iPhone 15: price, release date, design and features for the new iPhones

Apple's iPhone 15 series is here, so will you buy the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max?

Apple event
(Image credit: Apple event)

The iPhone 15 range has officially been unveiled to the world at the last Apple Event. While there was no iPhone Ultra, we got detailed looks at the four new iPhones, plus the host of upgrades that will likely put them among the best phones out there.

So without further ado, let's give you all the essential information for each model, all of which are now on sale (from the 22nd of September), with pricing information included below. So which one will it be? iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max?

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

(Image credit: Apple)

iPhone 15 Pro Max: Price

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most premium iPhone to date, and the price reflects that, but there is some great news - no price rise.

That's right. In 2023, the year that everything has gone up in price, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will launch at the same price as the iPhone 14 Pro Max: £1,199.

In the US it's a 'sort of same price' scenario, as the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs $1,199., making it $100 more than its predecessor - but that's with 256GB storage, the new minimum, which makes it the same in like-for-like storage capacity between the two models.

iPhone 15 Pro Max: Design

It's undeniable that the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a looker. Apple has still gone with a 6.7-inch display but the brand-new titanium alloy design has created a dramatically different device. The strength of titanium even in smaller weights has helped the 15 be the lightest Pro Max model ever.  

Elsewhere the other obvious change is the replacement of the mute slider on the side of the phone with a brand new programmable 'action button'.  According to Apple."Users can choose between quickly accessing the camera or flashlight; activating Voice Memos, Focus modes, Translate and accessibility features like Magnifier; or using Shortcuts for more options"

Colour options for the Pro Max are inspired by the new titanium material with a choice of black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium. Of course, this year is also the year that the iPhone switched to USB-C.  

iPhone 15 Pro Max: Features

This is where the Pro Max really comes into its own as the ultimate iPhone. Even the iPhone 15 Pro can't compete with the Pro Max's new camera setup. Utilising a tetraprism design, the Pro Max has a hefty 5x optical zoom - the best on an iPhone ever. The Pro Max (and Pro) will soon even be updated to be capable of taking 'spatial' photos and videos to view in immersive 3D on the upcoming Apple Vision Pro

Under the snazzy new body, both Pro phones are powered by the brand new A17 Pro chip. This makes both models the first phones ever to use a 3nm (nanometer) process and has resulted in a 10% CPU boost, 20% GPU speed increase and incredible new ray tracing capabilities that will appeal to gamers everywhere.

iPhone 15 Pro

Apple event

(Image credit: Apple event)

iPhone 15 Pro: Price

UK readers, we have unbelievable news for you. The iPhone 15 Pro has actually had a price cut. It has fallen from the £1099 launch of the iPhone 14 Pro to £999. 

In the US, the price has stayed the same as its predecessor, coming in at $999. 

iPhone 15 Pro: Design

The 6.1-inch display sporting iPhone 15 Pro has had the same titanium makeover as its bigger brother. This means that this model in particular is the lightest Pro iPhone ever. If you're looking for something that feels great in your pocket, this might be the phone to plump for. 

Again, like the Pro Max, this smaller version will feature the new multi-purpose action button as well as a USB-C charging port and the same colour options: black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium, and natural titanium.

iPhone 15 Pro: Features 

While it won't recieve the amazing new optical zoom of the Pro Max, the Pro is still set for a number of camera upgrades. These include an improved night mode, Smart HDR with richer skin tones and more vivid colours as well as upgraded low-light video and action modes. 

Also powered by the A17 Pro chipset, the iPhone 15 Pro has the same performance leaps as the Pro Max. These include improved gaming performance, Wifi 6E support and boosted GPU and CPU. Both models will also feature improved call quality with voice isolation to help you hear and be heard in even the busiest environments. 

iPhone 15

Apple Event

(Image credit: Apple Event)

iPhone 15: price

The cheapest iPhone gets cheaper for UK fans, with a starting price of £799 - that's a £50 saving on last year's iPhone 14

In the US it will go on sale for $799, depending on which storage option you plump for of course.

iPhone 15: Design

While the base iPhone models haven't been blessed with titanium transformations, they have at least also received USB-C charging compatibility.

The iPhone 15 has also dropped the straight sides for a countered edge offering a better form factor. On the same lines, the back glass has been strengthened and polished with nanocrystalline particles to create a textured matte finish.

Colour options are pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. Interestingly the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are the first smartphones to have their colour infused throughout the back glass. 

iPhone 15: Features 

The iPhone 15 may be the cheapest model but it is no poor relation. There are a range of performance boosts that set it apart from previous iterations. Chief among them is the camera upgrade. The 12MP main camera has been ditched and replaced by a 48MP effort, while portrait mode across the iPhone range has been improved dramatically. 

Those used to the Pro iPhone 14 models will tell you how great the Dynamic Island is  and now it will come to all iPhone 15s. That means more space to enjoy the 6.1-inch display which now as a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits and 2000 nits outdoors, twice as bright as the iPhone 14.

Underneath, it's all powered by the A16 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, this should improve battery life dramatically. 

iPhone 15 Plus

Apple Event

(Image credit: Apple Event)

iPhone 15 Plus: Price

Much like its smaller sibling, the iPhone 15 Plus has also had a price drop in the UK compared to the iPhone 14 Plus. This 6.7-inch model starts at £899, that's £50 less than last year. 

Stateside, the price is the same as last year, at $899.

iPhone 15 Plus: Design

The iPhone 15 Plus is also ditching straight sides for a contoured design and also has the same choice of pink, yellow, green, blue, and black with colour infused throughout the back glass. It is staying aluminium as well. 

USB-C charging is also coming to the iPhone 15 Plus. 

iPhone 15 Plus: Features

The only major difference between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is the size of the display. As for the features, the two are receiving the same suite of promising upgrades. 

With the bigger display, the improved brightness (up to1600 nits, or 2000 nits outside) will be even more appreciated. Snapping pictures worthy of cranking the brightness up should be easier too with the main camera leaping from 12MP to 48MP and new 2x Telephoto camera.

iPhone 15 Plus will also inherit the A16 Bionic chip from the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The 5-core GPU in this chipset has 50 percent more memory bandwidth which should improve video streaming and gaming performance. 

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is the Tech Editor and AV Editor at T3.com. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 and, as a phones expert, has seen hundreds of handsets over the years – swathes of Android devices, a smattering of iPhones, and a batch of Windows Phone products (remember those?). But that's not all, as a tech aficionado his beat for T3 also covers tablets, laptops, gaming, home cinema, TVs, speakers and more – there's barely a stone unturned that he's not had a hand on. Previously the Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for a 10 years, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more. In addition to his tech knowledge, Mike is also a flights and travel expert, having travelled the globe extensively. You'll likely find him setting up a new mobile phone, critiquing the next MacBook, all while planning his next getaway... or cycling somewhere.

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