Numerous leaks about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 release date and upgrades have surfaced recently, revealing significant enhancements. An unexpected twist has emerged in the form of an integrated circuit (IC) discovery by ChargerLab. This IC, found in leaked iPhone 15 component images, suggests that at least three iPhone 15 models will feature Thunderbolt/USB4’s 40Gbps high-speed data transmission capability. This is surprising since this upgrade was initially anticipated only for the iPhone 15 Pro models. Notably, Apple’s previous strategy restricted Thunderbolt speeds to its Pro iPad range. The difference in speeds is substantial: while all previous iPhone models were limited to USB 2.0 speeds (480 megabits per second), Thunderbolt 4 offers a remarkable 40Gbps performance, equivalent to 40,000 megabits per second.
What are the iPhone 15 Major Upgrades? Includes A19 Bionic Chip, Battery Life, Performance, Charging Port
So, what’s the function of this leaked IC? ChargerLab explains that it’s called a retimer, designed to enhance signal transmission stability, particularly for high-capacity data ports and minimizing jitter. The presence of this retimer chip strongly implies Thunderbolt 4-level speeds.
The Inclusion of Thunderbolt technology isn’t just for tech enthusiasts; it has the potential to revolutionize workflows, enabling nearly 100x faster data transfers and backups than before. Thunderbolt’s ability to provide more power could also lead to quicker charging times, addressing an area where iPhones have trailed behind Android competitors for years. This innovation might make the discovery of this small retimer chip one of the most exciting aspects of the iPhone 15 range. While other rumored upgrades like slim bezels, titanium chassis, WiFi 6E, A17 Bionic chip, periscope zoom camera, and the Dynamic Island design are notable, they might not impact daily usage as much as faster charging and backup speeds for average users.
With the expected price increase for iPhone 15 models, this Thunderbolt addition could sway Apple fans to invest more in the new devices.
In a recent update on August 19th, a leak by reliable source Unknownz21 revealed that despite all the upgrades in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the primary camera will remain unchanged. Both models will continue to use the same Sony IMX-803 image sensor found in the iPhone 14 Pro.
The introduction of 48-megapixel primary cameras in the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is a surprising move, as it brings these models closer in performance to the Pro variants.
Initial expectations were that the iPhone 15 Pro models would adopt Sony’s new IMX-903 sensor, boasting features like focus tracking for fast-moving objects, high frame rate 4K video recording, and larger 1.4µm pixels compared to the IMX-803’s 1.22µm pixels. The larger pixels capture more light and reduce noise in photos.
iPhone 15 Pro vs Pro Max Features Explained
While it’s likely that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will come with some improvements in primary camera performance due to advancements in image processing driven by the new 3nm A17 chip, a significant leap might not be in the cards.
An August 20th update from Unknownz21 unveils a new color option for the entry-level iPhone 15, known internally by three names: Pink, Blush Gold, and Rose Gold. The shade is described as being akin to MacBook Air Gold but with less yellow undertones.
Interestingly, two of these color names have appeared previously in Apple’s lineup. Rose Gold was a popular choice for several years, while Blush Gold was once rumored as a mid-cycle color for the iPhone X, though it never made it to release despite passing FCC certification.
This leak complements earlier insights from insider ShrimpApplePro, who provided a breakdown of iPhone 15 colors as: Midnight, Starlight, Green, Light Yellow, Pink, and Product (RED). While specific branding details are still unclear, there is both alignment and confusion between these sources. For instance, while ShrimpApplePro listed pink and “light yellow” as separate options, Unknownz21 seems to suggest they might be the same finish. Given that the iPhone’s color options are always of high interest, this year’s refresh is expected to capture significant attention as well.