Don’t buy an iPhone right now

OPINION: Got your eye on an iPhone? Maybe your old phone is on its last legs, or you’re thinking about making the switch from Android to iOS. Well, I am telling you that you shouldn’t buy an iPhone right now, and here’s why.

September is just around the corner, bringing with it the annual IFA tech showcase in Berlin and countless gadget launches. While the summer months have seen Samsung unveil the Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Z Fold 6 and Google launch the Google Pixel 9 Pro range earlier than expected, nothing compares to the latter part of the year for huge product reveals.

Rumours are hinting a PS5 Pro reveal could be coming within the next month, while Qualcomm will likely tease the next generation of Android phones with its yearly flagship SoC release. Before all that though, Apple will hold its annual autumn event on September 9 – and it’s going to be a big deal.

Apple typically unveils the next version of its iPhone at an event like this, and all signs point to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro getting their big reveal in little over a week. After the reveal, expect the phones to go up for pre-order the same week, with a release date following a week after. That means in less than a month, the choice of which iPhone to plump for is going to look very different.

The worst time

This is why now is quite probably the worst time to buy an iPhone, whether it’s an iPhone 15 or even an older version. Just wait a couple of weeks, and you could get a newer device that’ll last longer or save money on an older model.

Apple typically moves the previous year’s iPhone – in this case, the iPhone 15 – down the range, slotting it below the new iteration. It also usually cuts the price, possibly by around £/$100-200, to make it a tempting proposition for those who either don’t need the features of the new model, or don’t want to pay full price.

If you were to buy an iPhone 15 today, there’s a very good chance it’ll be cheaper in a few weeks. And that’s not even taking into account retailers reducing the older models to clear up inventory space for the iPhone 16.

Apple Intelligence

But, the biggest reason to avoid buying the iPhone 15 for now – especially the standard models – is that Apple Intelligence is coming, and the new AI system simply won’t work on anything but the new iPhones announced this year, and the iPhone 15 Pro series.

The standard iPhone 15 doesn’t have the capability in its chipset to power the upgraded Siri and all the genAI features coming in a future version of iOS 18, however rumours have suggested that all new models in the iPhone 16 family will support it.

Other rumours for the new phones suggest the Action Button will be available across the whole range, rather than being a Pro-only feature – and there might even be another button dedicated to content capture. The smaller Pro model should inherit a better zoom camera, and both sizes of Pro will see larger screens than their predecessors. All models could have an A18 chipset of some kind (this will be what enables the AI skills) and, of course, there will be some moderate design tweaks and new colours.

So, whether you want to save a little bit of money in the long run, or get a more capable device – now is a very bad time to buy an iPhone. Wait a couple of weeks, and your decision will be a lot easier.