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iPhone 15 Design Rumors: How Apple’s New Phones May Change

The iPhone 15 lineup could differ from the iPhone 14 in a few big ways.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro may get a small but important makeover, if the rumors turn out to be true. Apple’s next iPhones, which will likely debut at the company’s Sept. 12 event, are expected to include a handful of design changes that could impact everything from the charging port to the display. 

But overall, we’re largely expecting a more fine-tuned version of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro’s design. Reports suggest there could be changes to materials, colors, buttons and the display, but the iPhone 15 likely won’t be as dramatic of a shift as Apple has made in years past. In 2020, for example, Apple updated the iPhone 12’s overall shape with flat edges, making it feel significantly different from the iPhone 11. And then, of course, there was the debut of the iPhone X in 2017, which was the first model to include a nearly borderless screen and Face ID.

Based on rumors, reports, leaks and Apple’s previous iPhone launches, here’s what we’re expecting the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus to look like. 

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus: The Dynamic Island and USB-C

iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

Assuming Apple keeps the same lineup as last year, we can expect two versions of the standard iPhone: the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. The smaller version would have a 6.1-inch screen like the iPhone 14, while the Plus model would have a 6.7-inch display like the iPhone 14 Plus.

While the screen sizes are expected to remain the same, Apple might make a major upgrade to the display. Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus may inherit the Dynamic Island from the Pro models, according to a tweet from analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, and a Bloomberg report. The Dynamic Island, which Apple introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, replaces the notch on those phones. It’s like a miniature secondary screen that can show tidbits of information such as timers, sports scores and your Uber’s ETA. 

Another aesthetic change rumored to be coming to the iPhone 15 is a USB-C port to replace the Lightning connector. Apple executives said when speaking at the Wall Street Journal Tech Live conference last year that the company plans to comply with European rules mandating USB-C charging on new phones. However, it’s unclear whether Apple would make the switch to USB-C this year or next, and whether it would do so globally or just where the EU’s rules would take effect.

As for color options, the regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are expected to come in black, pink, yellow, blue and green. That’s according to TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for his credible Apple product predictions. That sounds similar to the current iPhone 14 lineup, which is available in yellow, purple, blue, red, starlight (white) and midnight (black).

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: An Action button and thinner bezels

An iPhone 14 Pro against a blue background.

In typical Apple fashion, more dramatic changes are likely to be reserved for its high-end line of Pro models. One of the most significant design updates possibly coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is an Action button to replace the mute switch, according to Bloomberg and MacRumors. This would be similar to the Apple Watch Ultra’s button of the same name, and it may allow you to trigger certain features like activating the flashlight, translate app or camera. 

The iPhone 15 Pro is also expected to get a new titanium casing, according to the same Bloomberg piece, which could make it feel more premium but also potentially raise its price. The report has a few other nuggets about what to expect from the iPhone 15 Pro’s design, including a display with thinner bezels and an internal layout that’s easier to repair like the iPhone 14’s. 

To reduce the iPhone 15 Pro’s borders, Apple may use a technology called low-injection pressure over-molding, the report says. 

Apple Watch Ultra

A shift to slimmer borders framing the screen would mark the latest sign that Apple intends to build on the vision it introduced with the iPhone X in 2017. «This phone really sets us up well for the next 10 years,» Dan Riccio, an Apple veteran who previously served as the company’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, told me in a piece for Time referring to the iPhone X back then.

Otherwise, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to come in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes just like the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. Like the standard iPhone 15, it’s expected to have USB-C charging instead of Lightning. Color options could include gray, white, black and blue, according to the analyst Kuo, compared to the iPhone 14 Pro’s black, silver, gold and purple choices.  

We’ll have to wait until Apple announces its next iPhones to know for sure. But if the reports turn out to be true, it sounds like the iPhone 15 series could be a bigger leap forward than last year’s iPhone 14. 

Technologies

Fubo Loses NBCUniversal Channels, Putting Your NBA Games in Jeopardy

Sound the carriage dispute Klaxon: Some network programming has disappeared from the streaming service after content negotiations fell through.

If you’ve noticed your favorite show has recently gone missing from Fubo, it’s probably because an entire block of programming just disappeared from the site’s channel lineup.

The live TV streaming service is engaged in a carriage dispute with NBCUniversal, a media company whose subsidiaries include NBC News, Universal Studios, Peacock, Telemundo and Illumination, among other brands.

On Nov. 21, NBCUniversal pulled all of its networks from Fubo. This is an especially big deal for sports watchers on the streaming service, since the Fubo Sports subscription — which began earlier this year — depends on the licensing agreement with NBCUniversal. However, viewers can still access sports content on networks like ESPN, CBS and ABC.

Fubo released a statement on Tuesday, alleging the media giant is engaging in «discriminatory tactics» that are harming the streamer’s subscribers.

«NBCU is discriminating against Fubo and our subscribers,» the statement says. «They allowed YouTube TV and Amazon Prime to integrate Peacock directly into their channel store, but refused to give Fubo the same rights.»


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Fubo says NBCUniversal is trying to force a multiyear deal for certain channel packages under the media giant’s new spin-off media company, Versant, and that it’s trying to upcharge on the Fubo Sports subscription by adding «expensive, non-sports channels» into the agreement, increasing the cost.

According to NBCUniversal’s website, the Versant brands include CNBC, E!, MS Now, SyFy and USA, among other channels.

NBCUniversal did not respond to a request for comment.

Fubo says that it’s willing to move forward without NBCUniversal content if an agreement cannot be reached.

«Fubo is committed to bringing its subscribers a premium, competitively-priced live TV streaming experience with the content they love,» its statement concludes. «That includes multiple content options, including a sports-focused service, that can be accessed directly from the Fubo app.»

Fubo recently became an affiliate of The Walt Disney Company, following its merger with Hulu’s live TV platform in October. It’s unclear whether this merger affected content agreement negotiations with NBCUniversal. Fubo did not respond to a request for comment on this.

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Technologies

Spotify Will Reportedly Get More Expensive in the US Next Year. Here’s What to Expect

The music streaming service will reportedly raise prices again after subscription rate hikes in other regions.

After announcing it is raising prices in regions including Europe, South Asia and Latin America, Spotify is reportedly about to increase prices again in the US.

The US is included in the latest Spotify price hike on its Premium services starting in early 2026, according to the Financial Times, which cited three sources familiar with the streaming music company’s dealings. For now, the least expensive Premium plans in the US start at $12, but the price hike would likely put it in line with the other regions where the Premium plan costs about $14 a month.


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Spotify also offers a Premium Family plan that covers six people in the same household for $20 and plans for students ($6 a month bundled with Hulu) and couples ($17 a month). Spotify also offers a Basic plan that does not include access to audiobooks for $11 a month. A representative for Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A steady increase

If the report is accurate, this would be the third price increase on Premium plans in the US since 2023. Before those hikes, Premium plans were $10, but Spotify raised its minimum price by $1 in 2023 then again in 2024.

Just this week, Spotify added the ability to seamlessly import playlists from other music services including Apple Music and Tidal.

Spotify has faced some controversy this year, including some music acts abandoning the platform and some customers canceling subscriptions over advertising for Homeland Security’s ICE program. CNET has a guide for canceling your Spotify subscription.

The company is the market leader among music streaming apps with about 32 percent market share as of the end of 2024.

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Technologies

Some Rad Power Bike E-Bike Batteries Can Catch Fire, Consumer Protection Agency Warns

The company declined to offer full replacements or refunds, citing financial constraints.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning that some lithium‑ion batteries used in certain e‑bikes made by Rad Power Bikes pose a serious fire hazard that could lead to injury or even death. The agency says the batteries, identified by model numbers RP‑1304 and HL‑RP‑S1304, can unexpectedly ignite or explode, especially if the battery or its harness has been exposed to water or debris.

The recall has been marked as a «public health and safety finding» because Rad Power Bikes has declined to offer full replacements or refunds for all consumers, citing financial constraints. 

CPSC reports 31 incidents of fire involving these batteries, including 12 cases where property damage totaled approximately $734,500. Some of these fires occurred even when the battery was not in use or charging, but was in storage. 


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The batteries were sold as either original or replacement units for several Rad Power Bikes e-bike models and were available through RadPowerBikes.com, Best Buy and independent bike shops nationwide. 

«Rad informed the agency that its demand to replace all batteries, regardless of condition, would immediately put Rad out of business, which would be of no benefit to our riders,» the company said in a statement issued with the CPSC warning. «Rad is disappointed that it could not reach a resolution that best serves our riders and the industry at large. Rad reminds its customers to inspect batteries before use or charging and immediately stop using batteries that show signs of damage, water ingress, or corrosion, and to contact Rad so we can support our riders.»

The CPSC’s statement does not apply to all Rad batteries, and does not apply to its Safe Shield or semi-integrated batteries.

Consumers who have one of the affected batteries are urged to stop using it immediately and dispose of it properly via a household hazardous‑waste collection center. Do not place the batteries in standard curb-side recycling or trash bins, and refrain from reselling them.

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