iPhone 15 Plus leak hints Apple's big base model phone to see key upgrades

Renders suggest USB-C, Dynamic Island and increased screen size are possible for Apple's 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus

(Credit: Apple)

(Credit: 9to5Mac)

➡️ The Shortcut Skinny: iPhone 15 Plus USB-C

• iPhone 15 Plus renders show similar dimensions as 14 Plus

• The camera notch from last year looks to be replaced by Dynamic Island

• Slimmer bezels indicate a larger iPhone 15 Plus screen size

• USB-C looks set for the iPhone 15 Plus

Thanks to a final set of leaks, we now have a nearly complete picture of what Apple’s 2023 flagship phone lineup will look like about 6 months before the probable iPhone 15 Pro Max release date, with the late Friday publishing of alleged CAD-based imagery of the iPhone 15 Plus at 9to5Mac and iPhone 15 Pro Max renders leaked later that same day.

(Credit: 9to5Mac)

The renders reveal some key upgrades and minor, yet notable, design changes such as curved edges, the trickle-down of the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island – the pill-shaped cutout that replaced the former selfie camera notch on past Apple phones – USB-C port and slimmer bezels surrounding the screen.

(Credit: 9to5Mac)

The images are based on CAD files provided to 9to5Mac that purport to be the official schematics for the incoming models – if so, these renders should be accurate to the millimeter, as Apple gives these files to case and accessory manufacturers to enable them to create launch-day-and-date-available third party products for its phones.

iPhone 14 Plus (left) vs iPhone 15 Plus (right) - (Credit: 9to5Mac)

Besides the above changes, it doesn’t look like there will be any significant change in dimensions. It may be nominally thicker and taller, but ever-so-slightly narrower. Given the shrunken bezels, that indicates a larger screen for the phone – we saw the same thing in last week’s iPhone 15 leak.

iPhone 14 Plus (left) vs iPhone 15 Plus (right) - (Credit: 9to5Mac)

iPhone 15 Plus leak: what we don’t know

There have been rumors that the iPhone 15 specs would see a slower iPhone 15 USB-C port for the two lower-end Apple phones. Nothing about these renders corroborates that and neither does it support speculation that the phones would get bumped-up RAM. And although the iPhone 15 design may initially look little changed, losing the notch and gaining USB-C are both big updates, and I believe the subtle curves over the edges will make for a much friendlier in-hand feel.

We’ll keep tabs as the story around these phones develop, so keep coming back for the latest.