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The iPhone 15 leaks and rumors show no signs of stopping, and we now have new renders of the flagship Pro model due in September – a render that shows quite a few changes from the model currently on sale is.
This is through information obtained by 9to5Mac (opens in new tab): The renderings are based on details from a “trusted case manufacturer”, and this is a source we’re more likely than not to trust when it comes to Apple hardware previews.
As for those differences from the iPhone 14 Pro, we’ve got thinner bezels around the sides of the screen and a more rounded shape overall. The Lightning port has been swapped for a USB-C port, something we already expected this year.
Curves and bumps
“The frame itself is also more curved than before and resembles the design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros and the new M2 MacBook Air,” writes 9to5Mac. “This could make the phone more comfortable to hold and less prone to accidental touches.”
We also have a thicker camera bump on the back, again something that’s been mentioned in previous rumours. We’re likely looking at an improved rear camera module, though this leak only pertains to the smartphone’s exterior aesthetics.
These renders match a leaked photo of the iPhone 15 Pro that emerged yesterday: it only shows the USB-C data and charging port on the phone, but there are also hints that the frame and edges of the device are a little rounder. .
Analysis: further iPhone refinements
If these renderings are accurate – and we have no real reason to think they aren’t – it shows that we’re in for a subtle shift in iPhone design in 2023. This isn’t going to be a year where Apple ditches tradition and does something completely different.
From what we can tell from this leak, we like the direction Apple is taking with this, rounding off the flatter and more angular edges of the iPhone 14 models a bit. It’s a friendlier looking phone than the previous one.
As for the thinner bezels (again previously predicted), that’s always a win. It means more screen real estate in a phone of the same size, although the resolution of the screens probably won’t change – there will still be the same number of pixels.
It’s also good to see Apple switching the iPhone to USB-C, in line with the iPads, even though there might be a catch there. It should mean devices like cables and chargers can be more easily swapped between Apple devices in the future.