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One thing we can always be sure of with new iPhones – outside of the iPhone SE line – is that they’re going to be expensive. But exactly how expensive varies depending on the model and where in the world you are. So what about the iPhone 15 series?

As well as the iPhone 15 itself, we’re expecting to see the iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Ultra (or iPhone 15 Pro Max as it might be called). While pricing for these phones hasn’t been confirmed yet – and likely won’t be until September, when we’re expecting them to be announced – we have an idea of what to expect.

That idea is based both on what previous models cost and what leaks and rumors have suggested, but the gist is that it could be bad news, with prices for at least some models prices tipped to be higher than with the iPhone 14 line. But for a more precise look at what to expect, read on.

How much might the iPhone 15 cost?

To work out how much the iPhone 15 might cost, it helps to first look at what the iPhone 14 costs. That phone starts at $799 / £849 / AU$1,339, which gets you a 128GB model. For 256GB the price rises to $899 / £959 / AU$1,579, and for 512GB it costs $1,099 / £1,179 / AU$1,899.

Now, Apple doesn’t increase the prices every year, so it’s entirely possible that the iPhone 15 will cost the same amount as the 14. But some leaks suggest that it might be priced higher.

According to Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, the average selling price of the iPhone 15 line might be higher than it was with the iPhone 14 series. It’s worth noting, however, that this could be driven by price increases to just some models rather than all of them. Indeed, a source speaking to Forbes suggests that this is the case, with Apple apparently undecided as to whether to raise the price of the base iPhone 15, with the Pro and Ultra models more likely to get an increase.

A similar claim has been made by industry analyst Jeff Pu of investment firm Haitong International Securities, in an investor's note seen by SuperchargedNews. Here, Pu predicts that only the iPhone 15 Pro Max will get a price rise.

That said, leaker @Tech_Reve has claimed that the iPhone 15 will cost around 12% more to produce than the iPhone 14, and we’d think it’s likely Apple would pass those costs onto buyers – if this leak is right.

So where does that leave us? While a price rise for the base model is certainly possible, for now more sources seem to suggest that won’t be happening. In which case, the iPhone 15 price could be as follows:

• iPhone 15 128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,339
• iPhone 15 256GB: $899 / £959 / AU$1,579
• iPhone 15 512GB: $1,099 / £1,179 / AU$1,899

However, we wouldn’t be at all surprised if prices were around $100 / £100 / AU$150 higher than that, or if some regions got price rises and others didn’t.

How much might the iPhone 15 Plus cost?

The situation with the iPhone 15 Plus looks very similar to that of the iPhone 15 – meaning it might not see a price rise.

Its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Plus, starts at $899 / £949 / AU$1,579 for a 128GB model, rises to $999 / £1,059 / AU$1,749 for a 256GB one, and tops out at $1,199 / £1,279 / AU$2,099 for a 512GB version.

So will we see the same this year? Well, the aforementioned Forbes source says Apple is undecided on whether to raise the price, and – as noted above – analyst Jeff Pu only mentions a price rise for the iPhone 15 Ultra / iPhone 15 Pro Max. So it sounds like there’s a fair chance the iPhone 15 Plus will retain its predecessor’s price tag.

For now then we predict the following iPhone 15 Plus price:

• iPhone 15 Plus 128GB: $899 / £949 / AU$1,579
• iPhone 15 Plus 256GB: $999 / £1,059 / AU$1,749
• iPhone 15 Plus 512GB: $1,199 / £1,279 / AU$2,099

But the same caveats apply as with the standard iPhone 15 – it sounds like Apple might at least be considering a price rise, in which case we could see an increase of perhaps around $100 / £100 / AU$150.

It’s worth noting also that if the iPhone 15 has a price increase, the iPhone 15 Plus almost certainly will, since otherwise the two phones would likely cost about the same amount.

How much might the iPhone 15 Pro cost?

We’ll once again start by looking at the prices of this phone’s predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro. That handset costs $999 / £1,099 / AU$1,749 for a 128GB model, $1,099 / £1,209 / AU$1,899 for a 256GB version, $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,249 for a 512GB device, and $1,499 / £1,649 / AU$2,599 for 1TB of storage.

So will that price go up this year? Well, many but not all signs point to yes. For one thing, to echo what we said in the iPhone 15 section, analyst Dan Ives predicts that the average selling price of iPhones will go up this year. Now, we’ve established that this might not be driven by increases in pricing for the cheapest two models, so that just leaves the Pro and the Ultra.

Leaker Technology Window posting on Weibo has also specifically said that the iPhone 15 Pro will cost more than its predecessor. Similarly, the aforementioned Forbes source claimed that a price rise for the Pro in the US is likely, and they went so far as to predict that it would cost $100 more than its predecessor.

They don’t talk about other regions, and it’s possible the likes of the UK still wouldn’t see a price increase, since the UK did see a price increase with the iPhone 14 line, while the US didn’t. But we’d imagine if Apple raises the price in the US it will also do so elsewhere. In which case, the iPhone 15 Pro price could look like this:

• iPhone 15 Pro 128GB: $1,099 / £1,209 / AU$1,899
• iPhone 15 Pro 256GB: $1,199 / £1,279 / AU$2,099
• iPhone 15 Pro 512GB: $1,399 / £1,529 / AU$2,419
• iPhone 15 Pro 1TB: $1,599 / £1,740 / AU$2,769

That said, it’s possible the prices won’t rise, because as mentioned above, analyst Jeff Pu seems to think only the iPhone 15 Ultra / iPhone 15 Pro Max will get a price increase.

Still, with @Tech_Reve on Twitter claiming that the iPhone 15 Pro could cost around 20% more to produce than its predecessor, we’d think a price rise is likely, with the prices above being our best guess for now.

This assumes that Apple offers a 128GB model, though; we haven’t heard otherwise, but it’s possible the company could ditch this and start the phone at a 256GB size. In which case starting prices could be even higher.

Note also that since these leaks only specifically talk about US prices, we’ve estimated UK and Australian pricing by looking at other devices that Apple charges those US amounts for.

How much might the iPhone 15 Ultra / iPhone 15 Pro Max cost?

The iPhone 15 Ultra is sure to cost at least as much as the iPhone 14 Pro Max, meaning at least $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899 for a 128GB model, $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 for 256GB of storage, $1,399 / £1,529 / AU$2,419 for 512GB, and $1,599 / £1,740 / AU$2,769 for 1TB.

However, all signs point to it actually costing more. Analyst Jeff Pu and the Forbes source mentioned above both suggest a price rise, with the latter suggesting it will cost $100 more in the US.

The Weibo source above suggests a higher price, too, and an older leak from December points to a price rise of $200 for the iPhone 15 Ultra.

However, the $100 price increase claim above is a lot more recent, so we’re more inclined to believe it. Either way, though, a price rise of some amount seems likely.

Assuming the price does rise by $100, we’ll likely be looking at this for the iPhone 15 Ultra price:

• iPhone 15 Ultra 128GB: $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099
• iPhone 15 Ultra 256GB: $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,249
• iPhone 15 Ultra 512GB: $1,499 / £1,699 / AU$2,629
• iPhone 15 Ultra 1TB: $1,699 / £1,879 / AU$2,879

However, it’s worth noting that at least one source has suggested Apple won’t offer this phone with 128GB of storage, instead making 256GB the starting size. If that happens, the starting price might be $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,249, or maybe Apple will still make it $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 and give you more storage for your money. We can hope!

Obviously all of the above is currently based on rumors and speculation, but we'll continue to update this page as new leaks filter out between now and the likely iPhone 15 release date in September. 

If you want more predictions ahead of the launch, we also have guides to the likely iPhone 15 screen sizes and iPhone 15 specs, plus our thoughts on what the iPhone 15 USB-C situation will be. And of course, we also recommend checking out our iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra hubs for the very latest info on Apple's next flagship phones over the next few months.

Apple is striking another blow in the name of privacy by adding Link Tracking Protection to select iOS 17 apps, which will make it easier for users to keep their data private while browsing the web on their iPhone.

Link tracking identifiers are a collection of numbers and letters typically appended towards the end of a link as a way for websites to keep track of users as they move around the web. It’s most often used for ad tracking, as well as a substitute for third-party cookies. When Apple’s iOS 17 rolls out, Link Tracking Protection will prevent advertisers from bypassing privacy features simply because they are typically targeted toward cookies. It'll be enabled on Mail, Messages, and Safari's Private Browsing mode.

It is worth noting that you can still remove link-tracking identifiers by yourself by selecting and deleting the offending characters. However, with the identifiers often being quite long, many users simply wouldn’t bother, and Apple is just streamlining the otherwise tedious process.

“Privacy is designed into every new Apple product and feature from the beginning,” Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said in a press release announcing the feature. “We are focused on keeping our users in the driver’s seat when it comes to their data by continuing to provide industry-leading privacy features and the best data security in the world.

“This approach is evident in a number of features on our platforms, like the major updates to Safari Private Browsing, as well as the expansion of Lockdown Mode.”

A more private iOS

Compared to rival operating system Android, iOS has always been the more privacy and security-focused option, and iOS 17 furthers that. Apple put a stop to AirDrop flashing with Communication Safety, preemptively halted explicit contact posters, and beefed up Safari’s Private Browsing with an additional level of authentication. These are all subtle yet meaningful improvements – something that could be said for the iOS 17 update as a whole.

Apple is currently testing iOS 17 for developers, with a public preview slated for July. A full release of iOS 17 is expected to start rolling out to the best iPhones around September, to coincide with the launch of the iPhone 15.

The iPhone 15 is hotly tipped to inherit both the Dynamic Island and 48MP main camera from the iPhone 14 Pro, but we’re now hearing that another Pro-level design feature could be making its way onto Apple’s next standard iPhone.

According to the same Weibo user who correctly leaked the existence of the yellow iPhone 14, the standard iPhone 15 will ship with an iPhone 14 Pro-style textured matte glass rear panel, instead of the traditional glossy rear panel used by its predecessor, the iPhone 14.

Presumably, Apple is making the change to give its next standard model a more premium look and feel, though the move could also hint at rear panel changes for the iPhone 15 Pro and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra, which are both tipped to be getting a titanium frame.

On a practical level, the textured matte glass rear panels used by the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max make these phones easier to hold than their standard counterparts, but some iPhone fans – this writer included – actually consider the latter’s rear panel to be more premium-looking (though it really comes down to your preference for matte or glossy finishes).

Regardless, the very fact that the iPhone 15 could be getting this iPhone 14 Pro design feature suggests Apple is intent on raising the bar for its next vanilla iPhone model. We’ve already gone as far as to say that the base iPhone 15 sounds like an iPhone 14 Pro but cheaper, so if you’ve been eyeing up the latter device as a potential upgrade option, we’d advise that you wait until Apple’s September reveal event before making a decision.

Not every iPhone 14 Pro feature will come to the standard iPhone 15, mind. The device is expected to retain the static 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 14, with Apple’s ProMotion technology – which allows for a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max – reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra.

The phone likely won’t inherit the iPhone 14 Pro’s advanced camera features, either, despite the rumored presence of a 48MP main lens on the base-model iPhone 15.

Turning red?

Incidentally, the aforementioned Weibo user also claims that Apple plans to debut a series of new color options with the iPhone 15 line.

Just as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max shipped in a then-new Deep Purple color, the iPhone 15 Pro will reportedly debut in a new deep red color.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will, likewise, ship in a new cyan color option, which should help consumers differentiate between Apple’s next crop of standard iPhones and its top-of-the-line devices.

When Apple showcased its first-ever augmented reality headset – the Apple Vision Pro – at WWDC 2023 (its annual developer conference), we were only presented with a sliver of the use-cases in store for the company's new spatial computing platform, but new insights around how the iPhone 15 might help expand the headset's functionality further have now become part of the conversation.

On June 19, famed industry analyst and a reliable fount of Apple knowledge, Ming-Chi Kuo, tweeted out a series of statements on the Vision Pro and how Apple might broaden the experiences it'll be able to deliver through the power of its ecosystem.

In his post, Kuo speaks to Apple's apparent intentions of "aggressively" upgrading the hardware across its product line to better support the Vision Pro and what it has to offer, with one technology being of particular focus – Ultra Wideband (UWB).

Apple introduced UWB with the iPhone 11 series back in 2019, and the technology's primary use has been with proximity-based pairing and sharing between compatible devices through branded features like AirDrop, Handoff and beyond. It's also what allows for Precision Finding on the company's AirTag trackers.

UWB functionality in its current form is enabled by what the company has dubbed its U1 chip, and it's this that looks like it'll be getting a notable upgrade; assuming Kuo's claims ring true when the iPhone 15 launches. Apparently, Apple's U1 chip – currently built on a 16nm process – will be replaced by newer silicon, founded on a significantly more compact 7nm process; with the intention of improving performance, while also reducing power consumption.

Such an improvement could give iPhone 15 series devices an edge when it comes to sharing media and other experiences with Vision Pro in realtime, and opens up avenues for enhanced functionality built on that performance increase that other Apple hardware won't be able to support, not least because the combination and quality of the cameras and sensors on the iPhone are among the best in use across Apple's hardware portfolio.

Waiting for Wi-Fi

Kuo didn't only speak to this year's iPhone line in his latest post. The analyst also made claims about next year's anticipated iPhone 16 line, stating "[Wi-Fi 7] will be more conducive to Apple's integration of hardware products running on the same local network and provide a better ecosystem experience."

Apple's 2024 smartphones may well arrive sporting Wi-Fi 7 and more than an upgraded UWB chip, but it's this networking technology that the analyst believes will truly unite Apple's next-generation ecosystem. Read our comparison of Wi-Fi 6e vs Wi-Fi 7 for a more in-depth breakdown of the advantages Apple will likely leverage in this context (TLDR: latency and bandwidth).

There are still plenty of question marks surrounding both the hardware and software of Vision Pro ahead of its promised release in 2024, and the possibility of new connectivity options with the iPhone 15 and 16 potentially raise more questions than they answer. But perhaps once September rolls around (again, assuming Kuo's claims hold true), Apple will show us exactly how the next iPhone's enhanced UWB experience will be able to augment its Vision Pro headset.

According to a well-placed source, the display is one of the components that's in line to get a significant upgrade on the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, compared with the Pixel 7 handsets that launched last year.

This comes from the usually reliable Kamila Wojciechowska at Android Authority, who says that the Pixel 8 will be upping its maximum refresh rate to 120Hz, up from 90Hz on the Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 Pro sticks at 120Hz like the Pixel 7 Pro, but both phones will offer a greater range of refresh rates overall, which should improve battery life.

Brightness gets a boost as well. On the Pixel 8, the maximum HDR brightness will apparently be 1,400 nits, and that goes up to 1,600 nits for the Pixel 8 Pro. On both the Google Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, the HDR brightness topped out at 1,000 nits.

However, the displays will be getting smaller. The Pixel 8 screen is reportedly shrinking down to 6.17 inches from 6.3 inches (while keeping the same 2400 x 1800 pixel resolution), and the Pixel 8 Pro screen is said to be 6.70 inches rather than 6.71 inches, with a 2992 x 1344 pixel resolution (down from 3120 x 1440 pixels on the Google Pixel 7 Pro).

Curves or no curves

Do the math on those dimensions and resolutions, and you'll see that the pixels-per-inch on the Pixel 8 goes up to 427 from 417, while the Pixel 8 Pro drops down to 490 from 512. Those are relatively small differences that will be difficult to spot.

Part of the reason for these changes seems to be the new display panels that Google is sourcing for these phones. Larger corner radiuses are mentioned (see previous leaks), while the Pixel 8 Pro will switch from a screen with curved edges to a fully flat one (like the Pixel 7 and the Pixel 8, but unlike the Pixel 7 Pro).

We like what we've been hearing about the Google Pixel 8 phones so far, and a substantial boost in the display specs – in terms of refresh rates and brightness at least – is going to give potential buyers another reason to pick one up.

We've already heard rumors about the boost in performance that the Pixel 8 phones are going to bring with them, and the superior camera modules that the handsets will be fitted with. There might even be a built-in thermometer. If Google sticks to its usual schedule, we should see a launch around about October time.

Apple is all but certain to unveil its iPhone 15 line later this year, but the company is yet to reveal when, exactly, these phones will hit the shelves. 

That said, we’re confident that Apple will be holding its annual product launch event sometime in September, where we expect to get our first official glimpse at the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra.

Below, we’ve made our best guess at the iPhone 15 release date, using both rumors and Apple’s existing track record of iPhone release strategies to inform our prediction.

For context, these are the on-sale dates for Apple’s previous five iPhones:

• iPhone 14 – September 16, 2022
• iPhone 13 – September 24, 2021
• iPhone 12 – October 23, 2020
• iPhone 11 – September 20, 2019
• iPhone XS – September 21, 2018

It’s worth adding here that, although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are shoo-ins for this year’s event, the iPhone 15 Ultra may yet arrive as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, with Apple saving its first Ultra-level iPhone for 2024. 

Some leakers purport that to be the case, but there remains a high chance that 2023 will play host to Apple’s first Ultra iPhone, given the amount of leaks we’ve come across regarding the iPhone 15 Ultra.

A hacking group known as SpaceCobra developed an instant messaging app that is also able to steal a lot of sensitive information from the target device. The threat actor seems to know exactly who it wants to target, as downloading the app has proven to be quite the challenge for researchers.

Cybersecurity researchers from ESET recently discovered that two messaging apps, called BingeChat and Chatico, were actually serving GravityRAT, a remote access trojan. This RAT was capable of exfiltrating plenty of sensitive information from compromised endpoints, including call logs, contact list, SMS messages, device location, basic device information, and files with specific extensions for pictures, photos, and documents.

No app store presence

What makes these two apps stand out from others delivering GravityRAT out there, is that these can also steal WhatsApp backups and receive commands to delete files. 

The way the malware is distributed makes this campaign even more unique. The apps cannot be found on app stores and were never uploaded to Google Play, for example. Instead, they can only be downloaded by visiting a specially crafted website and opening up an account. This might not sound like anything special, but the researchers from ESET could not open up an account as registrations were “closed” when they visited. This prompted them to conclude that the group was very precise with its targeting, possibly going for a specific location or IP address.

“It is most probable that the operators only open registration when they expect a specific victim to visit, possibly with a particular IP address, geolocation, custom URL, or within a specific timeframe,” says ESET researcher Lukáš Štefanko. “Although we couldn’t download the BingeChat app via the website, we were able to find a distribution URL on VirusTotal,” he adds. 

That being said, the majority of the victims seem to reside in India. The attackers, SpaceCobra, are apparently of Pakistani origin. The campaign is most likely active since August last year, with one of the two (BingeChat) still being active, the researchers said. The malicious app, based on the open-source OMEMO Instant Messenger app, is available for Windows, macOS, and Android.

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As we inch closer to Samsung’s second Galaxy Unpacked event for 2023, a series of possible press renders have recently surfaced for the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and  Z Flip 5.

These images come from tech news site MySmartPrice, and truth be told, there isn’t a lot of brand-new information in these leaks. If anything, they serve to reiterate previously heard rumors, giving some past information a bit more validity. Case in point, it looks like both smartphones will feature a waterdrop hinge, a design change we first heard about back in January. This means they’ll be able to close completely flat. It’s a small addition but could go a long way in improving the durability of these devices plus reduce the on-screen crease – if only a little bit. 

Any reduction of the crease, however small, is welcomed. If you check out TechRadar’s review of the Galaxy Z Fold 4, one of our biggest complaints was the very noticeable crease down the middle. So it is good to see one of our demands for the Fold 5 is being (somewhat) met. 

Design changes

Speaking of the Galaxy Z Fold 5, it looks like Samsung is sticking pretty close to the design of the Z Fold 4. The USB Type-C port, speaker grills, and rear camera system line up pretty closely with the older model. The only outward design difference, according to MySmartPrice, is the smaller bezels around the Fold5’s screen. This allows for a bigger screen-to-body ratio resulting in a more “immersive viewing experience”. 

As for the Galaxy Z Flip 5, MySmartPrice’s other leak seemingly confirms the phone’s larger 3.4-inch outer screen, a feature that was first seen back in May. And as previously reported, the display will have an arch around the side-by-side camera lenses.

The renders also demonstrate a couple of use cases for the external screen. You can show off some high-quality images or use it to “control music playback.” We might even see Google Maps on there as Google is apparently optimizing several of its apps to work with the outer display. 

Samsung’s second Unpacked showcase is set to be held in late July in Seoul, South Korea. There, we expect to see the official reveal of both the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Z Flip 5. The launch date remains a mystery although there is some speculation both phones will release on July 26 in South Korea first, before moving onto a global launch event on August 11. This third mini-event will reportedly be held in the “United States and Canada separately.”

If you’re interested in picking up a foldable phone or just curious to learn more, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best foldable phones for 2023.

Every year, details about Apple's upcoming iPhones are extensively leaked – so much so that we often have a good idea of what to expect from each new device, long before they’re actually announced. 

This year has been no exception. Even though we’re not expecting to hear about the iPhone 15 and its siblings in an official capacity until September, we’ve already heard plenty of rumors about the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max (which might yet be called the iPhone 15 Ultra).

While we can’t be certain of anything about these phones just yet, we imagine much of what we’ve heard will be accurate – particularly given the level of corroboration among leakers – so below, we've collated all the likely specs for each upcoming iPhone.

iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 will probably have the same chipset as the iPhone 14 Pro if leaks are to be believed, namely an A16 Bionic. While that’s not new, it is an upgrade on the A15 Bionic found in the standard iPhone 14.

That will likely be joined by 6GB of RAM, and a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage. That’s all the same as the iPhone 14.

We’re not expecting changes to the core screen specs either, with a 6.1-inch OLED display of around 1179 x 2556 rumored, along with a 60Hz refresh rate – though it will apparently have a Dynamic Island rather than a notch this time.

While we haven’t heard much about the battery, that will probably also be similar to last year, at around 3,279mAh. However, it will probably charge via USB-C, rather than Lightning, which is a big change for Apple.

The camera could also get an upgrade, with a new 48MP main sensor inherited from the iPhone 14 Pro. That would replace the 12MP sensor of its predecessor, but will likely once again be joined by a 12MP ultra-wide and 12MP selfie camera.

iPhone 15 Plus

The iPhone 15 Plus will likely follow in its predecessor’s footsteps, in that it will be a bigger alternative to the standard iPhone 15.

As with the iPhone 15, leaks suggest that the main spec upgrades will be applied to the camera, namely a 48MP main sensor instead of a 12MP one (albeit with the former still joined by a 12MP ultra-wide and a 12MP selfie camera, like on the iPhone 14 Plus). Similarly, there will be a new-but-not-that-new chipset, in the form of the A16 Bionic, which has already been used by the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Beyond that, the specs largely sound similar to the current model, based on the rumors we’ve heard so far. That means 6GB of RAM, a choice of 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB of storage, a battery of roughly 4,323mAh, and a 6.7-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate and a resolution of around 1284 x 2778.

The iPhone 15 Plus will, however, probably have a Dynamic Island rather than a notch, and a USB-C port rather than a Lightning port.

iPhone 15 Pro

The iPhone 15 Pro could get some substantial spec upgrades, headlined by a new A17 Bionic chipset, which reportedly has a 20% more powerful CPU than its predecessor. We’ve also heard that it might have 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB in the iPhone 14 Pro.

We haven’t heard much about the battery, and wouldn’t be surprised if it’s similar to before, meaning around 3,200mAh. But the new chipset is reportedly a lot more efficient, so it could go further.

It will probably also charge differently, with a USB-C port rather than a Lightning port, and we’re hearing that Apple will offer high 40Gbps data transfer speeds. The iPhone 15 Pro might also offer reverse wireless charging for the first time on an iPhone.

Storage is likely to once again start at 128GB and top out at 1TB, though, and the screen might once again be a 6.1-inch 1179 x 2556 OLED one with a 1-120Hz variable refresh rate.

We’re also expecting similar cameras again, likely meaning a 48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP telephoto (with 3x optical zoom), and 12MP selfie camera. That said, one report points to a new ‘state-of-the-art’ Sony sensor being used, so some significant camera upgrades remain a possibility.

iPhone 15 Ultra / iPhone 15 Pro Max

The iPhone 15 Ultra or the iPhone 15 Pro Max is set to be the top model in the iPhone 15 line (with sources disagreeing on which of those names it will have).

In some ways, it should be like the iPhone 15 Pro, with leaks pointing to the same powerful new A17 Bionic chipset and 8GB of RAM – both of which would be upgrades on the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

It’s also expected to have a USB-C port with support for fast 40Gbps data transfer speeds, along possibly with reverse wireless charging.

But in a lot of other ways it could be even more high-end than the iPhone 15 Pro. For example, the iPhone 15 Ultra might have a starting storage capacity of 256GB, rather than 128GB.

Plus, it might have a screen that’s not just bigger and higher resolution than the 15 Pro (likely at 6.7 inches and 1290 x 2796), but also possibly brighter, with leaker ShrimpApplePro suggesting that this phone might be able to reach 2,500 nits, up from 2,000 nits on the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which would make it the brightest phone screen on the planet by current standards.

Its refresh rate could be a variable one of between 1-120Hz like last year, but its battery might be bigger (though exactly how much bigger hasn’t been leaked). For reference, the iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 4,323mAh battery.

The cameras could also get an upgrade, both compared to its predecessor and the rest of the iPhone 15 line. According to leaks, the Ultra could get a periscope camera (allowing for likely around a 6x optical zoom rather than the 3x offered by the 14 Pro Max). In fact, it might even have a variable zoom lens, meaning it's camera could move between different optical zoom levels.

The phone could also get a new larger (but still 48MP) Sony sensor for the main camera, and a dual-lens front-facing camera.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series were released back in February 2023, but that doesn't mean Samsung isn't looking to refine its flagship smartphones – with a so-called 'super update' apparently rolling out now with some big camera improvements.

As spotted by SamMobile and @theonecid on Twitter, some Galaxy S23 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have now installed the long-awaited June update, and noted the camera improvements that the large 2.2GB file has delivered. While there isn't yet an official changelog for these updates, the boosts seem to be in four areas.

Firstly, there is reportedly now a 2x zoom option in the camera app’s Portrait mode. This feature was rumored back in May by leaker Ice Universe and takes a crop from the main 50MP camera to give you a handy extra option for shooting portraits from a comfortable distance.

Another improvement is that the S23's autofocus issues have apparently been solved. This could be referring to the "banana-shaped blur" that has affected some users when shooting subjects up close. Thirdly, there should also be a much-needed fix for the phone's HDR issues, which can produce a halo around objects shot in low-light situations.

And lastly, it seems that the S23's Night mode processing has been tweaked, hopefully for the better. Some S23 owners have reported that these night images can be a little soft and also add artifacts and aberrations in bright light, so that could be what the update is addressing.

This 'super update' doesn't just address camera features either – some other noted improvements from those who've installed it include smoother transitions for One UI animations and some small boosts to the haptic feedback.

The rollout begins

What isn't yet clear is when this June update will be rolling out to the rest of the world. So far, it appears to have only landed in South East Asia, but it should theoretically hit other countries (including the US and Europe) over the coming days.

You can check for the update on your Galaxy S23 by gong to Settings > Software update, and hitting 'Download and install' when it appears. Given the size of the update, you may just have to clear some storage space in preparation.

None of the S23's reported camera niggles have dented the range's reputation as being among the best camera phones around – and we still consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra to be top of that pile. But the fixes collectively fine-tune the experience and should make your S23 less susceptible to photo-ruining aberrations.

This June update follows one in March that boosted the stability of video recordings among other bug fixes, so it's fair to say the S23 line is starting to reach real maturity – with that 2x zoom looking particularly handy for shooting portrait photos without having to move and recompose.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 series were released back in February 2023, but that doesn't mean Samsung isn't looking to refine its flagship smartphones – with a so-called 'super update' apparently rolling out now with some big camera improvements.

As spotted by SamMobile and @theonecid on Twitter, some Galaxy S23 users in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have now installed the long-awaited June update, and noted the camera improvements that the large 2.2GB file has delivered. While there isn't yet an official changelog for these updates, the boosts seem to be in four areas.

Firstly, there is reportedly now a 2x zoom option in the camera app’s Portrait mode. This feature was rumored back in May by leaker Ice Universe and takes a crop from the main 50MP camera to give you a handy extra option for shooting portraits from a comfortable distance.

Another improvement is that the S23's autofocus issues have apparently been solved. This could be referring to the "banana-shaped blur" that has affected some users when shooting subjects up close. Thirdly, there should also be a much-needed fix for the phone's HDR issues, which can produce a halo around objects shot in low-light situations.

And lastly, it seems that the S23's Night mode processing has been tweaked, hopefully for the better. Some S23 owners have reported that these night images can be a little soft and also add artifacts and aberrations in bright light, so that could be what the update is addressing.

This 'super update' doesn't just address camera features either – some other noted improvements from those who've installed it include smoother transitions for One UI animations and some small boosts to the haptic feedback.

The rollout begins

What isn't yet clear is when this June update will be rolling out to the rest of the world. So far, it appears to have only landed in South East Asia, but it should theoretically hit other countries (including the US and Europe) over the coming days.

You can check for the update on your Galaxy S23 by gong to Settings > Software update, and hitting 'Download and install' when it appears. Given the size of the update, you may just have to clear some storage space in preparation.

None of the S23's reported camera niggles have dented the range's reputation as being among the best camera phones around – and we still consider the Galaxy S23 Ultra to be top of that pile. But the fixes collectively fine-tune the experience and should make your S23 less susceptible to photo-ruining aberrations.

This June update follows one in March that boosted the stability of video recordings among other bug fixes, so it's fair to say the S23 line is starting to reach real maturity – with that 2x zoom looking particularly handy for shooting portrait photos without having to move and recompose.

Night Shift, True Tone and Dark Mode are just a few of the helpful iOS tools Apple has introduced throughout the years to better protect your eyes from harm, and iOS 17 will bring yet another eye-related safety feature to the table.

Screen Distance will alert you when you hold your iPhone or iPad Pro too close to your eyes for an extended period of time. Apple says the optional feature is designed to reduce general eye strain and, crucially, lower the risk of short-sightedness in children who use Apple devices regularly.

The recommended distance between your iPhone and your eyes is 40-45cm (or 16-18 inches). When enabled, Screen Distance will trigger an "iPhone is Too Close" warning if that distance drops below 30cm (12 inches). Once you move your iPhone back to a safe distance, a checkmark will appear on the screen, and you’ll be able to tap “Continue” to proceed as normal.

Apple’s Screen Distance warning will also be accompanied by a message reading, “Keeping your phone at arm’s length can protect your eyesight.” This is similar to the Headphone Safety feature introduced in iOS 14, which warns users against the dangers of prolonged exposure to loud noises when their iPhone’s volume crosses a certain threshold. 

Once you’ve downloaded iOS 17 on your iPhone later this year, Screen Distance can be activated by heading into Settings and navigating to the Screen Time tab. From there, you’ll want to toggle the Screen Distance slider to the 'on' position.

Apple says Screen Distance will be available on all iPhone and iPad Pro models with Face ID, since the feature uses the same TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID to measure the distance between screen and eyes.

iOS 17 isn't slated to arrive until September, but Apple’s presentation at WWDC 2023 did give us an idea of the other features we can expect to see introduced with the company’s next major iOS overhaul.

Among the 10 best iOS 17 features heading to iPhones in September are a suite of iMessage-related upgrades that will widen the gap between Apple’s proprietary messaging service and SMS/RCS. For instance, the iOS 17 beta gives iPhone users the ability to edit texts, reply in threads, and send iMessage-quality videos in group chats containing iPhone users and Android users, and we expect at least some of those features to cross over into the final build of iOS 17.

iOS 17 will also introduce a new StandBy feature that turns your iPhone into a smart display akin to an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub, and Live Voicemail will allow you to see – and interrupt – a live transcript of your calls as your caller records a voicemail message.

There are plenty more confirmed iOS 17 features to get excited about ahead of the update’s release later this year, but in the meantime, read up on the three annoying iPhone issues addressed by iOS 16.5.1.

Night Shift, True Tone and Dark Mode are just a few of the helpful iOS tools Apple has introduced throughout the years to better protect your eyes from harm, and iOS 17 will bring yet another eye-related safety feature to the table.

Screen Distance will alert you when you hold your iPhone or iPad Pro too close to your eyes for an extended period of time. Apple says the optional feature is designed to reduce general eye strain and, crucially, lower the risk of short-sightedness in children who use Apple devices regularly.

The recommended distance between your iPhone and your eyes is 40-45cm (or 16-18 inches). When enabled, Screen Distance will trigger an "iPhone is Too Close" warning if that distance drops below 30cm (12 inches). Once you move your iPhone back to a safe distance, a checkmark will appear on the screen, and you’ll be able to tap “Continue” to proceed as normal.

Apple’s Screen Distance warning will also be accompanied by a message reading, “Keeping your phone at arm’s length can protect your eyesight.” This is similar to the Headphone Safety feature introduced in iOS 14, which warns users against the dangers of prolonged exposure to loud noises when their iPhone’s volume crosses a certain threshold. 

Once you’ve downloaded iOS 17 on your iPhone later this year, Screen Distance can be activated by heading into Settings and navigating to the Screen Time tab. From there, you’ll want to toggle the Screen Distance slider to the 'on' position.

Apple says Screen Distance will be available on all iPhone and iPad Pro models with Face ID, since the feature uses the same TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID to measure the distance between screen and eyes.

iOS 17 isn't slated to arrive until September, but Apple’s presentation at WWDC 2023 did give us an idea of the other features we can expect to see introduced with the company’s next major iOS overhaul.

Among the 10 best iOS 17 features heading to iPhones in September are a suite of iMessage-related upgrades that will widen the gap between Apple’s proprietary messaging service and SMS/RCS. For instance, the iOS 17 beta gives iPhone users the ability to edit texts, reply in threads, and send iMessage-quality videos in group chats containing iPhone users and Android users, and we expect at least some of those features to cross over into the final build of iOS 17.

iOS 17 will also introduce a new StandBy feature that turns your iPhone into a smart display akin to an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub, and Live Voicemail will allow you to see – and interrupt – a live transcript of your calls as your caller records a voicemail message.

There are plenty more confirmed iOS 17 features to get excited about ahead of the update’s release later this year, but in the meantime, read up on the three annoying iPhone issues addressed by iOS 16.5.1.

Apple’s newest iPhones are among the best phones out there for durability, but you’ll still be hard-pressed to find an iPhone user who doesn’t keep their beloved device wrapped up in a protective case at all times.

That could change in the coming years, though. As spotted by TechRadar’s sister site Creative Bloq, Apple has just been granted a patent for a new type of super-resistant iPhone housing that could make its way onto future generations of the best iPhones.

The patent – simply titled Spatial Composites – details a rear glass panel made up of “abrasion-resistant” elements that would seemingly better protect your iPhone against scuffs, scratches and grazes (or, in other words, abrasion).

As Creative Bloq notes, the patent explains the drawbacks of current solutions for preventing abrasion on mobile devices. Metal housing materials, for instance, may be strong but create undesirable electromagnetic shielding, while plastic is less scratch or abrasion-resistant.

It seems, then, that Apple is working on a new iPhone material that boasts favorable electromagnetic properties and superior scratch-resistance, though we’d advise against getting your hopes up about seeing it feature on new iPhones any time soon.

Patent applications represent the earliest stage of an idea’s development, and this example may simply be a case of Apple looking to prevent other manufacturers from implementing similar technology on their own upcoming devices.

That said, rumors do suggest that Apple has durability at the forefront of its mind for the imminent iPhone 15 series – particularly with regards to the much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra. Serial leaker LeaksApplePro predicts that the iPhone 15 Ultra will be clad in titanium, which is typically stronger and lighter than the stainless steel used by the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

It won’t be long before Apple has backed itself into a corner on the innovation front, too. There’s only so many times you can tout improved performance and camera credentials as key selling points for a new iPhone – Apple may soon be forced to market durability as the flagship feature of future models, and this in-development abrasion-resistant material could prove crucial to that strategy.

In any case, if you’re looking to better protect the iPhone you own right now, check out our guides to the best iPhone 13 cases, best iPhone 13 Pro cases, best iPhone 14 cases and best iPhone 14 Pro cases.

If you're an Android Auto user, you should get the Google app on your Android phone updated to the latest version at your earliest convenience – that's the app that assists Android Auto on car dashboards, and it means you'll get the latest fix rolled out by Google.

As reported on the Android Auto Help forums (via Autoevolution), engineers have now dealt with a rather annoying bug that interfered with in-car voice commands – even ones as innocuous as "call my wife".

The problem, it seems, is that something was interfering with the personalized settings inside the Google app, which in turn blocked access to contact information. Ask Android Auto to call your brother, for example, and it wouldn't know who your brother was.

How to update

"We are happy to report that the Assistant team has applied a fix," writes one of the Android Auto team in the official support forum. "Please update your Google app to the latest version, which should solve the problem."

You may well find the Google app has updated itself automatically. To check, open up the Play Store, tap your profile picture (top right), and then choose Manage apps and device. Select Updates available to review and install any pending updates.

It's difficult to say exactly how widespread the problem was, but in the original troubleshooting forum thread, a total of 31 users indicated they had the same issue as the initial poster. Hopefully, all should now be well again.

Analysis: less AI, more AA

Google recently treated Android Auto users with a revamped interface known as Coolwalk, but it's been a rocky drive for them since – only last month Google dealt with yet another bug that was affecting people with a Samsung Galaxy S22 phone.

While we're quite impressed with all the artificial intelligence that Google has been stuffing into its products lately, we do get the impression that the company is more interested in shiny new toys than the wealth of established apps and services that it already offers to users.

Sure, being able to have Gmail write boring emails for you seems like quite a cool hack for saving some time in the day – but we reckon that most people would be content with some solid updates and fixes for the tools they're using day-to-day, whether that's to do with Pixel phones or data security.

Android Auto is a case in point: an app and interface that millions of people rely on every day, that has long felt neglected. Perhaps we can be grateful that at least it hasn't yet gone the way of Google Stadia and numerous other products...