Gordon Kelly
Senior Contributor
I write about the largest company in tech
May 19, 2023,
9AM ET 08 points
iPhone 15 leaks reveal exciting combo upgrades and incremental changes. But now Apple fans have been warned not to buy any iPhone 15 models.
Influential leaker Unknownz21, who has been providing accurate information about the last two generations of the iPhone, warns users that:
“The entire 15 series is worth skipping – especially the base model. Not because of any flaws, it’s an upgrade So mediocre. I wish I could elaborate, but I can’t…”
Unknownz21 cited what happened to leaker analyst941 as the reason why they were unable to elaborate. Analyst941 is a relatively new but no less accurate Apple leaker caught via stinging operation.
According to Analyst941, Apple provided several employees with inaccurate but slightly different information. When analyst941 leaked the information they had received, the details led Apple to the leaker’s siblings who worked at Apple. Analyst941 claims their siblings were summarily fired and the leaker subsequently deleted their accounts.
This is just the latest in a series of crackdowns by Apple that have dramatically narrowed the number of leakers in recent years. That said, Unknownz21’s track record suggests their reviews deserve to be taken seriously.
9to5Mac, Ian Zerbo
The leaker’s disdain for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is perhaps unsurprising. According to Unknownz21’s own leaks and photos, these models will be cheaper versions of the iPhone 14 Pro, using last year’s A16 chipset and moving to a Dynamic Island hole-punch design.
Unknownz21 also leaked a new periscope lens for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, as well as Apple’s decision to do away with the ambitious solid-state volume buttons on both Pro models. USB-C will also be tightly locked down, and Apple has already received warnings from the European Union about the open standard. However, it remains to be seen what deal-breakers the leaker has blocked.
One obvious possibility is price. Apple has been strongly hinted at raising iPhone 15 prices, especially for the Pro models, but the company could use specific pricing details to identify more insiders. Either way, Unknownz21’s announcement is sure to get iPhone fans talking — especially with bigger changes expected for the iPhone 16.
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I am an experienced freelance technology journalist. Besides Forbes, I’ve written for Wired, The Next Web, TrustedReviews, The Guardian and the BBC. I started in b2b print journalism, covering tech companies during the dot-com boom, and then switched to covering consumer technology as the iPod started to take off. A career highlight for me was becoming a founding member of TrustedReviews. It started in 2003, and we’ve been told time and time again that websites can’t compete with print! Within four years, we were acquired by IPC Media (Time Warner’s publishing division) as its flagship technology product. What fascinates me is the machinations of the big tech companies. Got a pitch, tip or leak? Connect with me on my professional Facebook page. I don’t bite.
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