On Tuesday evening, Apple presented the iPhone 15 series. TECHBOOK editor Adrian Mühlroth compares the new basic and Pro models.
In the past, Apple offered two versions of the iPhone: a cheaper “basic” model and a slightly better model with “pro” features. However, starting with the iPhone 13 and increasingly with the iPhone 14, the gap between these variants has continued to grow. But with the iPhone 15 series, the whole thing takes on new dimensions and I believe: Apple wants to push buyers to the new iPhone Pro models.
Similarities and differences in design
Apple is using a new material for the housing of the iPhone 15 for the first time in six years. Brushed titanium replaces shiny stainless steel – and finally gives smartphones a more attractive look.
Now all versions of the iPhone 15 are completely matted on the housing frame and back. In addition, the back of all of them is made of a single piece of glass. The edges of the housing are also slightly rounded so that the smartphones fit better in the hand.
However, only the Pros come with titanium, which makes the housing significantly more robust than the aluminum frames of the non-Pros – but still saves weight. The stronger titanium rails have also allowed Apple to make the case smaller overall – while keeping the display size the same. The edges around the screen shrink even further, giving the iPhone 15 Pro a more futuristic look.
The edges of the iPhone 15 have also shrunk – but only to the same extent as the iPhone 14 Pro. Another detail that was inherited.
New chip and fast USB rates are “Pro”
Only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max get the new A17 Pro chip. It is the first time that Apple has chosen the name “Pro” for an iPhone chip – previously there was only the addition “Bionic”. The A17 Pro is Apple’s first 3-nanometer chip and promises not only more performance, but above all greater energy efficiency. The CPU’s two performance cores are up to ten percent faster and the Neural Engine is twice as fast as in the A16 Bionic. By the way, this is moving from the iPhone 14 Pro to the iPhone 15 – a new tradition at Apple.
One consequence of the chip discrepancy between the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro is that only the Pro models have a USB 3 controller directly on the A17 Pro. So while the 15 and 15 Plus still only have a slow USB 2.0 speed of 480 megabits per second (like Lightning before it), the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max achieve up to 10 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) – twenty times as much. The slow transfer speed of older iPhones also affects the iPhone 15. TECHBOOK has been criticizing this point for a long time. For example, copying larger videos from the iPhone to the Mac takes far too long compared to practically every other smartphone on the market.
The Pro models, on the other hand, make full use of the faster data rate. Not only can the camera-focused devices stream videos in ProRes format directly to a Mac as they are recorded. It is also possible to connect external storage for recording. However, the really fast transfer rates are still reserved for the iPad Pro, which supports up to 40 Gbit/s with Thunderbolt 4.
The action button – another differentiating feature
An innovation that has already been discussed a lot in advance is the action button in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The button replaces the mute switch, which has been found in every iPhone since the original from 2007. The advantage of the Action Button, which comes from the Apple Watch Ultra, is that it can be freely assigned. Users can use it to start a voice memo, the camera or any apps or processes using shortcuts.
But again, the pioneering feature only comes to the Pro – and not to the basic iPhone. This continues to rely on the classic mute switch and can hope to be delighted next year.
Also interesting: Apple Watch Ultra 2 comes with some improvements
Only one model gets a really new camera
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have received a slightly improved main camera. Although this still has a resolution of 48 megapixels, according to Apple it can now display three different focal lengths: 24 mm, 28 mm and 35 mm. This corresponds to the zoom levels 1x, 1.2x and 1.5x. Along with three resolution levels (12MP, 24MP and 48MP), this allows users to choose which preset best suits their photography style. The main camera also gets 2nd generation sensor shift stabilization.
The ultra-wide-angle camera on both models is practically the same as its predecessors – apart from the stabilization. The same applies to the telephoto lens in the 15 Pro, which has no changes apart from new stabilization. The 15 Pro Max, on the other hand, uses a new telephoto camera that uses a tetraprism to achieve a focal length of 120 mm and optically magnifies it six times. Is the gap between Pro and Pro Max also growing?
According to the established scheme, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus receive the 48 MP main camera from last year’s Pros. This means you can now zoom twice without any loss of quality – for the first time in a non-Pro iPhone. However, gimmicks such as choosing the focal length and night portraits are reserved for the more expensive models.
After all, Apple is making next-generation portrait photos available for all iPhone 15 models. What this means is that when you take a normal photo, the iPhone stores all the depth information. This means that normal photos can subsequently be converted into portrait photos with a bokeh effect. Users can choose for themselves which subject or object is the focus.
More appearance than reality with the “new” iPhone 15 display
The biggest innovation – which is also noticeable at first glance – is the new display in the iPhone 15. Like the Pro models from last year, this year’s iPhones all come with Dynamic Island. The basic iPhones also say goodbye to the notch and rely on two small cutouts in the display itself. The TrueDepth front camera, the Face ID sensor and the proximity and light sensor are located there. In its default state, Dynamic Island takes on a pill shape and thus covers the camera and sensors. However, depending on the app used, the area adapts dynamically. If a timer is running in the background, it will appear in the Dynamic Island. The same applies to sports results, music playback, etc.
However, apart from Dynamic Island and thinner screen edges, the iPhone 15 does not adopt any other display features from the iPhone 14 Pro. That means: no always-on display and no ProMotion. So these remain exclusive Pro features. So anyone who was hoping to be able to buy a new iPhone 14 Pro for less money this year will unfortunately be disappointed.
Also read: Apple discontinues entire iPhone series
Will the Pro become the new standard iPhone?
The facts show that Apple is constantly widening the gap between the basic and Pro iPhones. Really new functions now come almost exclusively to the Pro. This year these include the action button, periscope camera, new chip and faster USB transfer rates. Although the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus also have a slightly modified design and a cut-off USB-C, all other “news” come from the iPhone 14 Pro from last year.
I see this as confirmation that Apple is trying to drive even more customers to the Pro models. Worldwide, iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max will be available between September 2022 and January 2023 according to Statista accounted for the most sales of all iPhone 14 models. In Germany, too, the iPhone 14 Pro was the best-selling smartphone ever in April 2023.
iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max could further drive this trend – and thus make iPhone 15 and 15 Plus obsolete. The prices for all models have actually fallen compared to the previous year – but more so for the Pro models. iPhone 15 and 15 Plus drop by 50 euros to 949 euros and 1099 euros respectively. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, has fallen by a full 100 euros to 1199 euros. The iPhone 15 Pro Max still costs at least 1,449 euros – but it now has twice as much storage at 256 GB.
So if you configure an iPhone 15 Plus with 256 GB of storage, you’ll be just 230 euros ahead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Apple’s method of pushing buyers to the next model up could work better than ever before this year.
That wouldn’t surprise me, because anyone who spends more than 1,000 euros on a new smartphone today doesn’t want to have just any model with hardware from the previous year. No, it has to be the latest that Apple can offer.