Apple Store website CRASHES ahead of the iPhone 15 launch event
Just six hours before the highly anticipated launch of the iPhone 15, the Apple Store website has gone offline.
While users can typically browse a variety of devices when visiting the website, they are now greeted with a disclaimer that reads, “Be right back.”
‘We are working on updates for the Apple Store. Come back soon.’
A blue and gray version of the Apple logo also appears, indicating the outage is related to the iPhone 15 launch.
The event, titled Wanderlust, will take place in Cupertino, California, at 10am PT (6pm BST).
While users can typically browse a variety of devices when visiting the website, they are now greeted with a disclaimer that reads, “Be right back.” We’re making updates to the Apple Store. Come back soon’
Although Apple has made no mention of a new iPhone, The company has been unveiling a new device every year around fall for more than a decade.
Apple will livestream the event on its website later today.
MailOnline will also be reporting live, so make sure you keep up to date with the latest Apple promotions regularly.
As for when the iPhone 15 will actually hit shelves, Apple insider Mark Gurman believes the release will take place less than two weeks after the event.
He said an unnamed source told him the iPhone 15 will go on sale on September 22, meaning Apple will get “about a week’s worth of iPhone 15 sales in the fiscal fourth quarter.”
Apple is expected to unveil four variants of the iPhone 15: the standard iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and what may or may not be called the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
According to leaker Andrew O’Hara, Apple has decided to change the name of the iPhone Pro Max (the top version) to ‘iPhone Ultra’.
Whatever the name, it’s still considered one of the two ‘Pro’ models, meaning it’ll have more power and greater capabilities – and a higher price tag, too.
A few features will be exclusive to the higher-end versions, though the biggest design tweaks will likely apply to the entire iPhone 15 family.
Gurman says the iPhone 15 promises to be “the biggest update to the device in three years” – since the launch of the iPhone 12 in 2020.
Here’s what we know about the iPhone 15’s design, based on leaks and predictions from industry experts
The biggest change to the iPhone 15 will be a new USB-C charging port, which is already commonly used for Android phones, laptops and more.
Apple made the switch to USB-C and away from its proprietary charging design called Lightning (recognizable by its eight pins) due to an EU law.
The new legislation aims to make a single charging design the common standard – and ultimately reduce electronic waste.
Apple was actually forced to make this design change due to EU law, even though it could technically have manufactured iPhones with Lightning ports if they were sold in non-EU countries.
Along with a new charging port, the iPhone 15 will support faster charging speeds of up to 35W – significantly more than the iPhone 14, which has a charging speed of just 20W, another leaker claims.
This means that the upcoming smartphone can be charged from 0 to 100 percent in just one hour, saving users valuable time when they are in a hurry.
Other details about Apple’s new flagship have been gradually leaked based on inside information and clues from ‘dummy units’ (accurate models given to third parties to design their phone accessories).
The iPhone 15 will reportedly have rounder edges to make it feel better in the hand, and titanium frames instead of stainless steel.
The back of the new phone, meanwhile, is covered in matte glass instead of polished glass, according to a YouTuber who had access to dummy units.
It’s possible that the Apple logo design in the official promo image is a nod to the new materials.
iPhone 15 launches today in a livestream hosted by CEO Tim Cook at Apple Park, the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California (pictured)
In the photo: iPhone 14 models that were in stores a year ago. The new iPhone 15 will reportedly have better charging capabilities
While Apple doesn’t expect to increase the size of the iPhone’s screen this year, it will reduce the size of the bezel that runs around the edge, known as the “bezel.”
Gurman has claimed that the bezel around the screen will be 1.5 millimeters, compared to around 2.2 millimeters on current iPhones.
In the long term, Apple wants to release an iPhone that is “truly all-screen,” with no bezels around the screen and no cutouts for cameras or sensors, he says — and the iPhone 15 is a step toward that goal.
Apple has already filed a patent for an all-glass phone, which could hint at the secretive company’s longer-term plans.
According to Hong Kong Apple analyst Jeff Pu, the two iPhone 15 Pro models will be more expensive than previous iPhone Pros.
Apple has raised prices on the Pros this year because of major hardware updates, including the titanium frame and A17 Bionic chip, he claims.
While Pu hasn’t revealed exact price tags, it’s worth noting that last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max cost £1,099/$999 and £1,199/$1,099 respectively.
Tim Long, analyst at Barclays, also expects price increases for the two more expensive iPhone 15 models, while the standard and Plus models will be about the same as last year.
The standard model of the iPhone 14 cost £799/$849, while the iPhone 14 Plus cost £949/$899.