The iPhone 15 series might not get the design change we were hoping for

Apple iPhone 14 Plus hero HD
An iPhone 14 Plus (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Recently we heard about some exciting design changes that might be coming to the iPhone 15 line, chief among these being curved edges; but now it sounds like that change is far from set in stone.

That’s not to say the previous leak was wrong, but according to LeaksApplePro – a leaker with a respectable track record – talking to Forbes, the move to curved edges is under “strong consideration” but hasn’t yet been decided upon.

Forbes notes that the design of a new iPhone would usually have been finalized by now, so this uncertainty is odd, but it could be down to the current uncertainty within Apple’s supply chain, which could make a design change harder to pull off than usual.

In other words then, curved edges could be a change that Apple wants, but one that might be tricky to implement. Still, it sounds like there’s at least a good chance that this change will happen.

LeaksApplePro also had some comments on the recent claim that some or all iPhone 15 series models will be clad in titanium.

They clarified that it will just be the sides that use titanium – which is largely what was expected anyway, since wireless charging wouldn’t work through a metal back. Indeed, the back will apparently still be glass.

Of course, we’d still take all of this with a pinch of salt given that the iPhone 15 line probably won’t land until September.


Analysis: believable claims, but don’t count on every model getting titanium

The above leaks all sound believable to us, but in the case of titanium it’s probably only the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra that we’d think will get it, as that’s a far more expensive material than the aluminum of the iPhone 14 or the stainless-steel of the iPhone 14 Pro.

At least one source has specifically said that only the top models will get titanium anyway, but other sources have been less specific, so it’s worth being clear on that.

As for the curved sides, the consensus so far seems to be that every iPhone 15 model will get them – if any do, and that is believable.

Apple could do with freshening up the design a bit, especially on the base models, which didn’t see any real changes this year, and unlike a change in materials this probably wouldn’t increase the cost, it would just help the upcoming handsets stand out more among the best phones.

TOPICS

James is a freelance phones, tablets and wearables writer and sub-editor at TechRadar. He has a love for everything ‘smart’, from watches to lights, and can often be found arguing with AI assistants or drowning in the latest apps. James also contributes to 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk and has written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

Read more
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
The iPhone 17 series could get a curvy upgrade, and I'd welcome the change
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
Leaked iPhone 17 renders hint at major design changes – including 3 controversial changes for the Pro and Pro Max
Apple iPhone 16 Pro REVIEW
New iPhone 17 Pro rumor predicts bizarre new camera bar design, but we're far from convinced
Foldable iPhone concept image
Foldable iPhone: latest rumors, news and everything we know so far
Apple iPhone 16 Review
I’ve got two fresh iPhone 17 rumors for you, but one of them stinks
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6
Apple is rumored to have taken another key step towards making a foldable iPhone
Latest in iPhone
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
Three iPhone 16 handsets on show
Apple could launch an iPhone 17 Ultra this year – but we've heard these rumors before
Apple iPhone 16 Pro on sky blue background with don't miss text overlay
Verizon has just quietly debuted its best iPhone 16 Pro deal yet - get it for free alongside a plan that costs just $25/mo
Apple iPhone 16e on blue background with big savings text overlay
Total Wireless' latest iPhone 16e deal gets you $300 off plus a cheap plan for a year
The Apple iPhone 16e held at a slant at a window
From iPhone to Android and (almost) back again – the iPhone 16e failed to lure me back to iOS
Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max REVIEW
The latest iPhone 17 Pro Max leak may have given us another look at its upcoming redesign
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over