iPhone 15 Hits Shelves Around the World – Here’s What You Need to Know
Apple’s much-anticipated iPhone 15 lineup hit stores worldwide on Friday, drawing eager customers who lined up in long queues across China, Europe, and the United States to be among the first to purchase the tech giant’s next-generation smartphones.
Leading up to the launch, analysts, including those at Wedbush Securities, reported that iPhone 15 pre-orders exceeded original expectations, with a particularly strong demand for the premium iPhone 15 Pro models, notably the Pro Max variant. Delivery and shipment times for various Pro models have been pushed to late October through mid-November due to the high demand.
The release of the new iPhones comes as Apple experienced a third consecutive quarterly decline in sales last month, with iPhone revenue reaching $39.7 billion for the quarter, marking a roughly 2% year-over-year decrease. Consumers have been holding onto their devices for longer periods before upgrading.
According to Wedbush estimates, approximately 250 million iPhones have not been upgraded in more than four years. The new iPhone models, featuring advancements in processors and camera systems, as well as discounts from mobile carriers, are expected to motivate more users to upgrade this year.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $1,099, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. The entry-level models, iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, are priced at $799 and $899, respectively.
Key Highlights of the iPhone 15 Lineup:
Design Changes: The latest iPhones introduce subtle but significant design changes. The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max now boast a titanium casing, resulting in a slimmer and thinner design.
Enhanced Cameras: Premium models include a more advanced 48-megapixel main camera with a larger sensor and a new telephoto lens for 5x optical zoom, exclusively available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Pro models also feature contoured edges and a customizable Action button, adding extra functionality to the ring/silence button.
Display and Colours: The iPhone 15 lineup offers a range of colours, with the Pro models available in white, black, natural, and blue. Basic iPhone 15 models come in five colours: white, black, pink, green, and yellow, in two sizes—6.1 inches for iPhone 15 and 6.7 inches for iPhone 15 Pro.
Ultra-Wideband Chip: All models now include an Ultra-Wideband chip, enabling new features such as improved location sharing in crowded areas.
Universal Charging: A significant change is the adoption of a USB-C charging cord, ending Apple’s 11-year run with its proprietary Lightning charging cable. Users can now use the same USB-C chargers for their iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers, streamlining the charging experience.
The move to USB-C aligns with a European Union law requiring smartphones, tablets, and other devices to support USB-C charging by 2024. This change aims to reduce charger and cable clutter and promote compatibility between devices from different manufacturers.
Apple is also offering a $29 USB-C Lightning adapter for users to connect their existing Lightning accessories to USB-C-enabled iPhones or iPads for charging or data transfer. The company encourages the recycling of old Lightning chargers through its in-store recycling program.
The iPhone 15 lineup has generated significant excitement among consumers and showcases Apple’s commitment to innovation and user convenience.
