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.

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.

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.

Apple’s current flagship iPhone feature, the Dynamic Island, is set to trickle down to the standard iPhone 15 when the device launches in September this year – but now we’re almost certain that the company’s next vanilla iPhone will be getting a 48MP main camera, too.

We’ve actually been hearing this rumor for months, but it’s now been corroborated by a new report – seen by ITHome – which says that Sony has asked chipmaker TSMC to help it manage more demanding iPhone orders in light of every model in the upcoming iPhone 15 line featuring a 48MP main camera.

For reference, the standard iPhone 14 features a dual-camera setup comprising a 12MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide camera. This setup is essentially unchanged from the iPhone 13 – save for the upgraded imaging pipeline and larger aperture measurements inside the iPhone 14 – so it’s good to hear that Apple may be preparing to give vanilla iPhone fans a tangible reason to consider upgrading to the iPhone 15 this year.

Notably, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max were the first iPhones to get pixel-binning 48MP sensors. In other words, they’re capable of capturing 12MP images, with four pixels combined into one effective larger pixel, which results in better low-light performance and color fidelity.

By the sounds of things, though, these premium sensors won’t be remaining exclusive to Apple’s Pro-level iPhones for much longer, and the addition of a 48MP camera on the standard iPhone 15 seems likely to result in a camera bump redesign versus the iPhone 14, too. 

That’s not to say the gap between the standard iPhone 15 and its Pro siblings will be any smaller than the usual vanilla/Pro divide, though. The iPhone 15 Pro and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra are set for some serious camera upgrades of their own come September, with one or both models expected to feature periscope cameras and the biggest iPhone camera sensors ever. The Ultra could even get a telephoto camera with a variable zoom lens. Yikes.

The standard iPhone 15 may also still lack one of the iPhone 14 Pro’s biggest features. The latter boasts adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (dubbed ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of its display to suit whatever’s happening on-screen, but the iPhone 15 will reportedly stick with its predecessor’s 60Hz refresh rate. 

Apple’s always-on display functionality relies on ProMotion to function, so it looks like the standard iPhone 15 won’t be getting that feature, either. 

That said, if you’re not fussed by the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display functionality but like the look of its Dynamic Island, better camera, and super-fast A16 Bionic processor, then the base iPhone 15 could be a cheaper alternative to Apple’s current flagship handset.

Apple’s latest iOS update – iOS 16.5 – brought with it a host of bug fixes for issues related to the iPhone lock screen and Safari app, but the company is reportedly preparing to release another patch-heavy update ahead of iOS 17’s arrival later this year. 

According to a note seen by tech website BGR, the release of iOS 16.5.1 is imminent, with the incremental update set to address several frustrating iPhone issues including one relating to premature battery drain. 

Hundreds of iPhone users have been reporting faster-than-usual battery drain after downloading iOS 16.5 on their iPhones, and although we recently sought to reassure users that this annoying battery hiccup is completely normal, Apple is reportedly planning to roll out a fix for those who have been dealing with the issue for some time. 

iOS 16.5.1 will also address a bug causing iPhone users’ Wi-Fi to disconnect automatically, as well as an issue relating to inaccurate Weather app information. 

Given that iOS 16.6 is currently in beta, we’d expect Apple to push out iOS 16.5.1 sooner rather than later. As such, we'd guess the update will become available to download to anyone who owns an iPhone 8 or newer in the next week or so. 

iOS 17 isn't slated to arrive until September, but Apple’s presentation at WWDC 2023 did give us an idea of what to expect from 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, keep an eye out for iOS 16.5.1 in your iPhone’s Software Update page.

For those of us in the Western Hemisphere (sorry, Australian readers), the summer is bringing warmer weather – which makes it increasingly tricky to keep our tech cool and our iPhones from overheating.

Helpfully, Apple has integrated a temperature warning system into iOS that will trigger the following alert should your iPhone get too hot: “iPhone needs to cool down before you can use it.” Cue panic. 

iPhones function best at temperatures between 32F to 95F (0C and 35C), but once this message pops up, they enter a coma-like state where emergency calls are about the only task they’re able to carry out until they’ve cooled back down again. 

So, how do you stop your iPhone from overheating? And what should you do if you’re met with Apple’s temperature warning message? We’ve already detailed the best ways to stop your smartphone overheating in a separate article, but in this guide, we share Apple-specific guidance to protect your beloved iPhone from heat-related harm. 

For starters, the best – and perhaps most obvious – way to protect your iPhone from overheating is to avoid using it for long periods in direct sunlight. Not only does the heat from the sun quite literally make the phone hotter in your hand, but the increased glare might also encourage you to whack up your iPhone’s screen brightness to the max – which in turn further worsens the risk of overheating. 

Of course, checking the odd text or switching Spotify tracks while sitting in the sun’s spotlight won’t do your iPhone any harm, but it’s wise to avoid using your device in such a way for longer than five minutes (enjoy the sun instead – Instagram can wait!). 

Playing power-hungry mobile games or streaming high-quality videos for lengthy periods of time can make your iPhone heat up, too, but these factors alone shouldn’t trigger the aforementioned temperature warning unless you’re also sitting in the sun. 

Even so, activating your iPhone’s Low Power Mode (by swiping down on the Control Center and selecting the battery icon) should reduce the risk of app-induced overheating. If you don't see the battery icon, you may need to add it to Control Center by going to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls, then adding the Low Power Mode there.

But what if your iPhone does overheat? What’s the best way to return it to good work order? Well, according to Protect Your Bubble director James Brown (via The Sun), there are two iPhone cool down methods that you definitely shouldn’t try. 

“Even if your phone comes with the highest rating of water resistance, it’s a bad idea to submerge your phone in cold water to forcibly cool down,” Brown says. 

Similarly, placing your iPhone in a fridge, freezer or water cooler is also a big no-no. "Doing so will cause condensation to form inside your phone, which will damage the device in the long run," Brown warns.

Apple’s official advice for cooling down an overheated iPhone is much simpler: “To resume use of your device as quickly as possible, turn it off, move it to a cooler environment (away from direct sunlight) and allow it to cool down."

In practice, we’d advise leaving your overheated iPhone in the shade, in a cupboard, next to a fan or on a cool kitchen countertop until Apple’s temperature warning disappears. In the meantime, take a few minutes to enjoy a digital detox – reducing your screen time might just lower your stress levels, too.

Bad news, Apple fans: the iPhone 15 is expected to cost more than its predecessor when it launches in September this year.

That’s according to analyst Dan Ives, who recently told CNBC that he expects the average selling price (ASP) of Apple’s next-generation iPhones to be higher than last year’s equivalent figures. For context, the iPhone 14 starts at $799 / £849 / AU$1,339, while the iPhone 14 Pro – whose successor, the iPhone 15 Pro, has already been the subject of price hike rumors – starts at $999 / £1,099 / AU$1,749.

If accurate, a series-wide price increase for the iPhone 15 line would mark the first of its kind in the US since 2017. International markets have seen price increases as recently as last year’s iPhone 14 line, owing to heightened VAT (value-added tax) costs.

So, why might Apple be preparing to hike the price of the iPhone 15 line across the board? The most likely reason is production costs. According to one prominent leaker, the iPhone 15 will be 12% more expensive to produce than the iPhone 14, while the iPhone 15 Pro will be a whopping 20% more expensive to produce than the iPhone 14 Pro.

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why these devices are going to cost Apple so much more to build than their predecessors, but it’s no secret that energy, raw material, and labor costs have been rising globally due to various economic factors. And if Apple’s new iPhones cost the company more money to produce, they’ll almost certainly cost consumers more money to buy.

That said, Ives doesn’t expect these price increases to hinder sales of the iPhone 15 line. In fact, he predicts that the iPhone 15 could be Apple’s best-selling iPhone in years, since “roughly 250 million iPhones have not been upgraded in over four years.”

The launch of the iPhone 15 and its siblings could therefore prove a “trophy case moment” for Apple, Ives explained to CNBC, adding that a boost in revenue from Apple Services will put the company in a “massive position of strength” going into 2024.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has already admitted that he believes consumers “are willing to really stretch to get the best they can afford in [the smartphone] category,” so it’s not hard to imagine the company betting big on the blind loyalty of its fanbase with the iPhone 15 line.

In any case, we’ll know for sure whether the iPhone 15 will cost more than its predecessor come September, when Apple unveils its next line of best iPhones. For our thoughts on how these devices might stack up, check out our speculative comparisons between the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14, iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Ultra.

Apple is all but certain to unveil its iPhone 15 line in September, with a customary standard model expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 15 Pro and a brand new iPhone variant – the iPhone 15 Ultra (which could stand in for an iPhone 15 Pro Max, this year).

The technological gap between each new device will reportedly be bigger than ever – for instance, the iPhone 15 Ultra could get a periscope lens, while the standard iPhone 15 sticks with a camera setup akin to the iPhone 14 Pro – but rumors also suggest that all three devices will, for the first time, be ditching Apple’s proprietary Lightning port in favor of USB-C.

But what is USB-C, and why does it matter for iPhones? Will it make them faster, slower, cheaper or more expensive? And why might Apple be abandoning its own technology for a more commonplace one? In this article, we answer all of these questions and more.

It’s worth noting that USB-C isn’t a data standard, so you can’t tell how fast a given USB-C cable is without looking at its corresponding number (which indicates speed). There are a number of different types of USB-C cables, including USB 2.0, 3.0 and Thunderbolt 4.

In October 2022, the European Union (EU) finalized a regulation requiring companies to include universal USB-C charging ports on all new technology products sold in EU countries from the end of 2024.

We've actually already seen a photo (above) which allegedly shows an iPhone 15 Pro with a USB-C port, so Apple’s transition to the new charging standard in 2023 is looking ever more likely.

We've since heard similar claims from multiple sources, and USBMakers predicts that the iPhone 15 Ultra could offer transfer speeds that are as much as 90% faster than those offered by the vanilla iPhone 15 (which will reportedly stick with its predecessor's USB 2.0 standard).

Kuo had also suggested that Apple's proprietary MFi (‘Made for iPhone’) USB-C chargers might offer faster iPhone 15 charging speeds than accessories produced by other manufacturers, but the EU recently warned Apple against making such a move, citing its desire to keep the playing field level.

Given that the EU’s directive doesn’t kick in until 2024, there’s no legal obligation for Apple to follow the rules until that date – but it wouldn’t be a great look for the company to knowingly circumvent legislation that it knows is coming into effect in the near future.

It's also worth noting that Apple's transition to USB-C is unlikely to impact the price of the iPhone 15 line.

Apple’s iOS operating system is exceptionally intuitive and easy to use, but that doesn’t mean the platform is completely free of annoying quirks. 

Take QR codes, for example. Apple introduced support for scanning QR codes with the iPhone’s Camera app in iOS 11, but when viewing a code, the link popup would appear as a pesky push notification at the top of the interface. 

Then, in iOS 13, Apple mixed things up by placing that yellow link button within the camera viewfinder itself – which was an improvement on the previous method, but still a source of frustration for many, particularly those with supersized iPhones whose thumbs had to hyperextend just to select the link. 

In iOS 17, though, Apple appears to have come up with a universal solution for all iPhone sizes and finger lengths. As spotted by 9to5Mac, when you scan a QR code in iOS 17, the link button instantly appears at the bottom of the Camera app interface, making it much easier to tap with your thumb (in the same way that the Safari search bar now appears at the bottom of the screen).

There is actually a shortcut to enabling this feature in iOS 16 already – as soon as you move a QR code out of frame, the link bubble should drop down to the bottom of your iPhone’s camera interface – but in iOS 17, QR code links will appear at the bottom by default, rather than floating around the viewfinder to begin with. 

This may seem like an insignificant change, but with QR codes becoming an increasingly common method of sharing information, it’s good to see Apple trying to make the process of accessing them as smooth as possible. 

For more on the other iOS 17 features unveiled at WWDC 2023, head over to our detailed roundup of the 10 best iOS 17 features worth knowing about. We've also reported on the iOS 17 upgrades heading to Apple Maps and iMessage, as well as Apple’s new StandBy feature, which will turn your iPhone into a smart display, of sorts.

iOS 17 proper isn’t expected to roll out until September this year, but the iOS 17 beta is currently available to those enrolled in Apple’s Developer program. 

Despite recent rumors suggesting that Apple’s iPhone 16 line will bring more meaningful upgrades to the table than its upcoming iPhone 15 line, the latter could still prove a windfall release for the company, owing to the number of soon-to-be-outdated iPhones currently out in the wild.

According to analyst Dan Ives (via CNBC), “roughly 250 million iPhones have not been upgraded in over four years, [which] sets Apple up for a major installed base upgrade cycle heading into this anniversary 15 year release.”

The launch of the iPhone 15 and its siblings could prove a “trophy case moment” for Apple, Ives explained to CNBC, adding that a boost in revenue from Apple Services will put the company in a “massive position of strength” going into 2024.

It’s hard to verify Ives’ claim regarding the number of un-upgraded iPhones without delving into official carrier records, but back in 2019, researcher Toni Saccanoghi conducted a study which found that the average iPhone upgrade time had increased from three years to four. And it’s not hard to understand why.

Apple typically supports iPhones with major software updates for at least five years after their launch – the iPhone X (released in 2017) will be the youngest casualty of iOS 17 – meaning consumers can happily move through the world with a four or five-year-old iPhone without fear of being left behind when it comes to functionality and security.

What’s more, as iPhones have gotten more advanced over the years, the technological gap between new model releases has narrowed – particularly in the last few years. To the untrained eye, there’s little to differentiate between the iPhone 12 and iPhone 14, for instance, and consumers evidently haven’t felt compelled to own the latest iPhone if their existing model remains in good working order.

After four years, though, iPhones can start to feel a little outdated. Apple’s 2019 iPhone, the iPhone 11, is still a great phone that’ll continue to be supported until 2025, but the iPhone 15 will be a markedly lighter, brighter and faster machine than its four-year-old sibling – and that’s before taking into account the iPhone 15 Pro and much-rumored iPhone 15 Ultra.

In fact, even if you’re tempted to upgrade your old iPhone to a soon-to-be-cheaper Pro model, like the iPhone 14 Pro, we’d suggest holding out for the base iPhone 15, which we suspect will arrive packing similar features and a smaller price tag.

For our thoughts on how Apple’s next iPhones might stack up, check out our speculative comparisons between the iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14, iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro vs iPhone 15 Ultra.

We recently reported on a suite of rumored iOS 17 Apple Maps upgrades that might finally make you switch from Google Maps, but Apple’s navigation app is now confirmed to be getting a feature that Google’s platform has had for years. 

When iOS 17 arrives later this year, the update will introduce offline functionality in Apple Maps for the first time. Per Apple’s own description, “users [will be able to] easily select an area on their device and download it with just a tap. While offline, [they] will be able to access turn-by-turn navigation for driving, walking, transit, and cycling; see their estimated time of arrival; find places in Maps; and more.”

In other words, you’ll soon be able to download directions and information for entire areas prior to hitting the road, sparing you the frustration of losing connection – or using up precious cellular data – when you’re out and about.

Also arriving in iOS 17 is the ability to see real-time electric vehicle charging availability in Maps (above). Apple says the app will filter by charging network and plug type, and users with compatible vehicles will be able to designate their preferred options. 

Apple is making it easier to discover park trails across the US, too, with iOS 17 introducing place cards in Maps that will include details like trail length and type, difficulty, and elevation gain. Presumably, this feature will roll out to other regions shortly after debuting on the US version of the app. 

We haven’t yet seen Apple confirm the ‘Live Activity’ lock screen feature that serial Apple tipster @analyst941 teased back in May (above), so this may be something that the company holds for future iterations of iOS 17. 

Given the handful of confirmed upgrades coming to Apple’s navigation software later this year, though, the Apple Maps vs. Google Maps debate looks set for a shake-up. 

We’ll be taking Apple Maps for a spin as and when we get our hands on the iOS 17 beta. In the meantime, read our roundup of the 10 best iOS 17 features announced at WWDC 2023.

The functionality and exclusivity of iMessage has been touted as a key reason why Android fans are switching to iPhones in record numbers, and it looks as though iOS 17 will further widen the gap between Apple’s proprietary messaging service and SMS/RCS.

Apple lifted the lid on its next major software update – iOS 17 – at WWDC 2023, and among the 10 best iOS 17 features heading to iPhones in September are a suite of iMessage-related upgrades that will materially worsen the experience of communicating with iPhone users from Android phones.

As first spotted by XDA Developers, 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 – but that improved functionality could leave the latter camp unable to make sense of what’s being said.

For instance, where iMessage chats would previously default to traditional SMS chats if an Android user joined the conversation, the first iOS 17 beta allows iPhone users to retain the ability to edit texts even if Android users are present in the group chat. Those Android users still aren’t able to edit texts, but shockingly, they also aren’t able to see the edits iPhone users make, meaning both parties could conceivably see different messages in the same group chat.

We’d expect Apple to act in good faith and reverse that change in iOS 17 proper – with editing powers still reserved for iPhone users, but edits visible to all group members – although there’s a chance that the company could pull a Google and deliberately make life worse for users of the rival messaging service.

As mentioned, the first iOS 17 beta also gives iPhone users the ability to reply in message threads, even when Android users are present in the group chat. Android users, however, won’t see those threads as threads, and will instead see messages in the traditional stacked view (which is a recipe for even more confusion). 

And lastly, where iOS 16 forced all group chat members to see the same compressed image and video files, iOS 17 will let iPhone users view uncompressed (read: higher-quality) image and video files. Android users – you guessed it! – will be stuck with the existing file size limitations.

In other words, iOS 17 will improve the group chat experience for iPhone users by making iMessage features available in more situations – a change that will conversely make the experience of using group chats worse for those with Android phones. 

Apple is expected to roll out iOS 17 proper alongside the iPhone 15 line in September, but we'll be reporting on the features introduced with each new beta version of the update that goes live between now and then. 

We recently reported on rumors hinting that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra will be noticeably bigger than their iPhone 15 equivalents, and now we’ve got a better idea of just how much bigger these supersized iPhones might be.

Serial Apple tipster Ross Young has previously claimed that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra will boast 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screens, respectively, and he’s followed up on those predictions with new details about the revised aspect ratio both devices will use.

In a new tweet, Young reports that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra will have an aspect ratio of 19.6:9, making them the tallest and narrowest iPhones ever. For reference, every iPhone 14 model has an aspect ratio of 19.5:9, which Apple is expected to maintain with its upcoming iPhone 15 line.

The below mock-ups, created by 9to5Mac, illustrate just how much taller and narrower the iPhone 16 Ultra (or iPhone 16 Pro Max, as it may be called) will appear versus the equivalent model in the iPhone 15 series.

As we’ve recently reported, these larger iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Ultra screen sizes will supposedly make room for some serious camera upgrades.

Apple’s top-end iPhone 15 models – that’s the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra – were widely rumored to be getting Sony’s new IMX903 48MP sensor, but the latest leaks suggest that this particular upgrade won’t be arriving until the iPhone 16 series.

Don’t expect that aforementioned 19.6:9 aspect ratio to remain exclusive to Apple’s Pro-level iPhones indefinitely, either. As Young notes, while the standard iPhone 16 will apparently sport the same 19.5:9 aspect ratio as today’s best iPhones, these dimension changes will trickle down to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus in 2025.

As for why, exactly, Apple may be preparing to supersize future versions of its Pro-level iPhones, the answer could lie in consumer demand.

Over the last 12 months, sales of the beefier iPhone 14 Plus were up 59% over sales of the iPhone 13 mini during the same period a year prior. But even more significantly, Pro models have so far accounted for 64% of all iPhone 14 sales.

In other words, iPhone fans prefer bigger iPhones to smaller ones, and premium iPhones to standard ones, so it figures that Apple might be looking to make its premium iPhones bigger.

Before the larger iPhone 16 line releases, though, there’s the small matter of the iPhone 15 line to consider. Apple is expected to debut its newest smartphone range in September, and for the latest on those devices, read up on our guides to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Ultra.