New Apple iPhone 15 Pro Review: Next Best Pro

Apple iPhone 15 Pro

4.5

Overall

4.5/5

The Good Stuff

• Lighter design
• Up to 6m water resistance
• Excellent OLED display
• Superb sound quality
• Excellent performance
• Includes USB-C port
• Excellent quality photos & videos
• More than 5-years iOS updates

The Bad Stuff

• A lot more expensive
• No phone charger included
• Rear glass panel prone to shatter

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The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro smartphone is a major improvement over its predecessor, thanks to even more pro-level camera features, powerful gaming hardware, and the long-overdue removal of the proprietary Lightning cords.

SPECS

Overview of the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Hey, guess what? Apple just showed off their brand-new iPhone 15 series smartphones, and it was pretty much what everyone was expecting. But they also surprised us with some cool stuff for all you gamers and photography lovers out there.

They made a big deal about gaming on-the-go and even brought some awesome games like Resident Evil: Village, Resident Evil 4, Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage to use on these fancy smartphones. And get this, these phones are so powerful that the GPU supports Ray-tracing. How cool is that?

But hey, let me tell you something cool about the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro! Usually, the new iPhones don’t look all that different from the previous ones, and upgrading every year doesn’t really make a big difference. It’s like, why bother, right? But this year is totally different! And you know why? It’s because it includes USB-C.

You see, Android phones have been using it’s own inputs since 2015, and now Apple finally decided to join the party. It’s like they finally realized that the iPhone should be able to work with any device or charger you want to use. And let me tell you, that’s a big deal! It’s like they set the iPhone free. It’s one of the coolest decisions Apple has ever made!

Lightweight Design

The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro was not significantly different from the iPhone 14 Pro, which was not significantly different from the iPhone 12 Pro. Similarly, if you didn’t look too closely, the iPhone 15 Pro might be mistaken from any of its recent predecessors.

Taking the new iPhone out in public during our testing period drew no interesting glances, and that lack of glitz will be magnified once you put a case on it and hide up practically every visible difference.

Using a case, which no one in their right mind should do, is a shame because the new titanium chassis on the iPhone 15 Pro is stunning. The iPhone 14 Pro features glossy steel sides that attract fingerprints, but the iPhone 15 Pro’s new titanium sides repel them admirably.

The rear panel has a frosted glass finish that resists fingerprints nicely. It covers any scratches that may occur, and overall feels incredibly pleasant in the hand. It’s smooth without being slippery. Apple also managed to cut the size and weight of the iPhone 15 Pro without decreasing their respective 6.1 and 6.7-inch OLED panels. Both reductions are tiny, but I’ll take it.

They’re made from Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass, which was launched in the iPhone 12. It’s so robust that I haven’t used a screen protector in years and haven’t seen even a scratch. The main drawback is that, as with practically every year, the modifications are significant enough that you’ll need to purchase a new case. Not only is the camera module slightly different, but the physical size reduction will exacerbate the problem.

So let’s recap. The new Apple iPhone 15  Pro comes with a titanium casing that leaves no fingerprints. Its water resistant, and comes with a Ceramic Shield glass to improve its durability.

Excellent Display

Both use Apple’s ProMotion to dynamically adjust up to 120Hz, offering accurate colors, haptic touch, and support both HDR and Apple’s True Tone. All of this is similar to the iPhone 14 Pro, but the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are twice as bright, with up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness.

As someone who has never had a problem seeing the iPhone 14 Pro screen in the sun, it appears to be a solution to a problem that didn’t actually exist, but if it was an issue, it’s even less of one now.

The Dynamic Island, first seen on the iPhone 14 Pro, returns to the iPhone 15 Pro, as does the always-on display, which can be turned off if desired. Apple also provides twice the storage capacity on its phones as it did last year – up to 1 terabyte. As well as a much increased iCloud service that can carry up to 12TB more (for $60/month).

If the outside design of the iPhone 15 Pro could be described as innovative it would be Apple’s choice to remove the switch on the side that has toggled between ring and silent/vibrate-only mode since the very first iPhone and replace it with what Apple calls the Action Button.

While you can make that button do the same thing as the previous switch, it can also be assigned to a variety of other tasks. These include: opening the camera, recording a voice memo, turning on the flashlight, activating the zoom function, or even a Shortcut of your choice. It may appear insignificant, yet it is a significant improvement in quality of life.

Other Features

It’s time to talk about the iPhone’s coolest new feature: it finally uses USB-C. I can’t believe we’ve been trapped with this limited, slow cable since the iPhone 5 debuted 11 years ago. It makes no difference whether Apple wanted to give us USB-C or whether new European Union legislation forced its action; the end result is the same. If you plug in your phone or use accessories, this iPhone is far more useable than any before it.

The impact of this single aspect on quality of life cannot be emphasized. I no longer need two cables on my desk to charge my PlayStation 5 controller and my iPhone. When I travel, I can drastically minimize the amount of wires I bring with me. The exact SSDs and microphones that I use on my full-size cameras are now compatible with the iPhone without the need for adapters.

Heck, I can plug my iPhone into my friend’s Google Pixel Fold and they’ll charge each other. However, it does come with a caveat that you won’t see on many current Android phones that use the same port. While the iPhone 15 Pro include USB-C, they lack what most people call fast charging. Apple claims that the Pro Max can charge up to 50% in 35 minutes with a 20W charger or higher.

With the same adaptor, the Pro can be charged to 50% in 30 minutes. That’s reasonably fast, but not as fast as many would anticipate from an Android device. It’s faster than what Google provides but slower than almost everyone else, including Samsung, OnePlus, and Motorola, which all provide between 45W and 150W. Other phones, such as those from Vivo, can reach up to 200W.

Just because it supports USB-C doesn’t imply it’s your only option. Apple reintroduces MagSafe, which debuted in the iPhone 12, enabling wireless charging at 15W (Qi is 7.5W). It also supports a variety of accessories, including a Belkin stand that charges it and transforms it into a bedside or desktop clock when docked. A great merging of hardware and software.

The iPhone 15 Pro also support Wi-Fi 6E and employ a second-generation Ultra Wideband Chip, which Apple claims allows it to connect to other devices with the same chip, such as other iPhone 15 handsets and Airtag trackers, for three times the range.

It also supports what Apple calls Precision Finding, which allows you to discover an iPhone 15-owning friend down to their specific position if they allow it. Importantly, this is simple to disable for privacy reasons. It’s worth noting that Apple intends to be the first smartphone to use Thread radio, allowing it to connect to Thread-enabled devices without the use of a hub.

Finally, the iPhone 15 Pro offers voice-isolation functionality for calls, which makes it easier for the person you’re calling to hear you if you’re in a noisy environment. It works reasonably well and is useful when attempting to hold a conversation while washing dishes or in a crowded market.

Excellent Performance

So much affort and time was spent talking about the gaming capabilities of the iPhone 15 Pro that it felt like Apple was now ready to compete with handheld gaming devices like the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck.

Apple promised that not only would its new A17 Pro chip bring AAA games like Resident Evil: Village, but also Assassin’s Creed Mirage as well. The GPU is so advanced that it will have enough power left over to enable Ray-tracing lighting effects.

Apple even went so far as to say in an interview with IGN, “It’s going to be the best game console.” I’m not sure we’re there yet after utilizing it, but that’s not a strange thing to say either. We’ll have to wait and see how developers exploit what Apple claims the A17 Pro can achieve. I hope that becomes the norm, but it will most likely take some time.

While I wasn’t able to push the iPhone 15 Pro to its capabilities during my review time, I was able to play Honkai Star Rail and Genshin Impact, both of which played really well with visual settings and framerates set to the maximum. Because of the compromises developers have had to make to get console-style games running on pocket-sized technology.

Playing both titles on the iPhone 15 Pro felt just like playing on my PlayStation 5 – especially after I connected a Bluetooth controller. Despite using the highest settings, I did not notice any dropped frames or graphical glitches.

Apple’s OLED display shines as well. It’s not surprising that the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro gets warm because they’re capable gaming devices. They don’t usually overheat, but if you’re playing a hard game, it won’t be long before you can physically feel it getting almost unbearably hot in your hand if you’re not using a case. However, it didn’t become as hot as the iPhone 14 Pro did when I tried to play Star Rail with the same settings.

In other words, the new A17 pro chip included not only helps with daily phone functions but as a gaming device as well. The GPU comes with Ray-tracing, and supports AAA games similar to the PS5.

Good Battery Life

A 3274mAh battery is included with the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro. We’d hardly call it an improvement with a huge 74mAh greater capacity than the iPhone 14 Pro. Perhaps that’s simply what the engineers were able to fit in the available space this time. The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the preferable choice for optimal lifespan because it has a substantially bigger 4,441mAh capacity.

However, this does not imply that the iPhone 15 Pro is mediocre in this area. When it comes to voice call time, it sort of is because iPhones often do poorly in the test, and the iPhone 15 Pro’s 18-hour battery life is what we’d anticipate. Onscreen testing, however, show that it performs well, about on line with the model from the previous year.

As has been the case with iPhone 12, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro retails without a phone charger. The claims for charging speed are listed as “with 20W adapter or higher” on the specifications pages of the phones, suggesting that anything more powerful wouldn’t affect the speed.

Upon testing with a 20W Apple adaptor, a full charge on the iPhone 15 Pro took about 1 hour and 33 minutes. Apparently, that’s much quicker than the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a marginal improvement over the prior version. The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro supports wireless charging with up to 7.5W with Qi-compliant charging pads. There are no listings for numbered iPhone models after the 11.

Overall, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro has a bigger battery, with more than 90mins until full charge, up to 18 hours of battery life of moderate use, and support fast, wireless and reverse wireless charging.

Great Camera System

The image quality from its 12-megapixel camera is about as expected. Because the design does not allow in as much light as the main camera, I recommend using this lens only in strong light. The telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro is the same as last year, with the exception of new coatings on all three lenses that reduce flare significantly, but most casual users are unlikely to detect the difference.

The main camera shoots 48-megapixel photographs, with 12-megapixel telephotos, and 12-megapixel ultrawide photos. When I take photos, I was impressed with the main camera on the iPhone 14 Pro’s ability to produce photographs that don’t appear like they were taken on a smartphone. The resolution jump to 48 megapixels without sacrificing dynamic range in the iPhone 15 Pro gets my approval.

To be honest, most users will not find themselves using smartphone images in such a way that 48 megapixels will revolutionize their lives, but anyone who intends to edit and otherwise distribute these photos will almost always be satisfied with a greater resolution. At the very least, it allows you to crop in closer without sacrificing quality.

Apple has also made portrait mode the default mode. If the camera detects a person or animal in the picture, it automatically collects a depth map, allowing you to add the depth effect later if desired.

If desired, the depth map also lets you to shift the focus point between two subjects in post-production. I like this adjustment because I don’t always think to utilize portrait mode when taking a photo and then curse myself afterward for not at least attempting it. That is no longer an issue.

Excellent High Quality Video

The iPhone 15 Pro also provide a slew of professional-level video capabilities. Most of them that are noticeable, are all software upgrades allowed by iOS 17. First, the iPhone 15 Pro can now shoot in ProRes Log encoding. This gives video editors more color grading and post-production options. That’s a big benefit for those who want to make the greatest quality video possible on their smartphone.

Second, the iPhone 15 Pro is the world’s first phone-based camera to support the Academy Color Encoding System, or ACES. It’s a global color processing standard, that in summary, makes it easier than ever to match footage from several cameras.

The iPhone 15 Pro can also record in 4K at 60p. This is a function that was implemented primarily because of the speed afforded by the previously mentioned USB-C port. While all other resolutions and framerates can be recorded straight to the iPhone’s internal storage, 4K at 60p necessitates the use of an external SSD.

The good news is that all photos and videos can be easily transferred to and from the external drive at USB-3.0 speeds. This is a significant improvement over previous iPhones, which required either the pitifully slow Lightning connection or the slightly faster AirDrop – provided the recipient is an Apple device.

In short, the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro includes an excellent camera system. With an abundance of software upgrades and improved camera lens, it will makes sure that you take high quality photos and high quality 4K videos every time.

Verdict

Apple’s annual smartphone upgrades have felt notably incremental. The new Apple iPhone 15 Pro looks to have followed suit. Its appealing titanium design, the helpful and customizable Action Button, are relatively inconspicuous to the eye and are the first items to be covered up by a case.

That is, however, misleading. Apple has changed a lot internally to make this year’s phone the most appealing upgrade since the iPhone 11, especially if you’re into photography or video. While the worldwide connectivity and transfer rates of USB-C are the most noticeable upgrades, the enhanced gaming-ready processor, improved camera software, and titanium chassis are all noteworthy. Therefore, I recommend the new Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Its many upgrades may appear marginal but its one of the best smartphones to come out this year.

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