Is it possible for the new Apple iPhone 15 to produce thunder without lightning?

As I write this there are still several hours before Apple unveils the latest version of its best-selling product, the iPhone.

Recently, the handset has faced pressure from both the EU and China. Smartphone sales worldwide are slowing down, including Apple’s virtual reality headset that was expected to be a future iPhone accessory, but it won’t be available for purchase until next year.

When it does it will have a whopping $3,500 (£2,780) price tag.

In the meantime, we have the opportunity to encounter the 16th iteration of a device that revolutionized the world of smartphones upon its release in 2007.

Despite the absence of any official information from Apple, the phrase “iPhone 15” continues to generate significant curiosity, as evidenced by the nearly five billion Google search results it has garnered.

If you delve into the speculation and “leaks” circulating, you will find that the iPhone 15 models are expected to be slightly lighter compared to their previous versions. Additionally, they are anticipated to feature an upgraded chip, enhanced battery life, improved camera, and a titanium chassis.

You might sense that I could have composed something quite similar at this same time last year, or even the year prior. I most likely did.

Apple handset generations, like most devices, tend to feature incremental improvements most of the time. It’s one of the issues blamed for slowing sales worldwide. People are holding on to their devices longer – not only because they are expensive both financially and environmentally – but also because there’s no longer the same burning justification to treat yourself to an upgrade.

Ben Wood, an analyst at CCS Insight and a smartphone expert, mentioned that Apple likely recognizes that they have reached a stage where the number of iPhones in circulation is so significant that sustaining those levels is an extraordinary accomplishment.

He agrees that while we probably won’t see a radically different iPhone on stage at Apple’s annual September event in the US this evening, what we will see is the theatre of a wealthy company well-versed in performing for its fan club.

However, there is a particular change in the physical aspect that you may not have witnessed previously, especially if you are located in Europe. It is highly likely that the iPhone 15 will feature a USB-C charging port.

At present, iPhones utilize a unique lightning cable, whereas the majority of other devices, including those manufactured by Apple, typically employ USB-C. The key distinction lies in their physical shapes. Therefore, if you possess both an iPhone and a Kindle, the charger for your iPhone will not fit into the port of your Kindle, and vice versa.

Apple has long insisted that diversifying products always leads to greater innovation. It has also pushed wireless charging as an alternative for several years – all handsets since the iPhone 8 have been compatible.

However, the European Union has reached a point where they have decided that all portable devices must be able to work with a standardized charger by December 2024. The other companies in the consumer technology industry are unlikely to switch to Apple’s lightning connector even if Apple were to permit it.

However, you may have a valid reason to keep that cable and store it in your designated cable drawer instead of getting rid of it. According to Ben Wood, there is a growing demand for used iPhones, particularly in Africa.

“He mentioned that iPhones are now accessible to individuals who were unable to afford them before, which ultimately leads them to become part of the Apple ecosystem.”

The EU isn’t the only territory laying down the law. Last week China reportedly banned the iPhone from state-run buildings (as you can imagine, there are rather a lot of those) on security grounds.

This has less to do with the phone itself and more to do with the ongoing tech tussle between China and the US – but it caused Apple’s share price to wobble. The majority of people in China use Android devices, but the iPhone is the best-selling premium (by which I mean top-dollar) handset.

It’s additionally awkward for Apple because it still makes products there. It has been trying to move away – the iPhone 14 is assembled in India, for example – but it still needs Chinese-based companies and factories.

Apple is still reliant on China. However, the extent to which the rest of us require or desire the new iPhone is yet to be determined. We are on the verge of discovering this.

Follow Zoe Kleinman on X (Twitter) @zsk