iPhone 15: Everything you need to know

The cat is out of the bag: here are all the deets on the new iPhone 15.

iPhone 15

From
$1499
  • pro
    Dynamic Island
  • pro
    A16 chip and USB-C
  • pro
    6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display
  • con
    No Action Button, Always-On or ProMotion
iPhone 15 Plus - Blue

iPhone 15 Plus

From
$1649
  • pro
    Dynamic Island
  • pro
    A16 chip and USB-C
  • pro
    6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Display
  • con
    No Action Button, Always-On or ProMotion
iPhone 15 Pro - Titanium

iPhone 15 Pro

From
$1849
  • pro
    Dynamic Island
  • pro
    A17 Pro chip, USB-C 3 and 1TB option
  • pro
    6.1-inch Super Retina XDR ProMotion Display
  • pro
    Action button and Always-On Display
iPhone 15 Pro - Blue

iPhone 15 Pro Max

From
$2199
  • pro
    Dynamic Island
  • pro
    A17 Pro chip, USB-C 3 and 1TB option
  • pro
    6.7-inch Super Retina XDR ProMotion Display
  • pro
    Action button and Always-On Display
  • con
    No 128GB option
Fergus Halliday
Sep 22, 2023
Icon Time To Read10 min read

Apple's big September showcase is finally here. We now what all the details about the new iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you're not sure where to start when it comes to Apple's latest 'best iPhone ever' then we've got you covered.

Here's the low-down on everything you need to know about every iPhone 15 model this year, when you can get your hands on them and how much they will cost in Australia. 

iPhone 15

Quick look: What's new in the iPhone 15 series?

  • USB-C: USB-C 2 on iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, USB-C 3 on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
  • A17 Pro in iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max and A16 Bionic in iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
  • Action Button replacing the silent switch on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
  • Dynamic Island on all models
  • Titanium build on iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max

If you're after the short version, it's that this year's iPhone 15 lineup has all the obvious upgrades. The shape and size of Apple's ever-popular line of smartphones isn't changing this year, but the hardware is getting a timely tune up. Regardless of whether you opt for the cheaper standard model or one of the pricey Pro-grade ones, you can expect a better processor, a camera with a bigger sensor and a shiny new USB type-C port.

This time around, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are also getting the Dynamic Island that was previously exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro Max will offer a premium photography experience by a hair, thanks to its 5x telephoto lens, 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom.

Even if they closely resemble their predecessors on most fronts, this year's iPhone 15 series promises to be more powerful when and where it counts.

What didn’t make the cut?

There was no shortage of rumors in the lead-up to any Apple event, but it's rare for every single one to work out. This time around, rumors that Apple may have been looking to replace the Pro Max with a new Apple iPhone 15 Ultra fell into the latter category. Maybe next time.

Another no-show here was any sort of iPhone 15 equivalent to the iPhone 13 Mini. It's now been two years since Apple showed off a new pocket-friendly version of its flagship smartphone. Time will tell whether this is hiatus is a short-lived or permanent one.

How much does the iPhone 15 cost in Australia?


We now have official Australian pricing for the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This year, the entry cost for the 15 Pro Max is a little higher since Apple ditched the 128GB variant on this year's primo Pro Max. Here's the starting price for each model. 

  • iPhone 15: From $1,499
  • iPhone 15 Plus: From $1,649
  • iPhone 15 Pro: From $1,849
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max: From $2,199

When will the iPhone 15 release in Australia?


  • iPhone 15 announced: 13 September 2023
  • iPhone 15 pre-orders begin: 15 September 2023
  • iPhone 15 goes on sale: 22 September 2023

The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are available now in Australia.

iPhone 15


Pink iPhone 15
  • Price: Starts at $1449
  • Release date: September 22 2023
  • Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display 
  • Dynamic Island: No
  • ProMotion (120Hz): No
  • Action Button: No
  • Charging: USB-C 2
  • Processor: A16 Bionic
  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide + 48MP wide + 12MP telephoto lens
  • Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
  • Water and dust resistance: IP68
  • Colours: Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink

When it comes to the entry-level iPhone 15, there are a few big improvements that those considering an upgrade might want to keep in mind. The most visible one is that the iPhone 15 now features the Dynamic Island introduced by last year's Pro Models. It also inherits the same A16 Bionic processor found in the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which promises to give it a performance edge over its 2022 counterparts.

Beyond that, the other big advantage that this year's cheapest iPhone 15 has over its predecessors is the addition of a larger 48MP camera sensor and a USB Type-C port. Depending on who you are, one of these improvements is probably going to make a much bigger difference than the other.

How much the iPhone 15 costs in Australia

Here’s how much the iPhone 15 costs outright in Australia:

  • iPhone 15 128GB: $1,499
  • iPhone 15 256GB: $1,699
  • iPhone 15 512GB: $2,049

iPhone 15 plans

Here are the cheapest iPhone 15 plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. We've used the 128GB model on a 36-month plan to represent the cheapest monthly price available. If you'd like to upgrade your storage or pay it off sooner, follow the links below to the suppliers' websites.

iPhone 15 Plus


iPhone 15
  • Price: Starts at $1649
  • Release date: September 22 2023
  • Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Display 
  • Dynamic Island: No
  • ProMotion (120Hz): No
  • Action Button: No
  • Charging: USB-C 2
  • Processor: A16 Bionic
  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
  • Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide + 48MP wide + 12MP telephoto lens
  • Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
  • Water and dust resistance: IP68
  • Colours: Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink

The iPhone 15 Plus is primed to pick up where last year's iPhone 14 Plus left off. Like the name might indicate, what's here is pretty much just an iPhone 15 with a bigger screen.

You're getting the same A16 Bionic processor, the same camera (with a larger 48MP sensor), the same level of water resistance and the same storage variants. You're also getting the same Dynamic Island and USB Type-C port. All that said, if all you're after is an iPhone with a bigger screen than the 6.1-incher seen on the standard iPhone 15, this will do the trick a hell of a lot cheaper than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

How much the iPhone 15 Plus costs in Australia

Here’s how much the iPhone 15 Plus costs outright in Australia:

  • iPhone 15 Plus 128GB: $1,649
  • iPhone 15 Plus 256GB: $1,849
  • iPhone 15 Plus 512GB: $2,199

iPhone 15 Plus plans

These are the cheapest iPhone 15 Plus plans from Telstra, Optus and Vodafone. Once again, we've used the 128GB model on a 36-month plan to represent the cheapest monthly price available. If you'd like to upgrade your storage or pay it off sooner, follow the links below to your preferred provider's website.

iPhone 15 Pro


  • Price: Starts at $1849
  • Release date: September 22 2023
  • Display: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display w/ Always On
  • Dynamic Island: Yes
  • ProMotion (120Hz): Yes
  • Action Button: Yes
  • Charging: USB-C 3
  • Processor: A17 Pro
  • Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide + 48MP wide + 12MP telephoto lens
  • Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
  • Water and dust resistance: IP68
  • Colours: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus might get the Dynamic Island treatment, but Apple has again locked a few premium features to the Pro range. Exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are ProMotion (Apple's version of adaptive 120hz refresh rates), the impressive processing bump courtesy of the A17 Pro Chip, advanced USB-C 3 charging and data transfer, a tidy Titanium build and the new customisable Action Button, which replaces the typical Silent switch.

How much the iPhone 15 Pro costs in Australia

Here’s how much the iPhone 15 Pro costs outright in Australia:

  • iPhone 15 Pro 128GB: $1,849
  • iPhone 15 Pro 256GB: $2,049
  • iPhone 15 Pro 512GB: $2,399
  • iPhone 15 Pro 1TB: $2,749

iPhone 15 Pro plans

Check out the table below for cheapest iPhone 15 Pro plans available in Australia. The plans below show the iPhone 15 Pro 128GB model on a 36-month arrangement to showcase the cheapest monthly cost for iPhone 15 Pro plans.

iPhone 15 Pro Max


  • Price: Starts at $2199
  • Release date: September 22 2023
  • Display: 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR Display w/ Always On
  • Dynamic Island: Yes
  • ProMotion (120Hz): Yes
  • Action Button: Yes
  • Charging: USB-C 3
  • Processor: A17 Pro
  • Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
  • Rear camera: 12MP ultra wide + 48MP wide + 12MP telephoto lens
  • Front camera: 12MP TrueDepth
  • Water and dust resistance: IP68
  • Colours: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, Natural Titanium

Screen size isn't the whole story this time around In previous years, Apple's largest and most expensive iPhone has sometimes held a slight edge over the other Pro-grade models when it comes to photography. In addition to all the Pro extras listed above, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the only handset offering a 5x telephoto lens with a 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom. 

This year, the iPhone 12 Pro Max also won't be available in the 128GB variant, instead starting at 256GB. 

How much the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs in Australia

Here’s how much the iPhone 15 Pro Max costs outright in Australia:

  • iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB: $2,399
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB: $2,549
  • iPhone 15 Pro Max 1TB: $2,899

iPhone 15 Pro Max plans

There's no 128GB iPhone 15 Pro Max this year. Instead, Apple's most premium phone starts at 256GB, making the base cost a little more expensive than last year. Below you'll find the cheapest plans if you wanna go big but don't want to pay full price upfront.
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Everything you need to know before purchasing iPhone 15

iPhone 15 design: Screen size and resolution


When it comes to the more standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, what's old is new.

Both devices feature screens with a similar size and resolution to that of their predecessors. If you're not keeping track, that means two models with 6.1-inch displays and two models with 6.7-inch displays.

However, where the 2022 lineup required consumers to opt for the premium Pro models to take the new Dynamic Island for a spin, the story this time around is that Apple's LED landmass will be available across the entire range.

The other big design change here is that Apple's entire iPhone 15 roster is making the jump from Lightning to USB Type-C. Back in 2022, the European Parliament ruled that all new phones, tablets, and cameras sold in the European Union would have to use USB-C by late 2024.

Ports aside, all four new iPhones feature thinner bezels while the Pro and Pro Max are trading away the iconic mute toggle for a larger "Action" key that can be customised to suit different needs.

iPhone 15 tech specs: A16 and beyond

Under the hood, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are running on the A16 Bionic processor. This processor was first seen in last year's iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max

Meanwhile, the new iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max ship with the new A17 Pro processor. 

Storage-wise, the iPhone 15 range will available in all the usual storage variants, going from as little as 128GB to as much as 512GB. If you want even more than that, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are both available in a larger 1TB size. This year, however, the iPhone 15 Pro Max has ditched the smaller 128GB variant, now starting at 256GB and a higher starting price as a result. 

As for battery size, we'll have to wait and see. Apple typically doesn't disclose battery sizes. It's usually up to the enthusiast community to tear the phones apart and find out, so we won't find out for sure until the iPhone 15 and the rest of the range are out in the wild. Apple's battery life claims haven't changed much from last year, with 20 hours of video playback in the iPhone 15, 26 hours in the 15 Plus, 23 hours in the iPhone 15 Pro, and 29 hours in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

iPhone 15 camera: How good will it be?


The rumors are true. While the iPhone 15 isn't changing up the number of lenses, it will see Apple move into the the megapixels arms race previously dominated by the likes of Motorola and Samsung.

In addition to a 12MP ultrawide lens, all four iPhone 15 models now also feature a 48MP main camera sensor. While this particular spec is rarely the whole story when it comes to smartphone photography, it's still a fairly significant change of pace for Apple. In the past, the company have opted to keep the megapixel count low, but gotten more and more out of that hardware with impressive feats of computational photography.

The iPhone 15 Pro raises the stakes with the addition of a 12MP telephoto lens that's capable of 3x optical zoom. Meanwhile, those who opt for the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max will nab the first iPhone with a 5x telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom.

Will the iPhone 15 have 5G?


It's relatively rare for a new Apple device to ditch features that the previous model had, so it's no surprise that the iPhone 15 will have the same level of 5G connectivity as the iPhone 14.

Of course, you'll need to have both a 5G mobile plan and be located in an area with coverage in order to actually make use of this feature.

To see where is 5G available in Australia, use the 5G coverage map below. Click the big orange button, select your desired network provider from the dropdown (e.g. Telstra, Optus or Vodafone).

To find out if you have 5G coverage in your area, use the (+) and (-) icons in the top-left corner of the map to navigate to your area. For example, if you want to search for 5G broadband coverage in Sydney, zoom right in and drag the map with your cursor to zero in on your address.

How much will the iPhone 15 cost on a plan?

Telstra, Vodafone and Optus are all ranging the iPhone 15 in some capacity. Here's a quick summary of what to expect from each of the big three.

Vodafone iPhone 15 plans

For those looking to pick up the iPhone 15 for as little as possible are probably going to be looking to pick the device up on a plan through Vodafone. While this provider doesn't have the same level of coverage as Telstra or Optus do, it does come at a cheaper price. You get the same excess-charge free data, plus $5 per day international roaming when you need it.

For a snapshot of your options, check out the round-up of Vodafone mobile plans (paired with this year's iPhone 15) below.

Optus iPhone 15 plans

If you need better coverage than Vodafone can vouch for but don't want to deal with the higher prices that Telstra commands, then Optus might be the best bet for picking up the iPhone 15 on a plan.

Assuming that this year's lineup matches that of last year's, the iPhone 15 will be available on either 12, 24 or 36 month plan. Each of the eligible postpaid plans will come with excess-charge free data, a discounted rate on Optus Sport and the ability to save on your monthly subscriptions via SubHub.

For a snapshot of your options, check out the round-up of Optus mobile plans (paired with the iPhone 15) below.

Telstra iPhone 15 plans

Telstra's mobile plans are the most expensive of the big three, so it'll probably be the most expensive option for those looking to buy the iPhone 15 on a postpaid plan.

That said, that higher price does come with plenty of perks. Those who sign up for a iPhone 15 plan with Telstra should expect to be able to pay off their device over a 12, 24 or 36-month period and access to excess-charge free data for the lifetime of their plan.

For a snapshot of your options, check out the round-up of Telstra mobile plans (paired with the iPhone 15) below.

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Fergus Halliday
Written by
Fergus Halliday is a journalist and editor for Reviews.org. He’s written about technology, telecommunications, gaming and more for over a decade. He got his start writing in high school and began his full-time career as the Editor of PC World Australia. Fergus has made the MCV 30 Under 30 list, been a finalist for seven categories at the IT Journalism Awards and won Most Controversial Writer at the 2022 Consensus Awards. He has been published in Gizmodo, Kotaku, GamesHub, Press Start, Screen Rant, Superjump, Nestegg and more.

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