iPhone 15 Launch in India Could Happen Alongside US This Year

Apple typically launches new iPhones in India a week or two after the initial US release. However, that is expected to change this year, according to a report by The Economic Times. Apple is set to announce its iPhone 15 lineup next week on 12 September at its Wanderlust event at Apple Park in Cupertino. The event will see the launch of four new iPhone models alongside the latest Apple Watch Series 9, fourth-generation AirPods and possibly even the second-generation iMac with Apple's M series chipsets.

Apple has been manufacturing iPhones in India with Foxconn's help for the last couple of years. The company has taken advantage of production-linked incentive (PLI) schemes rolled out by the government. The ET report suggests that Apple will likely launch the iPhone 15 models in India alongside the US, given that they are being manufactured locally.

The iPhone 15 Pro models may arrive later, the report indicates. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo already stated that Apple is behind schedule on iPhone 15 Pro production due to the complexity of the rumoured haptic buttons, which have reportedly been scrapped in favour of more traditional buttons. The addition of a titanium frame has also complicated manufacturing for the iPhone 15 Pro models. At minimum, Kuo believes the iPhone 15 Pro Max models will hit shelves after the standard iPhone 15.

Last year in India, the iPhone 14 went on sale 10 days following the global launch. That gap could be narrower this time.

The iPhone 15 will have the Dynamic Island feature introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro models. It will also use the same camera system and processor, while packing in a larger battery. Apple is also expected to use a matte finish on the iPhone 15 back instead of the glossy finish seen since the 2018 iPhone XR.

The iPhone 15 Pro models are tipped to get larger batteries and the world's first 3nm processor from TSMC, likely called the A17 Bionic. It should be around 20% faster while being over 30% more efficient. Apple also may use a new wide-angle camera with a 1/1.14-inch sensor, an 11% increase over the iPhone 14 Pro. This should enable improved low-light capabilities and depth in photos, leading to a major upgrade in imaging.

On the Pro Max, Apple could add a periscope lens for the telephoto camera, designed by Largan who supplies similar lenses to Huawei. This could enable 6x optical zoom, doubling what is currently offered on the iPhone Pro models. Apple is expected to increase iPhone Pro prices by $100, which could mean a price hike of over ₹10,000 in India.