Apple introduced this Tuesday (09/12/2023) the iPhone 15 series, featuring new colors, some changes in design, new material for the Pro versions, and features like the Dynamic Island (that was introduced on the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro Max) for all of the models — yup, even the non-pro versions.
Also introduced was the Roadside Assistance via satellite, allowing users to connect to AAA in case of car trouble when they are off the grid. The A16 Bionic chipset was kept for the lower-tier devices, while the new A17 Pro comes with the more expensive models. Let’s get to know them a bit more.
iPhone 15 and 15 Plus
The new iPhones 15 and 15 Plus have been announced by Apple, with the standout feature being the introduction of the Dynamic Island on the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screens, respectively. In both cases, the displays have a standard 60 Hz refresh rate.
These smartphones keep the design essence of the previous generation, and they now come equipped with the Apple A16 Bionic SoC. The chipset promises performance on par with the iPhone 14 Pro series and the new phones are available with 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB of internal storage.
Another significant improvement of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus can be found in the main rear camera, which now boasts 48 MP (with OIS) promising higher-quality photos, along with an option to compress pixels for sharper images — as for the telephoto sensor, it maintains the 12 MP resolution from the previous generation, with Apple also highlighting its capability to provide 2x optical zoom. For selfies, Apple has included a 12 MP camera.
As usual, Cupertino did disclose the battery capacity of these devices, but the company promises greater battery life compared to the previous generation. Regarding accessories, Apple announced the discontinuation of leather cases (as well as for Apple Watch bands), replacing them with the FineWoven. Lastly, the pre-installed operating system is iOS 17.
Specs
- Display:
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 60 Hz refresh rate (iPhone 15 Plus)
- Soc: Apple A16 Bionic chipset
- Storage: Internal storage options of 128 GB, 256 GB, or 512 GB
- Camera (front): 12 MP front-facing camera
- Camera (back):
- 48 MP primary lens
- 12 MP telephoto lens
- Connectivity: 5G connectivity, Face ID, USB-C, IP68 rating, and satellite SOS feature
- OS: iOS 17
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max
Following the tradition (initiated in the previous generation), the Pro and Pro Max phones come with even more innovations than the standard models — One example of this is that both now feature titanium build, ensuring not only high durability but also lightweight design; Apple claims that these models are 10% lighter than the previous generation.
Both models feature a 6.1 or 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, but as a differential, they include an Always-On Display mode and a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz. The Dynamic Island incorporates the already familiar features introduced in the predecessors.
Speaking about the design, they now include an action button to replace the Mute switch — Users can choose whether to use this button to activate the silent mode, turn on the flashlight, launch the camera, or open a new app.
Apple has also confirmed that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max come with the Apple A17 Pro chipset; The amount of RAM has not been disclosed by the company, but storage starts at 128 GB (Pro) or 256 GB (Pro Max) and can go up to 1 TB. According to the company, the Pro models support fast file transfers with the new USB-C cable and offer Ray Tracing capabilities for gaming, (made possible by the Apple A17 Pro chipset).
The primary camera on both models boasts 48 MP and features quad-pixel technology (which combines four pixels into one to enhance the level of detail captured). The ultrawide sensor has 12 MP of resolution, and the telephoto lens also has 12 MP, providing 3x optical zoom on the Pro and 5x on the Pro Max; As for the front-facing camera, the sensor still remains at 12 MP for both.
Last but not least, Tim Cook’s company says that the new Pro flagships come with optimized battery life thanks to the new 3nm chipset, but precise details about the battery will only be confirmed after the devices are disassembled.
Specs
- Display:
- 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate
- 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate (iPhone 15 Pro Max)
- Soc: Apple A17 Pro
- Storage: Internal storage options of 128 GB (Pro only), 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB
- Camera (front): 12 MP front-facing camera
- Camera (back):
- 48 MP primary lens
- 12 MP ultrawide lens
- 12 MP telephoto lens (3x zoom for the Pro and 5x for the Pro Max)
- Connectivity: 5G connectivity, Face ID, USB-C, IP68 rating, and satellite SOS feature
- OS: iOS 17
Price and Availability
- iPhone 15 and 15 Plus: The available colors are Black, White, Yellow, Green, and Pink. As for pricing, the regular iPhone 15 starts at $799, with the plus starting from $899.
- iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max: The available colors are Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. Prices start at $999 for the Pro and $1199 for the Pro Max.