iPhone launch: Apple’s shift to USB-C port, eco drive, Pro’s titanium case stand out

Apple Inc. on Tuesday rolled out its latest lineup of iPhone 15s and new watch series at its much-anticipated ‘Wonderlust’ event.

All new iPhones will come with USB C charging cables, while the higher-end Pro models will come in aerospace‑grade titanium shells sporting Action buttons and will be powered by the A17 Pro chip.

Apple says the iPhone 15 Pro is the first of its flagship smartphone models that comes with a titanium design and hosts one of the most powerful iPhone camera systems, while supporting USB 3 tech for superfast transfer speeds.

Photography enthusiasts can also look forward to the Pro models, which are set to feature a 5X telephoto lens, promising to bring distant subjects closer with a sharp and clear focus.

Apple iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 will have Dynamic Island, an innovative way to interact with important alerts, and will be powered by the A16 Bionic chip. It will also have a new 48MP main camera for super-high-resolution photos, with 2X telephoto and a durable color‑infused glass and aluminum design.

The Super Retina XDR display on the iPhone 15 “is great for watching content, streaming Apple Fitness+ workouts, and playing games,” Apple said in a release, while adding that peak HDR brightness now reaches up to 1,600 nits. “And when it is sunny, peak outdoor brightness reaches up to 2,000 nits — twice as bright as the previous generation,” it added.

The iPhone 15 series has been designed to cater to a diverse user base, offering both a 6.1-inch base model and a larger 6.7-inch Plus model. Both iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will be available in pink, yellow, green, blue, and black.

“iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and the A16 Bionic chip for proven powerful performance,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice-president of worldwide iPhone product marketing. “We’re also pushing the power of computational photography to new levels this year with a 48MP Main camera featuring a new 24MP default for super-high-resolution photos, a new 2x Telephoto option, and next-generation portraits.”

Pre-sales for the new iPhone range are set to begin this Friday, with the official release slated for 22 September.

Apple Watch

The event also saw the rollout of the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, showcasing small yet significant updates.

Users can expect improved performance owing to the integration of new wireless chips, sensors, and S9 chips.

A key feature is the addition of a new double-tap gesture, giving users hands-free control, in a step towards a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.

Users can also charge AirPods or Apple Watch directly from iPhone with the USB‑C connector. Both models support MagSafe and future Qi2 chargers for wireless charging.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will feature iOS 17, which will be available from September 18.

Apple’s eco drive

Meanwhile, as Apple continues to work toward its 2030 goal of making every product carbon neutral — from design to manufacturing to customer use — the company said it is prioritizing clean electricity across the entire supply chain and designing products with recycled and other low-carbon materials.

To further reduce impact on the planet, Apple said it will no longer use leather in any new Apple products, including iPhone accessories.