The standard iPhone 15 may lack two of the iPhone 14 Pro’s biggest features
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are rumored to inherit a handful of advanced features from the iPhone 14 Pro, but the latter’s ProMotion technology and always-on display functionality are unlikely to be among them.
While Apple’s Dynamic Island will trickle down to the standard iPhone 15 and its bigger brother, a new leak (opens in new tab) (H/T MacRumors (opens in new tab)) suggests the two handsets will stick with the traditional 60Hz display panel of their future predecessors, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus.
For those who don’t know, both the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature adaptive 1-120Hz refresh rate technology (called ProMotion) that automatically adjusts the smoothness of their screens according to what’s happening on the screen. Apple’s always-on display functionality relies on ProMotion to function, so it looks like both high-end features will once again be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and the much-rumoured iPhone 15 Ultra.
Suffice to say, this is disappointing news for Apple fans. Always-on display technology has been available on many of the top Android phones for several years now, and it’s frustrating to see Apple continue to be committed to maintaining such a large technology gap between its standard and Pro iPhones with the iPhone 15 line.
To be fair, the Dynamic Island isn’t the only Pro-level feature expected to come to the company’s new “affordable” iPhones in September – the iPhone 14 Pr®’s high-resolution 48MP camera is also rumored to be an universal camera will be feature of the iPhone 15 range.
However, for every one-time premium feature that goes to the vanilla iPhone 15, two more pro features seem to go to the iPhone 15 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra. For example, a top-of-the-line chip upgrade — likely in the form of an A17 Bionic — will inevitably be made exclusive to Apple’s most expensive iPhones, while a titanium frame and periscope camera are also touted like arriving with the iPhone 15 Ultra.
In other words, Apple’s Pro iPhones will continue to become Pro-er, while more affordable all-rounders continue to catch up. And while there’s nothing wrong with that strategy, the company’s stock iPhones quickly lose their luster in the presence of more accomplished (and affordable) Android alternatives.
We’ll stay on top of all the latest iPhone 15 news, rumors and leaks as and when they surface, so keep an eye on TechRadar for the most up-to-date information on what’s likely to be the hottest smartphone launch of 2023.