5 things Android fans need to know from the iPhone 15 launch

On the heels of one other iPhone announcement, it is inevitable that Apple will announce a slew of revolutionary, magical upgrades to its smartphone lineup — no less than, in its personal phrases. While a lot of the options will not match both of these buzzy advertising and marketing phrases, there are some huge modifications to the telephones this yr. In truth, not solely do a few of these updates enhance the experiences of iPhone house owners in all places, however they may reverberate into the world of Android in methods each huge and small. So, whereas the blue bubble people could be getting maxed out on pleasure, us Android customers ought to take a second to see how we would profit from Apple’s iPhone 15 announcement.

1 USB-C and Qi2

Source: Apple

The change from Apple’s dated Lightning port to USB-C has been a very long time coming. Even although the swap did not come from Apple’s core, the implementation of this new port must be welcomed by each side of the cellular OS fence. Sure, long-time iPhone customers might really feel some preliminary frustration as they’re required to purchase new cables, however as soon as this hurdle is out of the means, the advantages of this transformation can be straightforward to respect.
At first, Android customers have been thrilled with USB-C as a result of we now not had to listen to what course the old-timey microUSB cable was dealing with, making charging telephones in the darkish a cinch. But as the port rapidly matured, so did the USB-C customary, outpacing Apple’s Lightning port in each information switch and charging speeds.
Though Apple did not specify on stage the model of USB it is utilizing for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus throughout the announcement, the spec sheet, it is USB 2.0. This means the information switch speeds will stay at the similar paltry 480Mbs supported by Lightning. As for charging charges, Apple states the cellphone will cost to 50% in round half-hour with a 20W or larger charger, leaving max wattage unclear at the second. However, if you happen to go for one in every of the iPhone 15 Pro fashions, then you’ll get the deal with of up to 5Gbps with USB 3.0. This permits for even quicker charging than the customary iPhone 15 fashions, however once more, Apple is not specifying what the most wattage can be.

Source: Apple

Yes, all the finest Android telephones have been ready to take pleasure in these fantastic options that include USB-C for years now, however with the iPhone lastly getting on board with the ubiquitous port, we are able to all profit from it. In case you did not know, practically each time Apple provides a characteristic to its telephones that requires any sort of accent change, there’s instantaneous credibility to the change. Think again to when the headphone jack disappeared. Not solely did Apple introduce its personal AirPods, nevertheless it spurred extra manufacturers to supply excessive and low-quality wi-fi earbuds. The similar sort of accent growth will come from Apple becoming a member of the USB-C clan, and Android customers will profit as nicely.
Another instance is MagSafe, Apple’s beloved magnetic charging expertise that debuted on cellular with the iPhone 12. While Android customers haven’t got official compatibility but, many accent firms are providing wonderful MagSafe adapters, so telephones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 can make the most of it. And with the Qi2 customary first introduced at CES in January, the state of MagSafe is altering quick. Not solely will Android telephones have magnetic charging natively built-in, however Apple’s newest iPhones may even assist the customary. So, simply as the swap from Lightning to USB-C will lead to Android customers getting extra equipment, Qi2 assist will too.

2 Satellite communication

Source: Apple

Last yr, Apple introduced Emergency SOS through satellite tv for pc to the iPhone 14 collection in order that irrespective of the place you have been, if you happen to wanted assist, you could possibly get it. With the announcement of the iPhone 15 collection, Apple has added a brand new characteristic to the service in Roadside Assistance through Satellite, thanks to a partnership with AAA. The characteristic opens up extra methods to make the most of the expertise and lets customers ship a message to AAA from a listing of decisions in order that the assist can arrive at your precise location with the correct instruments wanted to get you going once more.
I stay in rural Kansas, and there are numerous instances when driving round my space that I’ve zero service. So, things like the Motorola Defy Satellite Link enable me to attain out for assist when wanted. However, that requires a separate piece of {hardware} stuffed in my glove field, whereas the iPhone has it in-built. We’ve already seen an uptick in element makers and repair suppliers starting to spin up so options related to what Apple gives can be utilized by Android telephones. Samsung, MediaTek, and Qualcomm all have plans to carry satellite tv for pc connectivity choices to every model’s chips, and Google is engaged on providing satellite tv for pc communication in Messages. Then there was that T-Mobile and SpaceX partnership announcement final yr, although admittedly, we have heard little or no about it since.
With Apple persevering with to enhance its personal satellite tv for pc communication options, it demonstrates the firm is actually invested in it. This will, in flip, sign to the remainder of the trade that if the firm’s rivals have not begun to create its personal options, they need to begin ASAP. Not solely is it vital to keep in characteristic parity with Apple, however to compete head on, offering related communication choices for emergency conditions is a should.

3 Action button

Source: Apple

Apple has completed away with a characteristic that has been round since the very first iPhone — no less than, on the Pro fashions, anyway. This bodily alert toggle has all the time allowed iPhone customers to rapidly put their cellphone into silent mode or swap the ringer on with out turning on the show. While an analogous characteristic has been accessible on telephones like the OnePlus 11, it has been ignored by the remainder of the Android smartphone world. So, why has Apple completed this? To make room for the new Action button.
This button is not solely new, because it first appeared on final yr’s Apple Watch Ultra. On the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the Action button will let customers lengthy press to change their cellphone’s ring state, simply as the legacy swap did. But a brief press might be personalized to launch a voice recording, particular apps, and rather more. The customization choices of the button are what most stunned me, as Apple hasn’t all the time allowed customers such freedom on their units. This is what excites me as an Android person.
Because Android is way extra open than iOS and has lengthy been an OS for individuals who need the capability to customise their telephones, the concept of bringing a bodily button to entry particular features of their cellphone might be wonderful. We’ve seen this earlier than — Samsung allowed customers to remap its Bixby button earlier than killing it fully on its previous couple of smartphone generations — however with this week’s launch, it might be due for a comeback. Think of how double clicking the energy button to launch the digital camera has turn out to be a common shortcut. Making a devoted button that might launch the flashlight, your favourite app, run a sensible house automation, and a lot extra could be a killer characteristic.
Heck, with a correct API, apps might have entry to the button, permitting it to be used for particular actions like bodily shutter buttons for the digital camera, pausing a timer, music controls, and a lot extra.

4 Titanium

Source: Apple

Smartphones have lengthy been made with aluminum for the body. For extra premium units, we normally get stainless-steel. Apple has upped the ante now with a titanium body for the iPhone 15 Pro fashions. As somebody with a metalsmithing diploma, I like this. Titanium is such a neat materials, as this can be very sturdy whereas being considerably lighter than metal. Plus, its pure shade has a extremely cool, distinctive look.
The change to titanium is not an excessively thrilling factor, because it does not supply any new use circumstances. But the materials does imply your cellphone could be much less cumbersome to maintain and carry round whereas additionally holding up to injury higher. I’d love to see Android cellphone makers take up the materials for top-tier handsets — maybe subsequent yr’s Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. There is the likelihood it might improve the value of those telephones, however I hope that is not the case, as Apple managed to hold the costs of 2023’s handsets the similar as 2022’s fashions (when, in fact, accounting for the demise of the $1,100 128GB Pro Max mannequin).

5 Voice isolation mode

Source: Apple

Lastly, one characteristic that wasn’t hardware-focused is the improved Voice Isolation mode. While this is not a brand new characteristic for iPhones, the up to date machine studying algorithm additional prioritizes your voice when on a name, and when activated, the Voice Isolation mode removes much more background noise from your facet of the dialog. Google has been placing in fairly a bit of labor with its Pixel collection telephones, like the Pixel 7 Pro, to attempt to present a greater calling expertise, particularly with options like Clear Calling. That mentioned, I’m undecided it has fairly hit the stage of what the new iPhone 15 collection can present.
I believe it is a characteristic that will be proper up (*15*) alley to implement even additional, thanks to the already closely AI-laden, customized Tensor chips, like the upcoming Tensor G3. But Google is not the solely firm that’s implementing an increasing number of machine studying options into its handsets. Even although cellphone calls will not be your major communication technique of selection, as a result of individuals are on the go a lot extra lately thanks to smartphones, the capability to be clearly heard irrespective of the place you name from is one thing that we must always count on.
Revolutionary or not, all of us profit
All in all, I assumed this was one in every of the most tame iPhone bulletins we have had in fairly some time. However, the modifications Apple made to the units, primarily the transfer to USB-C and assist for Qi2, can have an enormous impression on Android customers. Sure, there are some huge updates to the cameras for all 4 iPhone 15 fashions, particularly when it comes to the Pro variants. But in some ways, the modifications Apple did make in the pictures division have been to catch up to what we have been having fun with on Android for a couple of years now, not to leap forward of the competitors.
I look ahead to seeing the impression of the updates Apple introduced this yr on the Android smartphone world as an entire. I’m additionally fairly excited for my iPhone-toting buddies to get actually enthusiastic about USB-C — after they end complaining about getting a brand new cable, in fact.
Source: Apple Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro is constructed out of titanium for the first time, delivering the lightest Pro mannequin but. Combined with a robust SoC able to console video games and a brand new digital camera system, the firm’s newest iPhone is fairly spectacular — if you happen to can stay with iOS, in fact.
iPhone 15 Pro Max The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the newest and biggest from Apple, with a slick new SoC that may deal with console video games and a brand new telephoto digital camera that lastly makes use of periscope expertise. But is that sufficient to go head to head with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, a monster of a smartphone with each {hardware} spec you could possibly think about?
Source: LiveMint leak iPhone 15 The iPhone 15 is the latest addition to the Apple smartphone lineup. It’s set to launch in (*5*) 2023 and options software program and {hardware} enhancements that place it squarely in rivalry for the crown amongst smartphones. One main change is the USB-C charging port at the base of the system that may carry it nearer in spec to nearly each different fashionable mannequin on the market.

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