Complete guide to buying the iPhone 15 in 2023

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iPhone 15 Buyer's Guide

Looking to get the newest iPhone 15? Read all about the features and release dates by MoneyHero first, you might save a pretty penny or two.

 

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Introduction

 
The September launch of Apple products is a much anticipated event every year. This is when Apple usually unveils its newest flagship iPhone. This year, it is expected that the new product lineup will include the iPhone 15 series.
 
If you're planning to get your hands on one of the new models, MoneyHero is here to help. We will guide you through all the expected upgrades, rumours and how you can get the newest model with the least.

💳  What iPhone models are available right now?

 

After the press conference on 12 September 2023 and the announcement of iPhone 15 series, these are the available iPhone models in Apple Stores.

iPhone 15 Series
iPhone 14 Series iPhone 13 Series iPhone SE
iPhone 15 iPhone 14 iPhone 13 iPhone SE
iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 13 mini
iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 13 Pro Max

 

(iPhone 15 series is available for pre-order from 15 Sep 2023, available for purchase from 22 Sep 2023)
The iPhone 15 starts at HK$6,899, while the cheapest model iPhone SE starts at HK$3,699.

 

💳  iPhone 15: What is new?

 

The iPhone 15 lineup was announced at Apple's Wonderlust event on September 12th, 2023 (PST). As with recent years, the new iPhone was announced to include the iPhone  15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max.
 
 
With the new update, now all iPhone 15 models feature the dynamic island design and will use USB-C as it's charging port. iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models all had updates on their cameras, with the Pro models getting the capability to capture 3D videos for use on Vision Pro. 

iPhone 15 Changes iPhone 15 Pro規格變化
  1. Dynamic Island design
  2. Main camera upgraded to 48MP 
  3. A16 Bionic chip
  4. Charging port changed from Lightning to a USB-C port
  5. ake portraits without having to switch to Portrait mode

iPhone 15規格
(Image credit: Apple)

  1. New titanium design makes it the lightest iPhone series ever
  2. A17 Pro chip
  3. Charging port changed from Lightning to a USB-C port
  4. Mute button replaced with a new Action button
  5. Capability to take 3D videos for Vision Pro
  6. No 128GB opton for iPhone 15 Pro Max 
  7. New Telephoto camera on iPhone 15 Pro Max
    iPhone 15 Pro規格

    (Image credit: Apple)

 

 

 

💳  iPhone 15: When is the release date?

 

The iPhone 15s would be available for pre-order from 8pm 15the September 2023 on the Apple website. General sale would be available from 22 September 2023. 

💰  iPhone 15: What is the price?

Despite rumours, there is no price increase for the iPhone 15 series.

 

  iPhone 15 iPhone 15 Plus iPhone 15 Pro iPhone 15 Pro Max
128GB HK$6,899 HK$7,699 HK$8,599 -
256GB HK$7,699 HK$8,499 HK$9,399 HK$10,199
512GB HK$9,399 HK$10,199 HK$11,099 HK$11,899
1TB - - HK$12,799 HK$13,599

 

💳  iPhone 15: Getting ready to buy


With the increase in pricing, a new iPhone this year has a pretty steep price tag. What can you do to bring down the cost of a phone? MoneyHero is here to help.

💳  Sell / Trade-in your old phone


Apple has its own trade in programme that lets you recycle any Apple device. Eligible models could be traded-in for credit that could be used towards your next purchase. The value could be used immediately or given to you in an Apple Gift Card to use later. 

For reference, this is what you could get if you traded-in an iPhone 13 today:

Model Estimated Trade-in Value 
(dependent on device condition)
iPhone 13 up to HK$3,550
iPhone 13 Mini up to HK$2,950
iPhone 13 Pro up to HK$5,000
iPhone 13 Pro Max up to HK$5,500

 

💳  Buying at the Apple Store


If you plan to make your purchase at the Apple Store, make sure you use the following tactics to help lower your over-all out of pocket costs for a new phone.

Leverage credit card welcome offers

Many credit card offers bountiful welcome offers at a spending threshold of HK$8,000 or less, which you can easily reach by buying a new iPhone. 

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

 

Although the Standard Chartered's Smart Credit Card only has a humble 0.55% cash back rebate for it's regular spending, it does boast a generous welcome offer. All new Standard Chartered Credit Card customers could get HK$1,200 cashback upon spending HK$4,000 of eligible transactions, plus there is no annual fee for this card. There are even more rewards if you apply through MoneyHero!

Exclusive Offer No cross border fee
Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

Standard Chartered Smart Credit Card

Cashback Local
5  %
info
Foreign Currency Transaction Fee
0  %
Interest on installment plans
0  %
info
Annual Fee Waiver
Perpetual Annual Fee Waiver

4 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Gift
Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth Speaker (valued at: HK$1,499)
Marshall Emberton II Bluetooth Speaker (valued at: HK$1,499)

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Voucher
HK$800 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$800 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 5 other gift options

Valid until

31 October 2024

Smart Card no foreign currency transaction fees offer
No foreign currency transaction fees during travel and No other fees
No foreign currency transaction fees during travel and No other fees

Valid until

09 January 2025

Welcome Offer
HK$800 CashBack
HK$800 CashBack

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

09 January 2025

Things to consider for this product:

check

Installment

check

No foreign txn fee

check

Local spending rebate

check

Annual Fee waiver

Citi Cash Back Card

 

The Citi Cash Back Card boasts a 1% unlimited cash back rebate for any local purchases and if you apply through us, you can get HK$1,800 Apple Gift Card upon spending HK$2,000 with your new card within 30 days of approval.

Exclusive Offer Best offer in town 2% Unlimited Cash Rebate
Citi Cash Back Card

Citi Cash Back Card

Cashback Local
2  %
info
Cashback Overseas
2  %
info
Cashback Dining
2  %
info
Annual Fee Waiver
First year

2 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
HK$1,600 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$1,600 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Nintendo Switch (OLED model) (valued at HK$2,680; random color)
Nintendo Switch (OLED model) (valued at HK$2,680; random color)

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Philips RO Water Dispenser ADD6910/90 (valued at HK$2,788)
Philips RO Water Dispenser ADD6910/90 (valued at HK$2,788)

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
LEGEND WALKER X-Class Expandable Front-opening Suitcase (valued at HK$5,600, random colour)
LEGEND WALKER X-Class Expandable Front-opening Suitcase (valued at HK$5,600, random colour)

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Offer
Sennheiser ACCENTUM true wireless earbuds (valued at HK$1,780; random color)
Sennheiser ACCENTUM true wireless earbuds (valued at HK$1,780; random color)

Valid until

31 October 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Dining rebate

check

Overseas rebate

check

Unlimited rebate

check

High-priced welcome gifts

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

 

The Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard is one of the best miles cards in Hong Kong. Co-branded with Cathay Pacific, the card offers direct rebates in Asia Miles. With its generous welcome offer, you only have to spend HK$5,000 to get 15,000 miles, which could get you round-trip tickets to Taipei! Be sure to get your iPhone off of the Apple online store as online spending get you a preferable HK$4/mile rebate rate on the card. 

Exclusive Offer
Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard

Annual Fee
HK$ 2,000
info
Airmiles Dining
$ 4  per mile
info
Airmiles Local Online Shopping
$ 6  per mile
info
Airmiles Overseas
$ 4  per mile
info

3 Offers Available

Offer Upgrade (Mutually exclusive form Exclusive Offer)
Dyson Supersonic™ HD15 Hair Dryer (Valued at HK$3,780; random colour) (redeem using Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard with HK$1,800)
Dyson Supersonic™ HD15 Hair Dryer (Valued at HK$3,780; random colour) (redeem using Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard with HK$1,800)

Valid until

31 October 2024

Offer Upgrade (Mutually exclusive form Exclusive Offer)
Insta360 Go 3S (valued at HK$3,458;random colour)(redeemed using Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard with HK$1,800)
Insta360 Go 3S (valued at HK$3,458;random colour)(redeemed using Standard Chartered Cathay Mastercard with HK$1,800)

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Gift
LEGEND WALKER 31
LEGEND WALKER 31" Luggage (valued at HK$5,600, random color)

+ 2 other gift options

Valid until

31 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Voucher
HK$900 Apple Store Gift Card
HK$900 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

31 October 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Welcome offer: Air miles

remove

Air miles conversion

remove

Hotel bookings offer

remove

Overseas rebate


✈️Buying at Apple Authorised Resellers

Apple products are almost never on sale, but Apple authroised resellers often have their own promotion programmes with credit cards. Stack these offers with current welcome offers to maximise the rewards.

 

Merchant Card Offer Period
Fortress DBS Credit Cards Up to extra HK$600 discount offer From now until October 31, 2023

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Up to 6x MoneyBack points From now until February 29, 2024

American Express Cards

Spend HK$2,000 get HK$100 off From now until December 31, 2023
Broadway BOC Credit Cards Up to Extra $1,460 RewardCash From now until October 31, 2023
Chung Yuen Prime Credit Credit Cards Spend HK$2,000 get HK$100 off From now until December 31, 2023
CCB Credit Cards From now until December 31, 2023
Wilson HSBC Credit Cards Up to HK$550 Reward Cash From now until November 30, 2023
Suning Prime Credit Credit Cards HK$100 discount From now until December 31, 2023
YOHO HSBC Credit Cards Selected merchandise up to 50% off From now until December 31, 2023
Mastercard Credit Cards HK$80 discount From now until December 31, 2023
CMK Prime Credit/CCB/Hang Seng/ HSBC Credit Cards HK$200 discount From now until December 31, 2023

 

Hang Seng MMPOWER Mastercard

 Hang Seng's MMPOWER Mastercard is currently working with CMK to bring extra +FUN Dollars rewards to Hang Seng cardholders. Upon spending HK$2,000 or more at CMK with an Hang Seng credit card, users can get an extra HK$2,000 discount. MMPOWER cardholders can also get up to 5.4% rebate if they chose the 'Electronics' category as part of their 'Everyday +FUN Dollars' spending programme. That's up to HK$500 value savings when you spend HK$8,000 for an iPhone at CMK, combined with the $700 +FUN dollars you get from the cards welcome offer, that's over HK$1200 value!

Exclusive Offer
Hang Seng MMPOWER World Mastercard®

Hang Seng MMPOWER World Mastercard®

Cashback Overseas
6  %
info
Annual Fee Waiver
Perpetual
Cashback Local Online Shopping
5  %
info
Cashback Local
5  %
info

5 Offers Available

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Gift (New to Bank Customer)
New Credit Card Customer : LEGEND WALKER X-Class Expandable Front-opening Suitcase (valued at HK$5,600, random colour)
New Credit Card Customer : LEGEND WALKER X-Class Expandable Front-opening Suitcase (valued at HK$5,600, random colour)

+ 3 other gift options

Valid until

15 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Welcome Voucher (New to Bank Customer)ive Offer
New Credit Card Customer : HK$1,200 Apple Store Gift Card
New Credit Card Customer : HK$1,200 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 2 other gift options

Valid until

15 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Gift (Existing Customer)
Existing Credit Card customer : POLAROID Go Instant Camera (valued at HK$999)
Existing Credit Card customer : POLAROID Go Instant Camera (valued at HK$999)

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

15 October 2024

MoneyHero Exclusive Voucher (Existing Customer)
Existing Credit Card customer : HK$900 Apple Store Gift Card
Existing Credit Card customer : HK$900 Apple Store Gift Card

+ 2 other gift options

Valid until

15 October 2024

Welcome Offer - Up to $700 +FUN Dollars
New Customer:$700 +FUN Dollars
New Customer:$700 +FUN Dollars

+ 1 other gift options

Valid until

31 December 2024

Things to consider for this product:

check

Local spending rebate

check

Online Spending

check

Overseas rebate

check

No Annual Fee


iPhone 15 Frequently Asked Questions

When is the new iPhone coming out?

The iPhone 15 is available for pre-order form 8pm 15 September and it will be available for purchase from 22 September 2023.

 


 

Do I need a new iPhone?

 

 

 

It depends on whether you are looking to upgrade your phone, the new iPhone is rumoured to have enhanced camera specs and Dynamic Island designs for all models. It is worth noting that if your iPhone model is the iPhone 8 or older, Apple will soon no longer support it.


 

Is there any way to buy a new iPhone for cheaper than retail price?

 

 

 

Apple do not often offer discounts on its products. One way to get a new phone for cheaper is to leverage credit card welcome offers and promotions and use the rebates to offset the cost.