The popular website 9to5mac has obtained unique illustrations for the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro, which were created using computer-aided design (CAD) models and were given to 9to5mac by a trusted company that manufactures iPhone cases, and they were made by a 3D artist named Ian Zelbo. These illustrations show noticeable changes in the appearance and functions of the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple supplies Asian factories with CAD models that match the upcoming iPhone, to produce cases before its release, to ensure their availability at the time of the device's launch.
It seems that the CAD models referred to in this context are from a factory outside of China and it also seems to be the first to receive them. CAD models are usually accurate in terms of dimensions and design for the final device, as having inaccurate files would be costly for the makers of these covers.
The most prominent changes that can be noticed are the shift from the Lightning port to the USB-C port, which represents a significant change in the iPhone's charging port and most of Apple's accessories since 2012. The picture shows the new charging port.
This could be due to the pressure exerted by the European Union on Apple for a while, where companies are required to use a unified charging standard for all smartphones and devices.
This means that switching to USB-C may be limited to cables approved by Apple through the MFi program or made for the iPhone, which may restrict their future availability from manufacturers, and these cables are known for their fast data transfer and charging speeds.
Another change in the design of the iPhone 15 Pro is the curved edges, whether glass or metal frame, where the glass curves slightly around the edges, resulting in a smoother transition to the frame. The frame itself is more curved than before, resembling the design of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air with the M2 processor. This makes holding the iPhone more comfortable and less prone to accidental touches.
As the bump of the rear camera becomes thicker than before, this may indicate that Apple has upgraded the camera and added larger sensors or lenses. While the camera design remains similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, with three lenses and a LiDAR scanner on a square hump.
Likewise, we can see some changes to the volume buttons and mute switch, where the volume buttons appear to be touch-responsive buttons like the home button in the iPhone 7, which we have discussed in more than one previous report. As for the mute switch, it has also been redesigned, smaller and round, similar to the touch-responsive button design.
The models do not show any other specific details about the iPhone 15 Pro, but we expect it to be similar to the iPhone 14 Pro. The device's body is a few millimeters smaller with a thinner frame, so it is likely that we will see the same 6.1-inch screen in a slightly smaller body. We also note that the dynamic range is still present and appears to be the same size as before.
These are early models and may not reflect all aspects of the final design of the upcoming iPhone. But they undoubtedly give us an idea of the design and some important changes to the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro.