iPhone 15 models will be more expensive. Apple will offer screens with the thinnest bezels on the market

The iPhone 14 series of smartphones came with bad news for Apple fans outside the US: the phones received a significant price hike over the iPhone 13 generation. But it looks like we’re in for another price hike, with the iPhone 15 “hitting” the manufacturer’s home country this time. This would be the first price hike in the US since the launch of the iPhone X in 2017.

Apple will justify the high price of the iPhone 15 series with hardware upgrades

US iPhone models currently start at $799 US for the “base” iPhone 14 and $1,099 for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Between each model there’s a $100 step between them, and that difference looks like it will be preserved after the price hike. The only difference, however, is that the iPhones will start at a higher price.

According to ITHome, a Chinese publication, Apple is preparing a price hike of about $100 for each model. Thus, the iPhone 15 could start at $899, the iPhone 15 Plus at $999, the iPhone 15 Pro at $1,099 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max/Ultra at $1,199.

The price hikes, however, could be justified by Apple by the fact that the new models will get new hardware upgrades for each model. Regions that have already received price hikes since last year could be bypassed by this wave of price hikes in 2023.

On the one hand, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models will make the switch to Dynamic Island, finally ditching the old “notch” in the screen. This, along with USB-C power and data transfer, and the use of Apple’s A16 processor from the 14 Pro and Pro Max, will be enough in Apple’s view to be able to charge more money for a “lower” series flagship.

“Pro” models will have an impressive screen

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models will get a slightly changed design, with a bezel made of titanium with more rounded edges than in the past. They’ll also get more RAM, with rumours suggesting 8GB, along with improved cameras and of course USB-C. These will also be the only ones to benefit from Apple’s new A17 Bionic processor, made using TSMC’s 3nm node.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will break the record of 1.81mm bezel black edge held by Xiaomi 13, and we measure that its cover plate black bezel width is only 1.55 mm.（S22 and S23 ≈1.95mm，iPhone 14 Pro 2.17mm） pic.twitter.com/9TBrVCGSCo

– Ice universe (@UniverseIce) March 17, 2023

The latest iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra?) rumors also suggest that Apple will use new OLED displays, with the thinnest bezels on the market. IceUniverse, a well-known leaker, claims that Apple’s new models will have a black bezel around the screen of just 1.55mm. In comparison, the thinnest bezel is now found on the Xiaomi 13 at 1.81mm, while Samsung’s models have a 1.95mm bezel. It’ll be a big jump from one generation to the next, as the iPhone 15 Pro has a 2.17mm bezel around the screen. The size of the devices won’t decrease though, but the screen sizes will just be a little bigger.