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A set of 3D printed mock-ups of the iPhone 15 family seemingly shows that Apple’s next batch of flagships won’t fit in cases intended for the iPhone 14 range.
Leaks about Apple’s upcoming products often result in schematics being released that allegedly detail the size and shape of incoming models. Such schemes can be used as the basis for a 3D model that can be printed, which in one case allows for some intergenerational iPhone equations.
In a movie Posted by Macotakaraa set of 3D printed dummies for the iPhone 15 was produced, featuring some of the expected details in the 2023 releases. The iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max mockups all feature camera bumps and expected camera lens positions, along with other details.
The units all get the Dynamic Island treatment and are dressed with a USB-C port in the base rather than a Lightning port. The models also follow rumors of smaller bezels and curved edges, which could affect the dimensions of the devices.
To compare with the iPhone 14 footprints of models, cases for the current generation models were used with the plastic printed objects. For the iPhone 15, a 1mm extension deforms the case of the iPhone 14, making it unusable.
The mock-up iPhone 15 Plus apparently fit into the case for the iPhone 14 Plus without any problems. While the Pro and Pro Max models are 1mm narrower and shorter, allowing them to slide comfortably into their respective cases, the changes to the volume controls on the models means they don’t fit properly.
Printing mockups of schedules can give a good idea of what the final release items might look like, especially when compared to existing products. However, it’s quite possible that the final products Apple releases could have different dimensions than the current mock-up roster months later.
Macotakara is generally correct when it comes to rumours, but sourcing 3D-printed models from Alibaba may not be the most accurate way to determine what future releases will actually feel like. The website has done this before with the iPhone 14, with those models that seemed quite accurate at the time.