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What I Want From the iPhone 15: USB-C, the Dynamic Island and More

Commentary: Apple's next iPhone could be right around the corner, and I'm hoping to see some iPhone Pro features trickle down to the standard model.

Lisa Eadicicco Senior Editor
Lisa Eadicicco is a senior editor for CNET covering mobile devices. She has been writing about technology for almost a decade. Prior to joining CNET, Lisa served as a senior tech correspondent at Insider covering Apple and the broader consumer tech industry. She was also previously a tech columnist for Time Magazine and got her start as a staff writer for Laptop Mag and Tom's Guide.
Expertise Apple, Samsung, Google, smartphones, smartwatches, wearables, fitness trackers
Lisa Eadicicco
7 min read
iPhone 14 family

Apple has given us a lot of iPhone wish list items over the years, but we want more.

James Martin/CNET

Apple's next event is happening on Sept. 12, and the rumored iPhone 15 lineup is expected to be the star of the show. While the iPhone 14 was a modest step up from the iPhone 13, I have plenty of ideas for how Apple could push its marquee product even further this year. Among the biggest changes I'm hoping to see is a USB-C charging port instead of Apple's proprietary Lightning connector, a switch that would make it much easier to charge multiple gadgets with the same cable. 

Samsung frequently trickles high-end features down to cheaper phones over time, and I'd like to see Apple embrace this approach more fully, too. The Dynamic Island, for example, could become a more integral part of the iPhone experience if it arrives on Apple's more affordable devices. It's also about time that Apple's regular iPhones got a refresh rate boost.

We'll likely have to wait until Sept. 12 to know what's in store for the next iPhone. But we did get a preview of new features coming to existing iPhone models at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on June 5, where the company announced its forthcoming iOS 17 update.

Here's what I'm hoping to see from the iPhone 15.

USB-C charging

The iPhone 13, looking at its Lightning charging port

The iPhone still needs a Lightning cable to charge, but that may not be the case for long.

Sarah Tew/CNET

The Lightning connector has been around for 10 years, and it's time for a change. With so many Apple products making the switch to USB-C, there's never been a bigger need for one charger that powers all devices. Apple currently has four different types of chargers on the market: Lightning (for iPhones, the 2021 iPad, AirPods and a few other accessories), USB-C (for most new iPads and MacBooks), MagSafe (the wireless magnetic charger for iPhones) and MagSafe 3 (the magnetic charger for the 2022 MacBook Air, 14-inch MacBook Pro and 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro). 

Making new iPhones compatible with USB-C instead of Lightning means you could use the same cable to charge your new phone, the Mac and new iPads. There's a good chance most of your other electronics use USB-C too.

The good news is that a USB-C iPhone may not be very far away. Greg Joswiak, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, confirmed that the company would comply with the European Union's mandate that all phones sold in the region would need to have a USB-C charging port. He made the comments during an interview at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference. Apple has also previously tested USB-C iPhones, according to Bloomberg

However, Apple has not revealed any specifics about its plans. We don't know if Apple will begin making the switch to USB-C with the iPhone 15 or if it will wait until the following year, since the new rules require USB-C by the end of 2024. Apple also has not said whether USB-C will be coming to all iPhones or just European models, although analysts expect Apple to make a complete shift to USB-C.

Higher refresh rates on the regular iPhone 15

An iPhone 14 with a rainbow onscreen background against a blue backdrop

The iPhone 14 Pro (pictured) has ProMotion, but the regular iPhone 14 doesn't. 

James Martin/CNET

Starting with the iPhone 13 Pro, Apple added higher refresh rates to the displays on its premium smartphones. The iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have a feature Apple calls ProMotion, which can boost the screen's refresh rate as high as 120Hz depending on what's being shown. This results in more fluid scrolling and smoother animations. 

It's a small touch, but one that makes the experience feel more pleasant -- as my colleague Patrick Holland wrote in his review of the iPhone 13 Pro. While having a high refresh rate isn't a deal breaker, it's become standard on most smartphones. Google's $599 Pixel 7 has a 90Hz refresh rate and Samsung's $800 Galaxy S23 includes a 120Hz refresh rate, for instance. Even the $450 Galaxy A54 5G has a 120Hz display, making its absence on the $799 iPhone 14 feel even more noticeable. 

However, there's a chance Apple may keep ProMotion exclusive to its high-end smartphones this year. Ross Young, a display industry analyst and CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, tweeted in September that he's not expecting to see this feature on the standard iPhone 15. 

More features that use the Dynamic Island

iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

The iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island.

James Martin/CNET

The Dynamic Island, which is available only on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, is essentially a second miniature screen. Instead of getting rid of the notch, Apple gave that space a new purpose by using it to display information from other apps. 

For example, you can see music that's currently playing, timers, and directions in Maps at the top of the screen -- eliminating the need to switch between apps. The Dynamic Island makes it easier to multitask on the iPhone 14 Pro, an area in which Apple has traditionally lagged behind Samsung and other Android phones that support split-screen apps.

Now that the Dynamic Island has proven its value, I'd like to see Apple do even more with it on the next iPhone. It would be interesting to see Apple use this space to make proactive suggestions, like apps that may be useful based on your activity, the time of day or your schedule. Part of the Dynamic Island's usefulness also depends on what app developers decide to do with it, too. There are already a handful of apps that incorporate the Dynamic Island, such as Pixel Pals, which essentially looks like a Tamagotchi for your iPhone. But I'm hoping to see more practical use cases for the Dynamic Island that make it feel like a more critical part of your phone, similar to the iPhone's home screen widgets. 

If Apple does expand the Dynamic Island's functionality in the future, there's a chance you may not need the iPhone 15 to take advantage of it. Instead, Apple could build new Dynamic Island features into future software updates.

A smaller notch on the regular iPhone 15

iPhone 14 Plus

The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (pictured) still have a notch.

James Martin/CNET

If Apple isn't going to bring the Dynamic Island to the base iPhone 15, I hope it at least makes the notch less intrusive. The notch hasn't changed all that much since its debut on the iPhone X in 2017, aside from the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Meanwhile, other smartphone makers like Samsung, Google and OnePlus have found ways to provide edge-to-edge screens on their devices without carving out a large notch for the front-facing camera. Reducing the notch's size would likely result in more screen space and a more modern look for the iPhone 15.

If Apple does move in this direction, we might have to wait until the iPhone 16 to see it. Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities known for his Apple predictions, estimates under-display Face ID and front-facing camera sensors will be coming in 2024. 

That said, there are good reasons why the iPhone still has a larger notch than many of its competitors. It mostly comes down to Face ID, which is more sophisticated than the facial recognition systems found on other phones like the Pixel 7, which Google cautions shouldn't be used for authenticating sensitive data like payment information. 

However, if Bloomberg's often-accurate Mark Gurman is to be believed, Apple will bring the Dynamic Island to all four new iPhone models in 2023. 

Reverse wireless charging

A Samsung phone with a Samsung smartwatch resting on top of it

Certain Samsung devices have Wireless PowerShare for charging other devices. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Many Android phones have reverse wireless charging, which is exactly what it sounds like. You can use the back of phones like the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7 to charge other devices, like a smartwatch or earbuds. While it's likely not a must-have for most people, I can imagine it being very useful for avid AirPods users. 

No one likes being stuck on their morning commute with a dead pair of AirPods. Having the option to get just enough juice to make it through my 30-minute train ride by placing my AirPods on the back of my phone for a few minutes could be a game changer. Yes, you'll have to sacrifice some of your phone's battery. But if you're traveling to a destination where you'll easily be able to charge your phone once you arrive -- like the office -- it might be worth that tradeoff. 

The return of Touch ID

The Touch ID sensor on the iPad Air from 2020

The iPad Air includes Touch ID in the power button.

Scott Stein/CNET

While Face ID is convenient in many situations, there are instances in which using your finger to unlock your phone is just more practical. That's why I'm hoping Touch ID makes a comeback on the iPhone. Maybe you haven't had time to set up Face ID so that it works with a mask yet, or perhaps you're just not holding your iPhone at the right angle for Face ID. 

Apple clearly sees the value in fingerprint recognition, considering the top button on the latest standard iPad and iPad Air have Touch ID. Doing the same for the iPhone 15 would add more convenience, giving users the choice to use Face ID or Touch ID depending on the situation. Most Android phones have both a fingerprint reader and some form of facial recognition, so it would be great to see iPhone users get the same options. 

It's unclear whether Apple will ever bring Touch ID back to the iPhone. While the analyst Kuo previously predicted that future iPhones would get an under-display fingerprint sensor, he changed his outlook in March 2022. With rumors from Kuo suggesting that Apple may cancel the iPhone SE it had previously planned for 2024, introducing a new iPhone with Touch ID could be more important than ever. However, based on the rumors and reports that have been circulating about the iPhone 15, it doesn't sound like Touch ID will be making a comeback just yet. 

The updates I'm hoping to see in the iPhone 15 may not seem revolutionary, but they're bound to make everyday tasks like charging and unlocking your phone a bit easier.