Apple has recently introduced the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, and the significant development is the inclusion of a USB-C port, marking a long-awaited shift from Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector to the widely adopted USB-C standard. Apple has also just unveiled its latest premium smartphones, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. These models are constructed from titanium, feature an Action Button, and Apple asserts that they represent the most powerful smartphones the company has ever produced.
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
While the adoption of USB-C is a positive development, those expecting a completely revamped design for the iPhone 15 may be disappointed as this year’s model maintains a strikingly similar appearance to its predecessor, the iPhone 14. The iPhone 15 retains the 6.1-inch display size seen in the previous model.
All models of the iPhone 15 will feature the Dynamic Island, which is the pill-shaped cutout initially introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. This innovative feature offers a new way to view specific notifications and interact with applications. Additionally, the iPhone 15 boasts an OLED Super Retina display that supports Dolby Vision content and delivers an impressive brightness of 1,600 nits, with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits when exposed to sunlight—double the brightness of the iPhone 14.
The iPhone 15 has also seen significant enhancements in its camera capabilities. Night mode has undergone improvements, and the smart HDR feature enables you to capture both the sky and the subject simultaneously. With new focus and depth control, you can change the focus from one person to another even after taking the photo. The need for a separate portrait mode is eliminated, as the camera now automatically detects the presence of people in the frame, allowing you to switch to portrait mode afterward. This functionality extends to pets as well. Moreover, there’s a next-generation portrait mode that utilizes 2x zoom for photos, leveraging the 48MP sensor to produce “zoomed” 2x images with exceptional optical quality.
Under the hood, the iPhone 15 is powered by the A16 chip, the same chip found in last year’s iPhone 14 Pro models. Apple is also promising “all-day battery life” thanks to a larger battery capacity. Additionally, the iPhone 15 comes equipped with a second-generation ultra-wideband chip, similar to the new Apple Watch Series 9. This upgraded chip enhances connectivity to devices at greater distances and enables precision finding in Find My, making it easier to locate friends who have the latest iPhone 15 models.
The iPhone 15 is priced starting at $799 for a 128GB model and the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899 for a 128GB version.
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
This year’s iPhone 15 Pro boasts a 6.1-inch screen, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 6.7-inch display, mirroring the sizes of the new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Both models are powered by the A17 Pro chip, which Apple claims offers the fastest performance in any smartphone and can even rival some high-end PCs. With a redesigned GPU, Apple aims to elevate the gaming experience on these devices, although it’s worth noting that Apple’s emphasis on high-end gaming hasn’t always delivered on its promises.
Both phones come equipped with a USB-C port instead of the traditional Lightning port. In the case of the Pro model, this port is not just for charging; Apple touts the iPhone 15 Pro as the first phone capable of achieving 10Gbps transfer speeds, greatly simplifying the process of transferring photos, videos, or large files from the phone.
These phones feature a robust enclosure that Apple claims to be among the most durable in the smartphone industry. While the design may not appear drastically different, it represents a significant evolution. The iPhone 15 Pro is available in white, black, blue, and “natural” color options, and Apple takes pride in the intricate engineering behind this design.
Introducing the Action Button, which replaces the ringer switch on the left side of the iPhone Pro, it’s a customizable button that can be used to trigger shortcuts, activate accessibility features, open the camera, turn on the flashlight, and more. While it defaults to being a ringer switch, it’s designed to offer a broader range of functionality, providing users with added convenience and customization options.
Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max feature Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion support. They also embrace the always-on display and the new StandBy mode introduced in iOS 17.
Apple’s marketing chief, Greg Joswiak, confidently claimed that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max boast the company’s best cameras to date, equivalent to having seven distinct lenses. This includes an upgraded 48-megapixel camera designed to excel in low-light conditions, minimize lens flare, and leverage Apple’s AI systems for capturing full-resolution HEIF photos. Users can now select their default lens and shoot at multiple focal lengths (24mm, 28mm, and 35mm) within the main camera. The optical zoom capabilities have been expanded to offer up to 5x optical zoom, the most Apple has ever provided, reaching a focal length of 120mm. While these camera specs may not outshine the latest from Samsung, they represent a substantial upgrade for iPhone users.
In terms of video, users can shoot 4K60 ProRes 4K video on these devices, with the option to shoot directly to an external drive via the USB-C port, provided you have the appropriate cable. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro can capture “spatial videos,” which are three-dimensional content akin to what we’ve seen with the Vision Pro. It’s evident that Apple envisions the iPhone 15 Pro as not only a consumer device but also a genuine professional tool for creators and filmmakers worldwide. Joswiak described it as “our best and most Pro iPhone ever.”
Apple followed roughly the same rubric it has for the last few iPhone launches: the base models get the stuff from last year’s Pro — like the Dynamic Island and some of the camera tech, even the A16 Bionic chip — and the Pros are the guinea pigs for Apple’s big new ideas.
iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB, while Pro Max starts at $1199 for 256GB. iPhone preorder starts Friday September 15, available September 22.
