Apple Event highlights: iPhone 15 lineup starts at ₹79,900; Pre-order from Sept 15

iPhone 15 new features

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will serve as the base models, sporting aluminium sides and a glass back, similar to the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. In contrast, the two premium iPhones will introduce a fresh design, opting for titanium instead of stainless steel for the side material, says Bloomberg's Mark Gurman

iPhone 15 price

According to TrendForce, the smaller Pro iPhone model is expected to maintain its $999 starting price, with Apple keeping the same storage options (128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB) but increasing the RAM to 8GB for the iPhone 15 Pro. This suggests that prospective buyers can still get the 128GB model for $999, dispelling rumours of a potential price increase.

To be noted, there is just speculation. The original price will be unveiled soon though! 

Apple Launch Event

According to a Bloomberg report, Foxconn Technology Group's facility in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, is gearing up to commence shipments of the latest iPhone models shortly after their initial release from Chinese factories.

The scale of iPhone 15 production in India will depend on critical factors including component availability, primarily sourced through imports, and the successful expansion of production lines at the local Foxconn facility.

Apple's iPhone 15 lineup arrives against a backdrop of significant challenges. Over the past three quarters, Apple has experienced declining sales compared to the previous year, with management hinting at the possibility of another downturn in the current quarter, coinciding with the iPhone 15 launch.

This period of uncertainty has taken a toll, with Apple's stock price dropping nearly 10 per cent since mid-July. Consequently, the company's market value, which had recently surpassed the historic USD 3 trillion mark earlier in the summer, has now dipped below it."

As the Apple Event draws near, here are the visuals from Cupertino Park, the tech giant headquarters, where Wonderlust event is schedule to begin at 10:30pm IST.

Apple Event 2023 Livestream

For those eager to watch the Apple Wonderlust launch event live, Apple offers various streaming options:

1. Apple TV subscribers can easily access the event on their devices by tuning in at 10:30pm.

2. Non-subscribers need not worry, as Apple will also livestream the event on its official YouTube page. 

3. Alternatively, viewers can directly watch the event via their web browsers by visiting the Apple website.

• The star of the show will be the iPhone 15 Pro lineup, featuring significant updates.

• Minor Updates: Apple Watch and AirPods are expected to receive more modest refreshes.

• Software Focus: Apple will likely delve into the details of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and watchOS 10, offering insights into the upcoming software updates for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Less than two hours are left for the launch event, which will begin at 10:30pm IST with a keynote address from Apple CEO Tim Cook.

It's almost Time! See ya soon! #AppleEvent: Tim Cook, CEO, Apple

At Tuesday's event, the Cupertino-headquartered giant may also announce launch dates for products such as iOS 17, iPadOS 17, watchOS 10, and tvOS 10. These were unveiled by the company at its World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.

HT's sister website Mint has reported, citing MacRumors, that Apple may not launch any new iPad model before the end of the year.

Also, the report did not offer any additional details regarding the tech giant's forthcoming tablets.

As per a report from Macrumours, Apple's online store is down ahead of the annual launch event. The store is routinely taken offline ahead of major Apple events, usually as a marketing tactic, the report says.

1. iPhone (June 29, 2007)
2. iPhone 3G (July 11, 2008)
3. iPhone 3GS (June 19, 2009)
4. iPhone 4 (June 24, 2010)
5. iPhone 4S (October 14, 2011)
6. iPhone 5 (September 21, 2012)
7. iPhone 5s and 5c (September 20, 2013)
8. iPhone 6 and 6 Plus (September 19, 2014)
9. iPhone 6s and 6s Plus (September 19, 2015)
10. iPhone SE (March 31, 2016)
11. iPhone 7 and 7 Plus (September 16, 2016)
12. iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (September 22, 2017)
13. iPhone X (November 3, 2017)
14. iPhone XS and XS Max (September 21, 2018)
15. iPhone XR (October 26, 2018)
16. iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max (September 20, 2019)
17. iPhone SE (second generation) (April 24, 2020)
18. iPhone 12, 12 Pro (October 23, 2020)
19. iPhone 12 Mini, 12 Pro Max (November 13, 2020)
20. iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max (September 24, 2021)
21. iPhone SE (third generation) (March 8, 2022)
22. iPhone 14, 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max (September 16, 2022)
23. iPhone 14 Plus (October 7, 2022)

Ahead of the launch of the iPhone series, Elon Musk's X (formerly Twitter) has introduced a custom animation for the ‘like button.’

On pressing the button, users see a custom animation of the heart logo fragmenting into pieces before reverting to its usual shape. 

This brief animation is the Apple logo graphics used to promote the Wonderlust event.

Series likely to get upgrades such as:

The titanium on the Pro phones to get a ‘brushed’ look, replacing the fingerprint-prone steel that has been used starting with iPhone X in Nov 2017;

Faster chips and more powerful processors;

USB-C to be used for wired charging and data transfers; etc.

The respective local time for the start of Apple launch event in cities across the world.

Ahead of the likely launch of the iPhone 15 series, purported images of the ‘Action’ button, which is rumoured to replace the Mute button, are going viral on social media.

One particularly intriguing speculation suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro may come equipped with a midframe crafted from Grade 5 Titanium. If this rumour holds true, it could result in a significantly lighter and more robust device compared to its predecessors. This substantial reduction in weight could have a notable impact on the overall user experience, making the device more comfortable to hold and carry.

Let's take a closer look at the anticipated dimensions and weight of the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup:

iPhone 15:

- Thickness: 7.8mm

- Length: 147.6mm

- Width: 71.6mm

- Weight: 171 grams

According to reports from Macrumors, the base model iPhone 15 appears to be relatively similar to its predecessor, the iPhone 14, in terms of dimensions and weight. The device maintains the same thickness as the previous model, with minor adjustments to its length and width. Read more

First issue Apple faces is to penetrate the Chinese market at a time when Xi Jinping-led government has expanded some restrictions on using iPhones.

Apple will also have to grapple with competition from Huawei Technologies, which was its top rival in China's premium smartphone market until U.S. export controls ruined Huawei's phone business in 2019. Last week, Huawei started selling the Mate 60 Pro, a high-end phone that uses Chinese-made chips that some U.S. lawmakers believe were manufactured in violation of U.S. trade curbs.

Huawei wants to gain an edge on Apple with add-on features like satellite calling that relies on China's government-backed network. Apple's current iPhone lineup includes satellite capabilities, though they are meant only for emergency situations.

Apple in August reported its third straight quarter of declining sales, weighed down by tepid consumer demand in key markets like the US, China and Europe.

The company also is facing trouble in China, where government workers are increasingly banned from using its devices and consumer sentiment may be turning against US technology.

With the launch of new series of iPhone, the company is seeking to revive its sale slump.

The event, dubbed ‘Wonderlust’, won’t introduce a flashy new product category — like the Vision Pro headset unveiling in June — but the combination of the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods remains the core of the company’s ecosystem.

The most significant new product will be the iPhone 15 Pro line, with more minor refreshes coming to the Apple Watch and the AirPods. The company also is likely to discuss iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and watchOS 10, its upcoming software updates for the iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.

Apple is likely to introduce biggest updates in its device in three years. These upgrades include amping up its camera features; Pro models will gain an improved 3-nanometer processor.

The new lineup is critical to reviving flagging sales. Apple in August reported its third straight quarter of declining sales, weighed down by tepid consumer demand in key markets like the US, China and Europe.

Bloomberg has reported that customers could be able to buy iPhone 15 assembled in India – a first such latest generation device will be available for sale on first day of its launch. The company is also seeking to make the India-built iPhone 15 available in the South Asian country and some other regions on the global sales debut day.

Usually, Apple launches new iPhone series ahead of important holiday shopping season. Moreover, the world's biggest company is about to unveil its latest edition of flagship mobile phone at a time when it is facing pressure in key market of China, in terms of market capitalisation, where government employees are reportedly being banned from using iPhones.

Apple is gearing up for its highly anticipated annual launch event, which will take place at the iconic Steve Jobs Theater located at its California headquarters on Tuesday. While Apple has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the products to be unveiled, tech enthusiasts worldwide are eagerly anticipating the introduction of the next-generation iPhone 15 lineup, alongside the latest Apple Watch, and the possibility of iOS software updates.

Read Here.