Apple’s “Wonderlust” occasion is about for Sept. 12, and the corporate’s invitation might be our first “official” clue hinting on the rumored iPhone 15. We have been amassing rumors in regards to the telephone for months, however Apple typically drops an early trace about its September occasion into the invite. This does not at all times imply there are true connections between what’s mentioned and proven within the invitation and what truly emerges on the present, however the invite creates a leaping off level for discussing what we expect Apple would possibly highlight.
Inspecting Apple’s ‘Wonderlust’ invite
Let’s begin by fascinated by the title: Wonderlust. With this tweak of “wanderlust,” Apple seems to be invoking a journey theme. And it is no stretch to say telephones are important journey companions: We use them for pictures, GPS, trying up the place we need to eat — there are limitless doable options that might be developed with simply journey in thoughts.
Shifting onto the invitation’s design, we get a disintegrating graphic that reveals a blue-and-sand-colored Apple brand being blown aside by an invisible power — maybe the wind? Or maybe the items of the Apple brand are being pulled collectively by way of a magnetic attraction? Both means, an atmospheric factor could be what we may extrapolate from this design selection, and telephones by their very nature are wi-fi units that create fixed connections via the environment.
(It is also true that blue and grey have been iPhone colours up to now, and perhaps this brand’s colours present an early take a look at what a number of of the iPhone 15 fashions would possibly appear like.)
I ought to reiterate that these ideas are hypothesis, however they’re sufficient to warrant a better take a look at how Apple may enhance the iPhone 15. The next issues all tie into the themes of journey and environment, however they’re additionally areas by which Apple may show enchancment the place rival telephones have already staked out territory, or they’re realms intently associated to iOS 17 options we already discovered about at Apple’s WWDC occasion.
Much more satellite tv for pc communication
Tying into each journey and the environment, Apple may make new bulletins associated to the satellite tv for pc connectivity options first launched with the iPhone 14 line. Proper now Apple’s efforts are centered on its Emergency SOS function, which lets individuals with a transparent view of the sky use the iPhone to textual content emergency providers the place mobile service is not obtainable. The iPhone 14 line comes with two years of free emergency satellite tv for pc service.
Although Apple kicked off bringing satellite tv for pc service to telephones, it will not be alone for lengthy. Qualcomm, Samsung and different corporations have introduced plans to deliver their very own spin to satellite tv for pc connectivity, together with voicing their intention to permit for nonemergency communication over these airwaves.
On this yr’s stage, Apple may announce new enhancements to its satellite tv for pc connectivity options, maybe permitting for an iMessage service whereas within the wilderness, or restricted voice calls.
Quicker wi-fi charging and extra MagSafe
Apple’s MagSafe made a splash when it debuted alongside the iPhone 12 in 2020, very actually snapping separate objects collectively for enhanced wi-fi charging and stackable equipment. The particle impact in our Apple occasion invitation — whether or not it means the emblem is being pulled collectively or aside — may point out MagSafe in addition to the wi-fi charging function that MagSafe helps.
And if that’s the case, it is about time. Apple has room to enhance the iPhone’s wi-fi charging speeds, particularly in comparison with these of rival flagship Android telephones. At present, Apple helps 7.5-watt wi-fi charging speeds with an everyday Qi wi-fi charger, and 15W speeds with an formally licensed MagSafe charger. In the meantime, Google’s Pixel 7 can wirelessly cost at 12W on a Qi charger with an prolonged energy profile, and that bumps as much as 20W when utilizing Google’s Pixel Stand that has a built-in fan. Earlier OnePlus telephones can get 15W charging from Qi wi-fi chargers with an prolonged energy profile, and a ludicrously quick 50W on their official stand, because of the usage of a break up battery. All this leaves lots of room for progress for Apple, and matching Google’s speeds, at the very least, could be a strong step in making wi-fi charging extra helpful on the iPhone.
A brand new Qi2 wi-fi charging normal is within the works although, and Apple is a member of the Wi-fi Energy Consortium that is growing it. Each time that normal is prepared, which may result in sooner wi-fi charging speeds on future iPhone fashions.
No matter charging, there’s probably much more room to develop MagSafe right into a modular accent platform. Perhaps Apple may create a MagSafe dock that immediately begins an AirPlay session with a TV. Or create an attachable projector like Motorola as soon as tried with the Moto Z telephone line. How a couple of moveable HomePod speaker that snaps proper onto your telephone, much like a lot of magnetic audio system that exist already on Amazon? There’s nonetheless lots of untapped potential for MagSafe.
NameDrop and new methods to share in individual
One other atmospheric concept begins with an iOS 17 function we already know: NameDrop. This function enables you to rapidly share contact data with somebody in individual by bringing two iPhones collectively. However Apple may accomplish that way more with native wi-fi sharing.
As an illustration, Apple already permits for sharing iPhone audio between two totally different units of AirPods. What if this wi-fi sharing expanded SharePlay, permitting for concurrently taking part in music and video throughout a number of telephones directly — with out being on a FaceTime name.
This might be immediately helpful if you happen to needed to share a YouTube video with a buddy with out having at hand over your telephone. Or if you happen to needed to create a fast surround-sound system by syncing 5 iPhones collectively to play music throughout a cocktail party, since your telephones are most likely sitting on the desk anyway.
These all might be pure extensions of different options we already know are on the way in which. As an illustration, FaceTime on Apple TV will use its personal wi-fi magic to attach an iPhone’s digital camera and microphone for video calls. Why not assume even larger and let a number of iPhones share much more media, simply by being proper subsequent to one another?
Utilizing your digital camera to scan much more locations
Returning to journey, Apple’s Visible Look Up is already able to figuring out landmarks, vegetation and pets, however it’s essential transfer over to the Photographs app to make the most of these options. Maybe the subsequent iPhone and iOS 17 may pace this, and allow you to begin scanning this stuff straight from the digital camera app.
This may deliver Visible Look Up into higher parity with Google Lens, which rapidly identifies objects for you with out the necessity to save them into your digital camera roll. Perhaps you might scan a restaurant whilst you had been standing in entrance of it, after which get its menu. Or scan a buddy’s shirt, after which discover it on sale to get it your self. These eventualities are already doable with Google Lens, making this a really noticeable means for Apple to deliver extra options into its digital camera app.
Increasing security options
If you journey in a car, Apple’s new Crash Detection options may present a necessary lifeline within the occasion of an accident. Because it stands, the function can robotically contact emergency providers ought to a supported iPhone or Apple Watch detect such an occasion. However maybe Apple may increase this additional by benefiting from different sensors inside the iPhone or a paired up Apple Watch to activate a coronary heart charge sensor on the identical time to supply a fast well being verify to the wearer.
Or perhaps Apple may broaden its Crash Detection function so it shares your bodily location along with your emergency contacts. This might be much like Apple’s new Examine-In function, which is able to proactively ship alerts when buddies or household make it residence safely. And perhaps it is already worthwhile to broaden this function for emergency conditions, like being unexpectedly taken to the hospital.
Different iPhone 15 rumors we’re watching
Although we haven’t any strong proof that the above concepts are coming to the iPhone 15, these are all areas the place Apple may enhance.
The iPhone 15 rumor mill is a busy one although, and even with out an invite to pore over, we’re monitoring the opportunity of a USB-C port arriving to interchange Lightning, seeing if the brand new Dynamic Island will broaden to each iPhone mannequin after its debut on the iPhone 14 Professional, and questioning whether or not the iPhone 15 Professional will transfer towards solid-state quantity and energy buttons.
No matter’s finally on the way in which to Apple’s iPhone 15, we’ll probably discover out for positive when Apple’s occasion begins on Sept. 12.