It’s that time of the year again. Last September 12, Apple finally unveiled the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro. And just like what happens every year, we’re left wondering if it’s time for an upgrade. With that, we’ll be discussing some of our initial impressions on the newest iPhone lineup. Here’s what we know:
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are available in five different colorways that are vibrant, yet sophisticated: blue, green, yellow, pink and a more classic and minimalist black. The more colorful models have a clean pastel look, and all are topped off with a smooth matte finish. In terms of the colorways, there’s something for everyone.
The aerospace-grade aluminum enclosure with contoured edges allows the phone to feel good on the user’s hands while the Ceramic Shield front cover continues to be a mainstay in the build. These add an excellent level of comfort and durability for those looking to purchase the base model iPhones.
The Dynamic Island is now also available on the base model iPhones. Last year, it was only the Pro models that featured the Dynamic Island, so it’s great that even the base model iPhones will now contain this feature. The display itself is now even brighter than the iPhone 14 at 1,600 nits or 2,000 nits peak outdoor brightness.
The base model iPhone’s camera is now getting an upgrade. Its main camera now features a 48MP sensor for sharper photos and videos. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus can also take next-generation portraits. While taking photos, the user can tap on the subject, and the phone will automatically capture depth information allowing them to turn it into a portrait later on.
The iPhone 15 and 15 plus are now equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, which is the same as that of the iPhone 14’s Pro models. It provides proven performance powering the Dynamic Island, computational photography and more. The CPU provides efficiency for handling intensive tasks while the GPU allows for smoother graphics for both videos and games.
And of course, probably the most significant change in the iPhone 15 lineup is the USB-C port. Apple has finally gotten rid of the lightning cable. Moving forward iPhones will now use USB-C for both charging and data transfer.
It’s important to note however, that the base model iPhones support USB 2.0 which means data transfer will only be at 480Mb/s. For context, USB 2.0 came out 23 years ago. It would’ve been great to see USB 3.0 on the base model iPhones as well. But either way, the USB-C connection does allow for a variety of external connections as well as convenience when it comes to only needing one charger for numerous devices.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are available in four different colorways: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. All colorways have a sleek and minimalist design evoking a classic feel.
The iPhone Pro models are built with a sturdy and lightweight titanium design. This premium alloy, which is the same as that used in spacecraft, has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any metal; thus making this the lightest Pro lineup yet. The titanium build along with the back glass and the Ceramic Shield upfront ensure that the Pro lineup is lightweight and one of the most durable smartphones on the market.
A new feature of the Pro lineup includes the Action button which replaces the switch for toggling between ring and silent. The new button is actually customizable in the sense that the user can choose its function in the settings.
The choices are between the default ringer and silent mode switch, opening the camera, using the flashlight, opening voice memos, toggling the magnifier or even triggering a shortcut. This means that you can map this button to do anything, including opening your favorite apps.
The Pro lineup also features the newest A17 Pro chip, which is the industry’s first 3-nanometer chip. The user can expect both a faster CPU and GPU with improved performance. The upgraded GPU offers smoother graphics especially for gaming. It was unveiled at the Apple event that these smartphones can run console titles such as Resident Evil Village, the Resident Evil 4 remake, Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage.
A while back, I wrote an article about the renaissance of handheld gaming. Never in my life could I have expected Apple to be a possible player in this space. But with the innovation brought about by the A17 chip, who knows? Perhaps Apple may have a say in this revitalized market.
A new and improved camera is a staple for every iPhone release, especially for the Pro models. The 48MP main camera allows for more flexibility with a new 24MP super-high-resolution default which offers incredible image quality at a practical size for storing and sharing. The main camera also allows users to switch between three popular focal lengths – 24mm, 28mm and 35mm. They can even choose one of these as a default.
The iPhone 15 Pro features a 3x Telephoto camera, and the 15 Pro Max provides the longest optical zoom ever on an iPhone – 5x at 120mm. It is excellent for getting close-ups, wildlife photos and capturing action from a further distance.
Similar to the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, the Pro lineup also features next generation portraits. As previously mentioned, the smartphone automatically captures depth information which allows the user to turn the regular photo into a portrait later on.
This makes the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max ideal for creatives and filmmakers. Olivia Rodrigo’s new music video for “get him back!” was released in collaboration between the artist and Apple, as the music video was shot on an iPhone 15 Pro. In my opinion, this was an excellent piece of marketing by both parties. Olivia Rodrigo was able to promote her newest single and her album while showcasing the iPhone 15 Pro’s prowess in the creative space.
And just like the base model iPhone, we now have USB-C. The main difference is that the Pro models support USB 3 which allows for faster data transfer speeds up to 10 gigabit per second. This is ideal especially given the bulky files that will be transferred, considering the quality of photos and videos the user can take on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
Final thoughts
This seems like a significant generational leap for the iPhone, especially with regard to the Pro lineup. It seems like Apple is trying to convert more users to shift to the Pro models considering the specifications.
Personally, the new iPhone 15 lineup might be worth the upgrade only if you plan on purchasing the 15 Pro or Pro Max. The base model can be considered if you are a few generations behind. But either way, the entire iPhone 15 lineup is sure to make a big splash when it officially releases on the 23rd of September.
If you want to know more about the new iPhone 15 lineup, make sure to check the links below:
iPhone 15 & 15 Plus: https://www.apple.com/sg/iphone-15/specs/
iPhone 15 Pro & Pro Max: https://www.apple.com/ph/iphone-15-pro/specs/
Photos from Apple
