CUPERTINO, Calif. – During its keynote event on Tuesday, September 12, Apple unveiled its latest iPhone lineup, headlined by the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. The biggest change across all models is the switch from Lightning to USB-C charging ports.
“The move to USB-C marks the end of an era for the Lightning connector after 10 years,” said Apple CEO Tim Cook. “With faster transfer speeds, users will now be able to charge their iPhone, iPad and MacBook all with the same cable.”
The entire iPhone 15 lineup will include USB-C ports, but only the Pro models will support the faster USB 3.2 standard, enabling transfer speeds up to 10Gbps. The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models are limited to USB 2.0 speeds.
Beyond the port change, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max received the most significant upgrades this year. The new models are constructed with a lighter titanium frame instead of stainless steel, making them 19 grams lighter while retaining a premium feel. The Pro models also get the new A16 Bionic chip, 48MP main camera sensor, and the unique Dynamic Island cutout that replaces the notch.
Apple has also added a new customizable Action button on the Pro models that can be programmed to quickly launch apps, activate the flashlight, or other actions.
The biggest camera upgrade is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which gains a 5x optical zoom telephoto lens. Combined with the ultra-wide and macro lenses, the Pro Max now provides an impressive 7x optical zoom range. New software features like automatic depth capture will further improve the portrait mode experience.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus borrow some features from last year’s Pro models, including the A16 chip and 48MP main camera. But they lack the Pro’s Action button, Dynamic Island, and telephoto lens capabilities.
Pricing remains largely unchanged, with the iPhone 15 starting at $799, iPhone 15 Plus at $899, iPhone 15 Pro at $999, and iPhone 15 Pro Max at $1,199. All models are available for pre-order beginning Friday, September 15 and will ship starting September 22.
iPhone 15 Pro Video | Apple
