Apple has today announced its new high-end iPhones: the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. They’re made of titanium and now finally support USB-C. Apple also promises they’re the most powerful smartphones Apple has ever made.
The iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage while the Pro Max starts at $1,199 with 256GB of storage. Both will be available for preorder this Friday and on sale September 22nd.
Price: The Good and The Bad News
Let’s start with the bottom line: the prices. The good news is that Apple has kept the price hike in check compared to the previous year, contrary to some rumors. The not-so-good news is that the 128GB tier has been removed from the iPhone 15 Pro Max lineup. This means the Pro Max now starts at $1,199 for the 256GB model, while the standard iPhone 15 Pro still starts at $999 for 128GB.
Mark your calendars because pre-orders start this Friday, September 15th, with the official release and in-store availability scheduled for September 22nd.
Design and Build: Familiar Yet Refreshed
Apple’s signature design language is back, featuring the iconic soft rectangle with an edge-to-edge screen. This year, Apple has pushed the boundaries even further by reducing the bezels, resulting in a larger screen-to-body ratio. This clever design tweak provides more screen real estate while keeping the overall phone size manageable.
One of the standout design features is the Grade 5 Titanium frame, supported by aluminum underneath. This innovation not only adds a touch of luxury but also shaves off some weight without compromising on durability. The brushed finish on the frame is a welcome change from the fingerprint-prone stainless steel seen in previous models.
Dynamic Island and Action Button
The display retains its impressive qualities with a 6.1-inch size for the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch size for the Pro Max. The 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate ensures buttery-smooth visuals. And yes, the Dynamic Island surrounding the selfie camera makes a return, offering dynamic information display, a unique but somewhat divisive design element.
One of the most talked-about changes is the removal of the mute switch, which has been replaced by the Action Button borrowed from the Apple Watch Ultra. While its default function remains as a ringer toggle, it’s highly customizable, allowing you to execute various tasks, from launching apps to activating Siri shortcuts.
USB Type-C: A Long-Awaited Arrival
In a significant departure from tradition, Apple has embraced USB Type-C for charging and data transfer on all iPhone 15 models. Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro supports USB 3.2 speeds of 10 gigabits per second, a substantial improvement over USB 2.0 (found in the non pro models) in terms of data transfer speed.
A17 Pro Chip: Powerhouse Performance
The heart of these new iPhones beats with the A17 Pro chip, the world’s first smartphone chipset built on a 3 nm process. This technological leap results in better performance and energy efficiency due to the smaller components and pathways inside the chip.
With a 6-core CPU and a 20% faster GPU that also supports hardware ray tracing, the iPhone 15 Pro series promises a performance boost like never before.
Camera Innovations: Photographic Excellence
The iPhone 15 Pro retains its 48 MP main camera sensor but now offers 24 MP photos by default thanks to computational photography enhancements (picture binning). Apple has also introduced a new coating to reduce lens flare and improved night photography, including night portraits. With better low-light capabilities and an updated HDR algorithm, your photos and videos will shine.
For zoom enthusiasts, the Pro Max model features a 5x telephoto lens, a significant upgrade from the previous 3x lenses. And the icing on the cake? The iPhone 15 Pro now offers a “Spatial Video” mode that captures depth data, paving the way for immersive VR experiences in the future.
Battery and Charging: All-Day Power
While Apple doesn’t disclose battery capacity, it promises all-day battery life. With the energy-efficient A17 Pro chip, these iPhones are expected to deliver impressive endurance. Moreover, both models are compatible with the Qi2 standard, with the first chargers set to hit the market by the end of 2023.
