Technologies

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

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.

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

Get This Next-Level Alienware Gaming Desktop for a Door-Busting $400 Off

This powerful Dell desktop will totally overhaul your PC gaming, and it’s now available for just $1,750.

Right now, Dell is offering the Alienware Aurora gaming desktop for just $1,750. It usually costs $2,150, so this deal saves you $400. That’s more than the $1,250 low we saw briefly, but it’s still a solid price. Dell’s Alienware line is one of our favorites. Though there are multiple models to choose from, the Aurora is full of features gamers are sure to appreciate.

Dell doesn’t have a strict deadline for this discount, but we suggest acting fast.

This Alienware Aurora desktop is black, has a transparent cover and has chic lights. It also has air cooling, a mouse and a matching keyboard.

Dell offers the option to add a few extras to your purchase, but its base configuration includes 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD and Windows 11 Home. The desktop is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 card for speedy performance and multitasking. An Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 Ti graphics card powers all your visuals for a clear view of the action.

The Aurora features AI-boosted gameplay for smooth frame rates and lessened lag. This desktop also supports Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5Gbps Ethernet for fewer signal interruptions.

Why this deal matters

Gaming can quickly get expensive. However, this $400 discount on the Alienware Aurora desktop offers the chance to upgrade for just $1,750. Dell doesn’t exactly mention a deadline for this deal, so we suggest acting fast.

Technologies

These Bass-Boosting Skullcandy Headphones Are Over $100 Off Today at Best Buy

That drops the price down to just $130, making this a one-day deal you won’t want to miss.

Right now, you can pick up these Skullcandy Crusher ANC headphones for just $130 at Best Buy. That saves you $110 compared to the usual price, and is just $15 more than the all-time lowest price we’ve seen for this over-ear pair. However, this one-day deal expires at 9:59 p.m. PT (12:49 a.m. ET) tonight, so be sure to get your order in soon.

If you’re someone who cranks the volume up during workouts, movie marathons or late-night gaming sessions, these headphones lean right into that energy. The Crusher ANC 2 is built for bass lovers who want their playlists and action scenes to hit hard without maxing out the volume.

The standout feature is Skullcandy’s patented Crusher Bass technology which combines dual bass drivers with 40mm audio drivers. You also get adjustable four-mic active noise canceling, letting you adjust how much of the outside world you want blocked out.

Battery life is another win here, with up to 60 hours of listening with ANC off, plus Rapid Charge that gives you up to four hours from a 10-minute charge. Multi-point pairing makes switching devices easy, and the Skull-IQ app lets you fine-tune EQ and sound profiles.

If this isn’t the right fit, take a look at our full roundup on the best headphones we’ve tested in 2026.

HEADPHONE DEALS OF THE WEEK

Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones (Black):

$248 (save $152)
Beats Studio Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black):

$170 (save $181)
Sony WH-1000XM6 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones:

$398 (save $62)
Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Twilight Blue):

$179 (save $170)
Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless ANC Over-Ear Headphones (Black):

$200 (save $250)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

Between the physical bass sliders, long battery life, smart noise canceling and multipoint support, you’re getting a feature-packed pair of headphones for well under their usual price. Add clear AI-powered mic quality and this limited-time deal offers a lot of tech for the money.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for March 11 #738

Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for March 11, No. 738.

Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Strands puzzle could be tough. If you watch a lot of Game of Thrones-type shows, or play D&D, the answers might come easily for you. Some of the answers are difficult to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.

I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.

If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far

Hint for today’s Strands puzzle

Today’s Strands theme is: Survival mode

If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Needed skills.

Clue words to unlock in-game hints

Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:

GIFT, LIFT, LITE, LITER, LIFTER, MITE, MITER, RIDE, RIDES, SIDE, SIDES

Answers for today’s Strands puzzle

These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers: