Apple Leaks Information About the New iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Prices

Here is the 09/10 Update. This article first appeared on September 7.

We may now understand why Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are becoming more pricey.

In a recent article, Digitimes stated that the “[iPhone 15] Pro series is likely to suffer from a major price hike because of the chassis upgrades from stainless steel to titanium and the periscope lens upgrade, which is only for the Pro Max, for performing 5–6x optical zoom.”
Titanium was previously mentioned as a significant cost increase for Apple, but with assurances that the price of the iPhone 15 Pro wouldn’t increase, it seemed this wouldn’t be passed on to customers. Add the price of Apple’s first 10x optical zoom camera, and this supports reports that the price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max might increase by up to $200, making it the priciest iPhone ever made.

As a result, the pricing range for the iPhone 15 series may be as follows:

Starting at $799 (unchanged) for the iPhone 15.
Starting at $899 for the iPhone 15 Plus (no changes).
Starting at $1,099 for the iPhone 15 Pro (an increase of $100).
Starting at $1,299 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max (a $200 price increase)

There is speculation that Apple is integrating components like the titanium chassis, which is stronger and lighter than stainless steel but not necessary to the phone, in order to create a bigger distinction between its Pro and non-Pro iPhones.

Why? Sales of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max outpaced those of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus for the majority of the iPhone 14’s lifespan. This is because the price difference between the iPhone 14 Plus and the iPhone 14 Pro, which is just $100, is negligible over the course of a typical two-year carrier contract.

As all iPhone models have comparable profit margins, Apple would seek to balance demand to benefit its supply chain. The increased prices make the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max $400 and $300 more expensive than the iPhone 14 Plus and 15, respectively.

These numbers will be enough of a difference, even when stretched over a lengthy carrier contract, to cause upgraders to second-guess themselves. While the rest of the smartphone market experiences its steepest decline ever, Apple may raise the average selling price of its iPhones due to the Pro upgrades.
What are the distinctions, then, and are they pricey? The basic iPhone 15 models will effectively be updated versions of the iPhone 14 Pro for less money, as has become customary in recent years. You’ll have to wait for reviews to find out the answer to the second part of this query. That entails a 48-megapixel camera, an A16 processor, and a Dynamic Island design.

The iPhone 15 Pros, in comparison, have record-breaking bezels, a new chassis material, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections, the first 3nm smartphone chip (the A17), and the aforementioned periscopic zoom camera for the Pro Max. Also, the battery life should be greatly improved.
It’s the ideal Apple trap, in that the range’s entry-level costs are reasonable, but if you spend more, you’ll get a lot more.

09/09 Update: A second well-known business leader has joined the chorus of those claiming Apple will raise prices for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The iPhone 15 Pro will cost $1,099, according to a note to investors obtained by MacRumors from Wedbush analyst Dan Ives, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost $1,199. Compared to their forebears, these prices indicate an increase of $100.
Ives also claims that the cost of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, which are listed at $799 and $899, respectively, will not change. This is consistent with earlier leaks.

While those looking to upgrade and considering the iPhone 15 Pro models will undoubtedly be disappointed by the news of price rises, the signs have been there for a while. A $200 price hike for the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been predicted by various sources, thus Ives’ pricing is also on the lower end of the spectrum.
I would contend that Apple’s new prices could be problematic if Ives is correct. A $100 price increase is unlikely to persuade most upgraders to choose a basic iPhone 15 model, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s unique periscope zoom camera will probably make it the model of choice while the product is experiencing shipping delays.
My recommendation is to pre-order as soon as possible if you want an iPhone 15 Pro Max, or you might have a long wait.

09/10 Update: Reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has disclosed that the stacked CMOS Image Sensors (CIS) will debut on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, making them the first iPhones to do so. Kuo has predicted that Apple’s handsets won’t see stacked CIS until the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in 2024.

Apple has been developing this technology for a while and has traditionally relied on Sony for the image sensors in its iPhone cameras. Despite the fact that Kuo’s claim that “The two standard iPhone 15 models are the first smartphones to adopt stacked CIS” is incorrect, Sony has introduced a stacked CIS sensor in its most recent flagship, the Xperia 1 V.
A stacked CIS has the advantage of having better dynamic range and low-light performance. Furthermore, a smartphone’s image processing is less stressed to “fix” the image after it is shot when the physical sensor is better, producing a more natural image. The switch makes a lot of sense, especially in light of complaints about Apple’s image processing on the iPhone 14.
Why would the iPhone 15 Pro not have access to the most recent version of this technology before the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus? I assume it makes up for the overall cheaper camera components, and since the basic iPhone 15 models are anticipated to sell in much lower volumes than the Pros, it enables Apple to test the technology on fewer devices before implementing it across all iPhone 16 models in 2024.

The iPhone 16 Pro should remedy all of these absences, so this may not be the best year to update. This might make a significant impact to lovers of the smaller iPhone Pro in particular, as it will also lose out on the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s innovative periscope optical zoom lens.