up to 30 percent.
If Apple does use a 3nm A17 chip, it would be a notable improvement over the A16. Only the Pro models got the A16, which is built on a 4nm process, and the A17 is similarly expected to be limited to the iPhone 15 Pro. Standard iPhone 15 models may see an upgrade to the prior-generation A16.
More RAM
The iPhone 15 Pro models could get 8GB RAM, up from 6GB, perhaps to support new capabilities like periscope lens technology.
Read More
For more on the iPhone 15, make sure to bookmark and follow our iPhone 15 roundup, which is updated on a regular basis with all of the rumors that we hear.
Article Link: 8 Features Rumored for the iPhone 15 Coming in 2023
Damn good question, there. At my age (it suffices to say I was born last century) the feel of physical buttons is important and my case covers them to protect from water penetration. Also I am a bit concerned about continued compatibility with MFI hearing aids. AND here in Cal at the moment and it’s raining! Buttons are better for basic controls when your screen is splattrred with H20. Save the buttons!
Last edited:
i am torn on this. my carrier doesn't support esim. not many do here. i suppose if anyone is going to push carriers to adopt it then it's going to be apple. i remember them moving to micro sim or whatever it was called and it was difficult finding one. i'm not against esim but i won't be able to buy an iphone until my carrier supports it.
That iphone 6s has lived a nice life! Fingers crossed it makes it another 10 months!
I understand that, that's why I said that I can see it being used in the Pro line basically as a headlining feature.
I just changed primary carrier (in Belgium) because the one I was on doesn’t offer esim, and they don’t care to. I asked. New esim sign up took 5 mins flat, and it’s pre-paid with the option to switch to monthly, if needed, without swapping sims.
For those looking for international data only esim, try Ubigi or Airalo. I have both, plus my primary number on esim, and a physical in my 12 mini. Yea, my old Ericsson can’t do that.
Last edited:
I have seen the video that you are referencing and I think this could be a possibility, but then the bridge gap between pro and non-pro widen greatly.
This would limit data to Airdrop (unless something better than Airdrop gets created). Now I don't know the statistics of people who own an iPhone and have a Mac, but with this push of higher Megapixels and ProRes recording even with a 2TB iPhone you could be talking space constraints. Data Transfer is the biggest crutch I feel with moving to a Magsafe ecosystem.