Mark Gurman reports that despite new hardware upgrades, the iPhone 15 is expected to face challenges due to Apple acknowledging a market slowdown.

 

The iPhone 15, Apple's upcoming next-generation smartphone, is anticipated to be launched in the coming weeks. However, the company is expected to face challenges in a tough smartphone market, despite the introduction of significant updates on the device. The iPhone 15 is touted to be the first major upgrade since the iPhone 12's unveiling in 2020, with improvements to the display, charging port, and faster processors. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro models might feature a more robust titanium frame and slimmer display bezels compared to their predecessor.

In his weekly Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg highlights that Apple has finally acknowledged the decline in the smartphone market over the last few quarters in the United States. As a result, the tech giant will need to put in more effort to convince customers to opt for the upcoming iPhone 15 series, which is said to include the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

According to earlier reports, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are expected to be equipped with the A16 Bionic chip and the Dynamic Island feature found in last year's iPhone 14 Pro models, along with improved camera capabilities. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are rumored to boast a new, more durable titanium chassis and a 3nm chipset that is significantly faster than their predecessors. Gurman previously suggested that the Pro models would feature displays with 1.5mm bezels, making them the thinnest on any iPhone released to date.

The highest-tier model of Apple's upcoming iPhone 15 series, the iPhone 15 Pro Max, is rumored to include a periscope camera, which would enhance optical zoom capabilities. Additionally, the iPhone 15 lineup is expected to make a significant change by replacing the Lightning port with a USB Type-C port to adhere to EU regulations.

Despite the anticipated hardware upgrades, Gurman points out in his newsletter that Apple will encounter challenges due to the ongoing market slowdown. Although Apple's smartphone sales were more resilient compared to its competitors, who also suffered from the slowdown, the company revealed that its iPhone sales dropped by 2.4 percent to $39.7 billion in the June quarter.

The iPhone 15 series is expected to make its debut next month, and Gurman suggests that the lineup could be unveiled on either September 12 or September 13, with sales commencing on September 22. While Apple will face the challenge of convincing customers to upgrade their smartphones in the sluggish market despite the new hardware upgrades, Gurman believes that the Cupertino company's next phone models shouldn't have difficulty showing year-over-year growth. This prediction comes after the production issues that affected the iPhone 14 series last year due to COVID-19 restrictions at assembly plants in China.

In addition to the iPhone 15 series, Apple is reportedly testing a new Mac model that is powered by a M3 chip, and it is expected to be unveiled in October, as per Gurman's information. Previous reports have also suggested the arrival of new Mac models featuring the next-generation chipset. The latest model being tested is said to be equipped with an octa-core M3 chip, boasting 10 graphics cores and 24GB of RAM. It is likely to be introduced as the company's next Mac mini model. As of now, Apple has not officially announced its plans to launch new Mac models, and this comes a month after the expected debut of the next generation of iPhones in September.