Kuo: Apple to Further Separate Devices in iPhone 15 Lineup With Different Features

Apple will further differentiate its "Pro" and non-"Pro" iPhone models with next year's ‌iPhone‌ 15 and ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro, according to insightful Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

f1662573062
In a series of tweets earlier today, Kuo said that further differentiating the ‌iPhone‌ lineup would increase sales of the "Pro" models. To this end, Kuo said that "Apple will also start creating differentiation between the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max and the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro," using a "precise product segmentation strategy to generate more sales/profits in a mature market."

This differentiation would presumably occur by giving individual devices in the ‌iPhone‌ 15 lineup different features, providing more reasons upsell next year's ‌iPhone‌ models. The only differentiating features between the ‌iPhone‌ 14 and 14 Plus, and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max, are display size and battery life.

It is not yet clear how capabilities could be separated across the ‌iPhone‌ 15 lineup, with some features such as the Dynamic Island expected to expand to the entire selection of devices, but the ‌iPhone‌ 15 Pro Max could be the only model to feature a periscope telephoto camera system.

One of the reasons Apple is able to do this, "even though hardware innovation has become more challenging and the market has matured," is believed to because the "Android camp still poses no threat to Apple in the high-end market" due to brand value and ecosystem disadvantages. That being said, Kuo added that Qualcomm's transfer of high-end chips for Android devices from Samsung to TSMC, Apple's chip supplier, as well as an aggressive push toward foldable phones, could help Android regain ground in the years ahead.

Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iPhone 17 Pro and Air Feature

Two iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air Colors Appear to Scratch More Easily

Friday September 19, 2025 10:02 am PDT by
As reported by Bloomberg today, some of the new iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air models on display at Apple Stores today are already scratched and scuffed. French blog Consomac also reported on this topic. The scratches appear to be most prominent on models with darker finishes, including the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the iPhone Air in Space Black. Images Credit: Consoma ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
Tim Cook Rainbow

Apple Reportedly Plans to Launch These 10 Products in 'Coming Months'

Sunday September 14, 2025 8:45 am PDT by
Apple's annual September event is now in the rearview mirror, with the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 set to launch this Friday, September 19. As always, there is more to come. In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple plans to release many products in the...

Top Rated Comments

somnolentsurfer Avatar
40 months ago
Introducing differences between the Pro and Pro Max would be the wrong way to go. I want all the features, but I still want a phone I can comfortably use in one hand.
Score: 61 Votes (Like | Disagree)
nikaru Avatar
40 months ago
I miss the old days when there was just one iPhone, the new iPhone. Now it is Pro, it is Max, it is SE, it is previous generation models. I'm daily Macrumos visitor for many years and yet, I'll be struggling to remember all the difference between the iPhones in the current portfolio. What is the difference between iPhone 13 and 14? Is iPhone 12 Pro better than iPhone 14? What happened with Apple's slogan "we focus only on few things"?!
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
40 months ago
As expected, Hopefully, iPhone Pro Max's next step is the Ultra Model. Apple, please introduce iPhone Pro Max Ultra featuring.. Titanium Frame Chassis.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsboi Avatar
40 months ago
Is this where the Pro Max becomes Ultra?
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
qgadrian Avatar
40 months ago
Apple should make a 15 mini Pro, the sales for that one will ?
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
scubasteve03 Avatar
40 months ago
Well, that didn’t take long at all. Love this website. The preorders for the 14 aren’t even live yet, and we are late we are already speculating on the 15.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)