The iPhone 15 is Apple’s newest top-of-the-line phone, and it’s a big step up from the iPhone 14. The new design, the improved camera system, and the faster A17 Pro chip are the most noticeable changes. The edges of the iPhone 15 are now flat, just like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. Titanium is stronger and lighter than stainless steel, which is what it is made of. The phone’s back is made of frosted glass, which makes it look and feel more expensive. A big change has also been made to the camera system.
Apple iPhone 15: Description
The iPhone 15 has a new 48MP wide-angle lens, a 12MP ultrawide-angle lens, and a 12MP telephoto lens on the back of the phone. The front-facing camera now has 12MP as well. The fastest chip ever used in an iPhone is the A17 Pro chip. It’s up to 40% faster than the iPhone 14’s A16 Bionic chip. This means that the iPhone 15 is very quick and responsive, even when running apps and games that require a lot of processing power.
It has important improvements that really should have been in the previous generation, the iPhone 14. Still, we’re glad to see the small but noticeable changes to the design, like the long-awaited USB-C port. The new plain iPhone has a new chipset, a brighter screen, and a brand-new 48MP main camera (which is the star of the show). Also, the camera app and some of its AI features have been made better, which makes the iPhone 15 a smarter camera phone than earlier models. It’s a great-looking phone with a powerful chip and a great camera system. In the rest of my review, I’ll talk more about the iPhone 15’s design, camera system, performance, and battery life.
Apple iPhone 15: Pricing and Release Date
The starting price for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is the same as for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max cost $100 more than the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The new features and improvements on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, like the new titanium build, the new Action Button, the new camera system, and the USB-C port, probably caused the price to go up.
| iPhone 15 (Storage) | Price | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| 128GB | Starts at $799 | September 16, 2023 |
| 256GB | Starts at $899 | September 16, 2023 |
| 512GB | Starts at $1,099 | September 16, 2023 |
Apple iPhone 15 Specifications Table
The iPhone 15 isn’t much better than the iPhone 14, but it does have some improvements that are nice to have, like a new A16 Bionic chip, a slightly bigger battery, and a new Cinematic mode for recording videos. The design hasn’t changed much, but the titanium frame gives the phone a more expensive feel. Overall, the iPhone 15 is a good update for people who already have an iPhone, but it isn’t a big step forward.
| Feature | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2023, September 22 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm |
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Display | 6.1-Inches |
| Display Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 pixels |
| Processor | Apple A16 Bionic chip |
| Storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Rear cameras | 48 MP wide, 12 MP ultrawide |
| Front camera | 12MP |
| Operating system | iOS 17 |
| Sensors | Face ID, Barometer, High dynamic range gyro, High-g accelerometer, Proximity sensor, Dual ambient light sensors |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink |
| Battery | 3349 mAh |
| In the Box | iPhone with iOS 17, USB-C Charge Cable (1 m), Documentation |
| Check Price |
Apple iPhone 15: Design
The iPhone 15 looks a lot like the iPhone 14, but a closer look reveals that it has a new aluminum frame with rounded edges. This makes the iPhone 15 (and the larger iPhone 15 Plus) much easier to hold. As long as you like pastels, the iPhone 15 comes in five colors this year: black, blue, green, yellow, and pink. All of them have new color-infused glass, and the camera bump rises more smoothly from thback panel. It looks good. I really liked the new pink iPhone 15 (very Barbie).
This aluminum frame also now has a USB-C port where there used to be a Lightning port. This means that if you already have a modern MacBook or iPad, you should be able to charge it with just one cable. The iPad finally got rid of Lightning on its base iPad 10.9 (2022) model last year. If you decide to go with this cheaper iPhone, you’ll notice that it doesn’t have that cool new Action Button. No, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus still have the old-fashioned switch to turn the phone on or off.
If none of your friends get the iPhone 15 Pro, you won’t feel like you’re missing out too much. Most people will have the Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max, so you will feel left out. Aside from changes to the materials and colors, the back of the phone still has a diagonal dual camera system on the Ceramic Shield. On the front, where the notch used to be, there is now a Dynamic Island on the screen, like on the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple continues to offer some of the best IP-rated protection in the business, citing numbers that are slightly higher than its IP68 certification against dust ingress and promised water resistance.
Apple iPhone 15: Display
The Apple iPhone 15 is a big improvement over the iPhone 14. It has a new look, a better camera, and runs faster. The new titanium frame is the most noticeable change. It makes the phone lighter and stronger. The screen is also a little bit bigger, at 6.1 inches for the standard model and 6.7 inches for the Pro Max. The camera system has also been upgraded in a big way. It now has a new main sensor with 48 megapixels and a new ultrawide sensor with 12 megapixels.
| Feature | iPhone 15 |
|---|---|
| Display type | Super Retina XDR OLED |
| Display size | 6.1 inches |
| Display resolution | 2556 x 1179 pixels |
| Display density | 460 pixels per inch (ppi) |
| Display aspect ratio | 19.5:9 |
| Display features | HDR, True Tone, Wide color (P3), Haptic Touch |
The telephoto lens now has a 3x optical zoom as well. Even when there isn’t much light, the new cameras take amazing photos and videos. The new A16 Bionic chip powers the iPhone 15, which is up to 40% faster than the iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip. This makes the iPhone 15 very quick and responsive, even for games and video editing, which are very demanding tasks.
The 6.1-inch screen on this iPhone doesn’t have a notch, which is a big change. Instead, the Dynamic Island, which used to only be on the Pro, is now on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, making it a feature of all iPhones in 2023. The iPhone 15 can now do everything that the Dynamic Island could already do, and iOS 17 will hopefully continue to add new features over time, even though Apple didn’t have any new features to show off at the launch event.
Apple iPhone 15: Cameras
With a new 48-megapixel main sensor, the iPhone 15’s camera is a big step up from that of the iPhone 14. This means that photos and videos can show more detail and work better in low light. The ultrawide camera now has 12 megapixels and the ability to take macro photos. The telephoto camera now has 12 megapixels and 5x optical zoom. It used to have 3x optical zoom and 3x optical zoom. I got to try out the iPhone 15 for a short time, and I was impressed by how well the camera worked.
| Camera | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Main (Wide) | 48MP Wide camera with sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS), larger aperture (f/1.5), and advanced autofocus |
| Ultrawide | 12MP Ultra Wide camera with 120° field of view |
| Front | 12MP TrueDepth camera with Cinematic mode |
Photos taken in good light were clear and full of detail, and photos taken in low light were also very good. The ultrawide camera’s macro mode was fun to use, and it let me get really close to small things. There are also some new camera features on the iPhone 15. These include Cinematic mode, which uses AI to create a shallow depth of field effect, and Portrait mode, which can now fit up to 6 people in a photo. The camera also works with ProRAW, which lets you take photos with more detail.
Apple iPhone 15: Software
iOS 17 seems like a minor update compared to the bigger features the company added in iOS 16. However, there are a few notable changes that make the iPhone 15 easier to use, which we cover in our iOS 17 feature. Contact Posters and NameDrop, real-time location sharing (called “Check In”) in Messages, automatic blurring of nudity in Messages and AirDrop, Live Voicemail (complete with transcription), Interactive Widgets, and a lot more. Even StandBy is on the iPhone 15, which is surprising because it was thought to only be on iPhones with always-on displays, like last year’s Pro models and this year’s.
| Software | Version |
|---|---|
| Operating System | iOS 17 |
| Chipset | A16 Bionic |
| Updates | Up to 5 years of software updates |
To be clear, if you don’t have Always On, you’ll have to tap the screen to see the iPhone 15’s display when it’s in Standby mode. Even though iOS 17 is new, the iPhone 15 feels just like the iPhone 14. But the new Dynamic Island makes it feel like a new place. Depending on what you do, it can show you directions, music, or the status of your Uber ride, among other things. In the end, you have a nice mix of the old and the new.
Apple iPhone 15: Performance
The new A16 Bionic chip powers the iPhone 15, which is up to 40% faster than the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14. This makes the iPhone 15 very quick and responsive, even for games and video editing, which are very demanding tasks. Since I’ve been using the iPhone 15 for a few days, I’m very happy with how it works. Everything I’ve thrown at it has been easily handled, and it’s never slowed down or lagged. The A16 Bionic chip also makes the iPhone 15 a great choice for augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) apps.
I’ve tried a few augmented reality (AR) games and apps on my iPhone 15, and they’re really cool. The graphics are smooth and look real, and the game is a lot of fun to play. The iPhone 15 also has a new 5G modem that lets it connect to cellular networks faster. Overall, I’m very happy with how well the iPhone 15 works. It’s the fastest iPhone yet, and it’s perfect for anyone who wants a phone that can handle anything.
Apple iPhone 15: Battery Life
The iPhone 15 has a mixed battery life. On the one hand, it can play videos and music just like the iPhone 14 lineup. This means that the iPhone 15 Pro Max can play videos for up to 29 hours and play music for up to 95 hours. The iPhone 15 Pro can play videos for up to 23 hours and play music for up to 75 hours, the iPhone 15 Plus can play videos for up to 26 hours and play music for up to 100 hours, and the iPhone 15 can play videos for up to 20 hours and play music for up to 80 hours.
On the other hand, some iPhone 15 users have said that the battery life isn’t as good as they thought it would be. This could be because of a number of things, such as the use of 5G and the new A16 Bionic chip, which use more power. Also, the iPhone 15 battery is not removable, so if it starts to wear out over time, you can’t change it. Overall, the battery life of the iPhone 15 is good, but not the best on the market. If you want a phone with the longest battery life possible, you might want to think about the iPhone 13 Pro Max or the Google Pixel 6 Pro.
Apple iPhone 15: Pros and Cons
The Apple iPhone 15 is a worthy successor to the iPhone 14, with a number of important improvements, including a new design, a more powerful processor and a better camera system.
Pros
- Dynamic Island replaces notch
- New 48MP main camera delivers greater detail
- USB-C, finally!
- Colorful matte design
Cons
- No always-on display
- Ultra-wide camera needs an upgrade
Final Words
With a processor from last year and a switch that doesn’t do anything, the iPhone 15 (and 15 Plus) might seem like they’re not as good as other smartphones. The truth is that the A16 Bionic is still a mobile CPU that is very fast. Also, let’s not forget that the iPhone 15 did get both the USB-C port and the fun, changeable Dynamic Island.
Best of all, it now has a big 48MP camera and a bunch of new iPhone camera tricks that let you do many of the same things you can do with the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro (and Pro Max). I think the iPhone 15 could be a great option for those who want to get into the Apple iPhone world at a lower price.
