Apple is celebrating its most important event of the year this Tuesday. Although the company is keeping the content of its traditional keynote, which begins at 7:00 p.m. (Spanish peninsular time), completely secret, it is expected to present the new generation of its mobile phones, as it does every year at this time. The new iPhone 15 is being released today and in big news, the leaks suggest that these phones will feature a USB-C port for the first time. The Cupertino company would thus give in to pressure from the European Union, which announced in October 2022 that this port would be mandatory for mobile phones, tablets, cameras and other portable devices in Europe from the end of 2024.
As Mark Gurman, the whistleblower on everything that goes on in Apple’s backrooms, explains, the Cupertino company is in the awkward position of saying goodbye to the Lightning port (a proprietary port that was released with the iPhone 5 in 2012). and introduce a standard connector for its mobile phones, it never wanted this, although it has already implemented it in all its laptops and tablets.
This has already happened with its chargers: Apple launched its first universal mobile charger with USB-C for the iPhone 11 Pro in 2019. And starting with the iPhone 12 (released in 2020), all new iPhone models already have this One Cable (Lightning to USB-C), which allows you to charge Apple phones with universal USB-C chargers. Four years after beginning the transition of iPhones to USB-C, Apple is expected to complete it today. The new iPhone 15 no longer requires a special cable (with a Lightning connector) and can use the same charging cables (with a USB-C connector) as any current Android phone.
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EU Commissioner Thierry Breton is satisfied with Apple’s expected move. “Every company that wants to sell smartphones and other electronic devices in the EU must provide a USB-C port,” says Breton, who defends the advantages of the European standard plug regulation passed in 2022: “We are drastically reducing the costs.” consumers, and it’s good for the environment too.”
“USB-C’s compatibility with other devices is sold as an advantage, but it’s a disadvantage for Apple,” says Gurman. He points out that in a few years it will be easier for iPhone 15 users to switch to a cell phone with the Android operating system “because they already have accessories that work with it.” The universal compatibility of cables and adapters also makes Android easier -Users are switching to the new iPhones. For John Gruber, a renowned Apple product analyst, the change will be a big benefit for professional users who shoot high-resolution videos with their iPhones and “will bring joy to those who travel with multiple portable devices and only need a single one.” However, it will be a nuisance for hundreds of millions of users who have Lightning cables and adapters that will become redundant when they renew their iPhone.
A more ambitious Pro range
A total of four iPhone 15 models are expected, similar to those of its predecessor, but with faster processors and more advanced cameras. Analyst Ming Chi Kuo On Twitter he explains that the two models in the Pro range will be even more different from the two models in the standard range: “I think Apple will create more differentiation between the Pro and standard models in order to facilitate logistics planning and the average selling price of their models As with the iPhone 14, both series of the new iPhone 15 will have a 6.1-inch screen model and a larger 6.7-inch model. However, a more compact 5.4-inch model will be available not expected; This size would therefore disappear with the iPhone 13 mini, which Apple will remove from its catalog today, according to the calculations of those in the know.
According to some analysts cited by the Wall Street Journal, prices for the most ambitious models could rise by as much as $100, which would help cover rising component costs due to inflation. In addition, it is likely that the most powerful iPhone will be made of titanium and christened Ultra. It’s unclear whether this iPhone would replace or coexist with the Pro Max model.
Rumors also suggest that the dynamic island that launched the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max in 2022 will now reach all four models. Apple would thus do without the discussed notch (the notch at the top of the screen), which in the dynamic island is reduced to a pill-shaped hole in order to accommodate the front camera and the key components of Face ID, the facial recognition system on their cell phones.
In addition to the iPhone 15, Apple is also expected to introduce two new smartwatches – the Watch Series 9 and the second generation Watch Ultra – as well as renewed headphones. While no major changes are expected to be made to the watches, leaks suggest that the new AirPods Pro will come with a charging case that will also feature a USB-C port for the first time.
A “delicate” moment for Apple
According to Mark Gurman, Apple’s launch comes at a “delicate time”: “Demand for smartphones has slowed across the industry, leading to several quarters of declining sales.” What’s more, the Chinese government informed its officials in at least three ministries last week banned the use of an iPhone. The move caused a sharp drop in the Apple stock market and could represent a setback for the Apple company.
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