Can't Get an iPhone 14 Pro? Here's Why You Should Wait for the iPhone 15 Ultra

Due to production issues at Apple supplier factories in China, the iPhone 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max are backordered and basically out of stock at every store. If you were planning to gift or receive an ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro model for the holidays and didn't already get one, you're basically out of luck because they're gone until late December.


In fact, with the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro delays and rumors of some very enticing features for the high-end iPhone 15 models, you may just want to wait until September 2023 to upgrade. We've outlined some of the features that you can expect, which may just be new additions you want to hold out for.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Ultra

Part of the reason that the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max are so in demand this year is that Apple packed them full of features the standard ‌iPhone‌ 14 models just didn't get. Faster processors, better cameras, and the Dynamic Island make the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro far more appealing than the ‌iPhone‌ 13-like ‌iPhone‌ 14 models, and the same trend will continue for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro.

In fact, Apple may ramp things up even further by giving the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max a better feature set than the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and rumors suggest that it could even get a name to reflect the change - ‌iPhone 15‌ Ultra. If you like the latest and greatest, it might be worth waiting for Apple's highest-end ‌iPhone‌ to date.

USB-C

The entire ‌iPhone 15‌ lineup is expected to transition to USB-C instead of Lightning in 2023, so if you're a fan of using a single charger for your Mac, ‌iPhone‌, and iPad, the ‌iPhone 15‌ models will be appealing.

Apple is making this change to comply with a European law that requires smartphones and electronics to use a common charger, but it wouldn't make sense for the company to create a USB-C iPhone just for one region, so customers worldwide will benefit.

All ‌iPhone 15‌ models will get USB-C, but rumors right now suggest that the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models will support higher-speed data transfers. If, for example, Apple integrates Thunderbolt 3 support into the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models, transfer speeds could hit 40Gb/s. With just USB 3.2, we can expect 20Gb/s speeds.

Faster A17 Processor

The A16 was limited to the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models, and the A17 is expected to be exclusive to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models. The A17 could be the first chip built on TSMC's next-generation 3-nanometer node, which would allow for increased performance and reduced power consumption.

Periscope Camera Lens

Apple is working on improved optical zoom enabled through periscope lens technology, which could be limited to the iPhone 15 Ultra. Periscope lenses are expensive and take up space, which is why Apple might use it as motivation to get people to spring for the highest-end ‌iPhone‌.

With periscope lens technology, Apple could offer as much as 10x optical zoom, up from 3x in the current ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro models. Other manufacturers like Samsung have implemented these longer-range telephoto lenses, pairing it with digital zoom for impressive 100x zoom capabilities.

Solid State Buttons

The ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models could get additional Taptic Engines that would facilitate solid-state volume and power buttons that feel like buttons, but actually aren't. This is the technology that Apple uses for the MacBook Pro's touchpad, so it feels like you're pressing down on a button, but there's no physical button press mechanism.

This is a feature rumored for the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models and it could allow for additional features when pressing certain buttons and it could improve water resistance, though just how the solid state buttons will be taken advantage of remains to be seen.

Other Rumors

There are other rumors about the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro models, some of which are more reliable than others. Here's what we've heard:

  • More durable titanium chassis.
  • Curved rear edges that replace the existing squared off design.
  • Qualcomm 5G modem chip.
  • No Touch ID fingerprint sensor.
  • No under-display Face ID.

Read More

Want to keep up with everything that's expected for the ‌iPhone 15‌? Follow our iPhone 15 roundup, which we update regularly as new rumors come out.

Related Roundup: iPhone 15
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...

Top Rated Comments

Macintosh Quadra 840av Avatar
34 months ago
But why not wait for the 16 Ultra Max instead? Or the 17 Super Mega?
Score: 101 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DinkThifferent Avatar
34 months ago
So the next iPhone is better than the current model?
Score: 40 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cBraunDesign Avatar
34 months ago
I don't mind if they have a model above the Pro line, but can we please please have these features in a reasonably sized phone? I don't want to have to get a giant phone to have all of the latest features.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
34 months ago
The biggest thing to happen to iPhone since iPhone. iPhone 15 Ultra is going to be the best iPhone Apple has ever worked on. Start saving your money now ?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Ankaa Avatar
34 months ago

But why not wait for the 16 Ultra Max instead? Or the 17 Super Mega?
Yeah, I was facepalming so hard over this post, considering the 14's have been out like what, 3 months? While the 15 isn't due for at least another 10?

Like.... seriously?!? What is this article even?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MmkLucario Avatar
34 months ago
What if I don’t want the biggest phone for all the features?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)