Apple iPhone 15 Revealed: Features, Prices and More

Apple has unveiled four new models: the standard iPhone, bigger iPhone 15 Plus, feature-packed iPhone 15 Pro, and ultra-luxe iPhone 15 Pro Max. New Zealand buyers can pre-order any of the new devices from 12:01am on Saturday, September 16, with phones shipping on Friday, September 22.

If you’re all set to upgrade to the hottest devices of 2023 – or you’re just curious as to what Apple is bringing to the table – read on for iPhone 15 specs, features, prices and more.

When is the iPhone 15 release date?

The iPhone 15 series will be available to pre-order from Apple from 12:01am Saturday, September 16. Devices will arrive in-store and ship to customers beginning Friday, September 22.

What is the price of the iPhone 15?

As predicted, this year’s iPhone range is more expensive than the 2022 iPhone 14: you’ll find the standard 15 is $50 more expensive, while the 15 Pro is $100 pricier than the 14 Pro. The cheapest 15 Pro Max comes in at $300 more than the previous model.

If you’re buying the iPhone 15, you can pick up any of the models at full price from Apple.

Here are the recommended retail prices of Apple’s iPhone 15 range.

iPhone 15 prices

• 128GB: $1649
• 256GB: $1849
• 512GB: 2249

iPhone 15 Plus prices

• 128GB: $1849
• 256GB: $2049
• 512GB: $2449

iPhone 15 Pro prices

• 128GB: $2099
• 256GB: $2299
• 512GB: $2699
• 1TB: $3099

iPhone 15 Pro Max prices

• 256GB: $2499
• 512GB: $2899
• 1TB: $3299

Where can I buy the iPhone 15?

Currently, the new iPhone is only available for ore-order from Apple’s online store. However, it is expected that after its initial release, the iPhone 15 range will be available at authorised retail outlets.

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

Design and display

• iPhone 15: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display
• iPhone 15 Plus: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display
• Dynamic Island widget
• Face ID
• IP68 water and dust resistance

Apple is sticking with the size variants the company debuted in 2022, offering both a standard iPhone 15, and larger iPhone 15 Plus. Both devices come with Apple’s signature Super Retina XDR display, but in differing dimensions: the entry-level iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 15 Plus measures in at 6.7 inches. The standard display also includes an increased peak HDR brightness of up to 1600 nits, plus peak outdoor brightness of up to 2000 nits – that’s twice as bright as the iPhone 14.

Outside of display size, the standard 15 and the 15 Plus offer matching features. Both phones will now include the Dynamic Island, Apple’s on-screen widget that provides at-a-glance notifications and allows users to easily control apps such as music, Maps, and more. The iPhone 15 range also sees Apple finally fall in line and embrace the USB-C connector, signaling the end of the Lightning era.

Each phone is built with an aluminium back body and tough Ceramic Shield in front, and this is the first year that Apple has opted to infuse each phone’s colour throughout the back glass. The company has also updated the iPhone’s feel thanks to a new contoured edge, and both the 15 and 15 Plus are IP68 water and dust resistant (so can be submerged in up to 6m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes).

Battery and performance

• iPhone 15: up to 20 hours video playback
• iPhone 15 Plus: up to 26 hours video playback
• ios 17 operating system
• Apple A16 Bionic Chip
• 5G connectivity

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are powered by Apple’s A16 Bionic chip, which was first introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. This specially designed processor includes a 16-core Neural Engine with two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. In short, it’s fast, uses less power, and performs complex machine learning computations on your device for added privacy.

Both new iPhones offer ‘all day’ battery, although Apple remains coy about just how much battery capacity each model includes. However, the standard iPhone 15 promises up to 20 hours of video playback, while the 15 Plus can deliver up to 26 hours – that’s around three hours more than the iPhone 12.

Looking at software, the iPhone 15 series will include the latest iOS 17 operating system, featuring updates to essential apps including Messages and Phone. Apple is also introducing a new StandBy feature, which is a customisable full-screen notification hub, designed to be displayed when the iPhone is on its side and charging. And in a well-overdue feature for a device that is, at its core, a phone, Apple’s new Voice Isolation offers improved audio quality on voice calls by using machine learning to prioritise your voice in noisy environments.

Cameras

• 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera
• Dual camera set-up in rear (48-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide)
• 4K video recording

This year, Apple has given the standard iPhone camera line-up a boost, upgrading the main camera from 12 to 48 megapixels. The new main camera offers sharp photos and video, featuring a quad-pixel sensor and fast autofocus. A combination of improved hardware and software gives the iPhone 15’s camera system a better low-light performance, with up to four times the resolution. Night Mode now delivers better captures in darker environments, while Smart HDR offers richer mid-tones and brighter highlights in uneven or heavily-lit conditions.

The double rear cameras also include 2x optical-quality Telephoto zoom for detailed close-ups, alongside 0.5x zoom for when you need to take a step back. Apple has also taken portraits to the next level, giving users the option to tap and shift the focus between several subjects in the one shot, even after the photo has been taken. Excitingly, you also won’t need to select Portrait Mode in the camera app to access background blur and perfect framing, as the iPhone 15 series can automatically apply the feature as soon you focus in on any person, dog or cat.

Extras

• 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage sizes
• Siri voice assistant
• Available in black, blue, green, yellow, pink

Crash Detection and Emergency SOS via satellite will continue to be offered with iPhone 15, as well as now-standard inclusions like Siri voice assistance and ApplePay. The 15 series also features Apple’s second-gen Ultra Wideband chip, meaning iPhones can connect to each other across a range that’s three times larger than before – great for apps such as Find My Friends.

All of Apple’s new devices include dual-SIM capability and support for eSIM, so you won’t need a physical SIM card to change plans with eligible providers. The iPhone 15 will also be compatible with Apple’s MagSafe magnetic accessories range.

You’ll be able to pick up the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage sizes. Both phones will be available in Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, and Pink colours.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

Design and display

• iPhone 15 Pro: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Always-On display
• Face ID facial recognition
• IP68 water and dust resistance
• Dynamic Island widget
• Action Button

The Pro range follows the same conventions as Apple’s iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. You’ll get upgraded hardware, cameras and performance when compared to the standard 15, with your choice of display sizes: 6.1 inches for the iPhone 15 Pro, and a bigger 6.7 inches for the premium iPhone 15 Pro Max.

The Super Retina XDR display includes last year’s innovative Dynamic Island on-screen widget, as well as an Always-On display and new StandBy full-screen experience while charging. This combination of features means important info and alerts are always available at a glance, without gobbling up your battery life. The bright, bold Retina display also includes Apple’s ProMotion adaptive refresh rate, delivering smooth scrolling at up to 120Hz when needed.

The Pro series is the first edition of iPhone to include a titanium body, offering a high strength-to-weight ratio: you’ll get a premium, durable design, with a lighter-than-ever feel. Combined with new, thinner bezels, Apple’s Ceramic Shield in front and back, and IP68 water and dust resistance, and this is a tough but stylish device.

Alongside a new titanium body, Apple has made two significant changes to the iPhone Pro range’s design. As with the standard iPhone 15, the Lightning connector has been retired in favour of a USB-C port. But the most noticeable new addition is the Action Button, a physical button that’s replaced the Ring/Silent toggle switch to allow users to access different modes and actions with one click. Set the feature you want the Action Button to enable – such as the camera, torch, or voice memos – and you’ll then be able to launch the app or tool with a simple ‘press and hold’ gesture.

Battery and performance

• iPhone 15 Pro: up to 23 hours video playback
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: up to 29 hours video playback
• Apple A17 Pro Bionic Chip
• 5G connectivity

This year’s Pro phones include the all-new Apple A17 Pro chip, a monster processing unit that, when combined with Apple’s updated Neural Engine, can support close to 35 trillion operations per second – that’s twice as fast as the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The A17 Pro includes two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, and a CPU that’s up to 10% faster than previous versions.

The iPhone 15 Pro also offers improved capabilities for mobile gaming, thanks to the A17 Pro’s 6-core GPU. Apple is promising a faster response time and more immersive graphics, and will bring formerly console-and-PC-only titles to the iPhone, including Resident Evil: Village, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding.

A bigger chipset won’t get you far without a powerful battery, and Apple continues to talk up the Pro series’ all-day battery life. The iPhone 15 Pro will come with up to 23 hours of video playback, while the bigger iPhone 15 Pro Max promises up to 29 hours (compared to the iPhone 12 Pro Max, that’s an extra nine hours of run time per charge).

As with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the Pro editions will also include iOS 17, 5G connectivity, and upgraded audio quality.

Cameras

• 12-megapixel True Depth front camera
• Triple camera set-up in rear (48-megapixel main, 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide and 12-megapixel Telephoto cameras)
• 4K video recording

As always, Apple is promising its best camera system yet with the 15 Pro – claiming its three-camera lineup offers the equivalent of seven different camera lenses. The rear camera system includes a 48-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera, and a 12-megapixel Telephoto camera with a quad-pixel sensor. The main camera delivers a new 24-megapixel super-high-resolution default, and gives users the choice of three focal lengths: 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm.

The Telephoto camera boasts a bigger sensor and more versatile features. This year, the Pro Max comes with an impressive 5x optical zoom at a 120mm focal length, enabled by Apple’s ‘Tetraprism’ design. This is the longest optical zoom on any iPhone, and accompanies a digital zoom of up to 25x,. If you’d prefer the cheaper iPhone 15 Pro, you’ll still get 3x optical zoom, alongside a digital zoom of up to 15x.

With the enhanced processing offered by the A17 Pro chip, the 15 Pro devices feature better quality video, true-to-life skin tones, vivid colours, and better Night Mode portraits. Fan favourites like Macro photography, panorama and Live Photos are better than ever, and the new Focus and Depth Control for portraits identifies humans, dogs and cats and automatically applies background blur and optimised image capture.

You’ll also get much more advanced professional shooting and editing options in ProRAW mode – so if you’re in search of the best-of-the-best in phone cameras, iPhone Pro and Pro Max are unlikely to disappoint.

Extras

• 128 GB (iPhone 15 Pro only), 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage sizes
• Siri voice assistance
• Dual SIM and eSIM support
• Available in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium and Natural Titanium

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro include Apple’s newest Crash Detection and Emergency SOS for satellite features. Each phone supports MagSafe and future Qi2 wireless charging, and will be compatible with ultra-fast WiFi 6E technology. Both Pro models are eSIM and dual SIM capable, 5G-ready, and come with now-standard inclusions like Siri, ApplePay, and accessibility options.

Apple is offering the iPhone 15 Pro in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB sizes, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max will be available in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB. As for colours, you’ll be able to grab either device in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium and Natural Titanium finishes.

About the reviewer of this page

This report was reviewed by Canstar Content Producer, Caitlin Bingham. Caitlin is an experienced writer whose passion for creativity led her to study communication and journalism. She began her career freelancing as a content writer, before joining the Canstar team.