• re-orders for the iPhone 15 series have started locally from the iStore.
• The iPhone 15 can be pre-purchased starting from R21 999 and the upgraded iPhone 15 Plus is available from R24 999.
• Apple’s ultimate “premium” offerings, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are now available starting from R27 699 and R33 499 respectively.

The iPhone 15 lineup has officially become available to pre-order in South Africa, with the local iStore listing prices for models across the brand-new smartphone series from Apple. The devices were launched during an Apple event held earlier this month.

Pre-orders began Friday 22nd September 2023, and can be accessed right now on the local iStore. Buyers can select from the iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max devices. Each represents an upgrade to hardware and capabilities but also an increase in price. Locally, the devices are set to ship from 29th September 2023.

iStore is also offering pre-orders for the devices bundled with Vodacom, MTN and Telkom contract upgrades.

Here are the local prices for the iPhone 15 series

The base iPhone 15 is available now at the starting pre-order price from R21 999 for the 128GB version, and will go up to R24 999 for the 256GB version, and R30 788 for the largest storage configuration of 512GB.

This model features a swathe of improvements over the iPhone 14 and brand-new features, like the Dynamic Island. Apple says that the device is able to perform faster and use less energy thanks to its 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU. This version also comes standard with a 48MP main camera.

Pre-orders for the upgraded iPhone 15 Plus start at R24 999 (128GB), R27 699 (256GB) and finally R33 499 (512GB). The iPhone 15 Plus has a larger screen size than the base 15 at 6.7″ so if you’re looking for more display real estate, consider the Plus.

Both the base iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are available in the Black, Blue, Green, Pink and Yellow colourways. Both versions and indeed the entire iPhone 15 series now use USB Type-C cables for charging.

The two models in the series are considered “premium” and have the lofty claim from Tim Cook of being Apple’s most advanced, best iPhones ever made are the iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Unlike the base 15 and 15 Plus, the Pro devices feature a titanium casing which is stronger and lighter than the regular shell.

But the main difference maker is the hardware with the Pro models leveraging Apple’s brand new, homemade A17 Pro processor which turns the smartphone into a performance workhorse.

“The new CPU is up to 10 percent faster with microarchitectural and design improvements, and the Neural Engine is now up to 2x faster, powering features like autocorrect and Personal Voice in iOS 17. The pro-class GPU is up to 20 percent faster and unlocks entirely new experiences, featuring a new 6-core design that increases peak performance and energy efficiency,” noted Apple of its performance during the launch of the series.

Pre-orders in South Africa for the iPhone 15 Pro begin at the price 27 699 for the 128GB version, R30 799 for the 256GB version, R36 499 for the 512GB version and finally an eye-watering R41 999 for the 1TB storage configuration.

On top of the improvements already available with the Pro, the Pro Max represents the ultimate Apple smartphone experience. According to iStore, it features “the most powerful iPhone camera system ever.” Both versions of the Pro will also come with capabilities to play the latest console games like Resident Evil Village, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage thanks to their highly advanced processors.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at the price of R33 499 for the 256GB configuration, R38 999 for 512GB, and R44 999 for the 1TB option.

New trade-in offers from iStore South Africa

iStore South Africa says that customers who trade in older phones before getting the iPhone 15 can pay less for the device. The retailer is offering as much as R15 000 for trade-ins when upgrading, but this amount is highly conditional and depends on what state of iPhone you are trading for the latest devices.

“To further support their customers with a smarter, more affordable way to own the latest iPhone – for a limited time only – iStore will add an additional R3 500 saving when customers choose to buy outright and trade in any iPhone 13 series, and an additional R2 000 saving when trading in any iPhone 12 series phone,” the retailer explains in a press release sent to Hypertext.

Interested users can go here to find out more about the iStore’s trade-in policy, and evaluate how much money you can receive for your old device.

The full trade-in price breakdown can be found below: