Apple iPhone 15 Series
Apple iPhone 15 Plus Review: What are the major upgrades?
Apple recently announced their much-awaited iPhone 15 series in the “Wanderlust” event held at Apple Park, California on September 12. The event introduced a revamped Pro series with some interesting upgrades all across the board, especially the standard 15 and the 15 Plus. With a large display and a new front design. There’s a lot that the iPhone 15 Plus brings to the table. Let’s have a detailed look at what’s changed and what’s improved.
Key Specifications of iPhone 15 Plus
Design and Build Quality
The external design of the new iPhone 15 Plus has been slightly changed from the previous generation. It has much to do with the sharp edges, which have now been replaced with a more rounded one. Apple is calling it their “Contoured” design, which is a fancy way to describe a minor upgrade.
The next thing that’s apparent is the USB Type C port on the bottom. Apple has finally made the switch to Type C meaning the days of the lightning cable on iPhones are finally over. That is at least, for the iPhone 15 series and onwards. However, the Type C is still 2.0 on the 15 Plus, meaning reading and writing speeds would be much slower compared to the newer 3.0 found on the Pro model.
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The display has also been upgraded from the last generation. This year, users will get the Dynamic Island display first introduced in last year’s pro model. The change has much to do with the design itself as the 15 Plus is not getting the same specs as the Pro model.
Dimension-wise, the 15 Plus comes in at 160.9 mm by 77.8 mm by 7.8 mm with 201 gm weight. Apple is using Corning-made glasses for both the front and back of the device. The front glass comes with Ceramic Shield protection. The back glass now has a color-infused design which gives it a very light and toned-down look. Other than the black, the blue, green, yellow, and pink color variant looks like a lighter shade of their original color.
The 15 Plus will come with a nano sim and e-sim support for international release. The USA model will have dual e-sim support with the Chinese variant coming with dual nano-sim support. The device also has IP68 water and dust resistance. Apple claims that the device can survive up to 6m underwater for 30 minutes.
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The Display
Similar to last year’s 14 Plus, the 15 Plus comes with a Super Retina XDR OLED display. The panel supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision for HD-quality content streaming. The HBM mode goes up to 1000 nits with the peak hitting at 2000 nits. That is a massive 800 nits upgrade from the 14 Plus.
The 6.7-inch display with an 88% screen-to-body ratio has a flat symmetrical design on the front which gives it an aesthetic look. The display has a resolution of 1290 x 2796 pixels which makes for an uncommon 19.5:9 aspect ratio and 460 ppi. The glass front is protected by Ceramic Shield glass.
The performance of the display is as usual stellar here. The colors look sharp with great contrast all around. The upgraded peak brightness makes it even better than the already amazing outdoor legibility seen on the iPhone 14 series. The Dynamic Island also makes for a useful upgrade over the last generation. Apple has included a lot of useful features over the last year on the Dynamic Island like turn-by-turn map direction, active timers, Uber waiting time, and many more. It's great that non-Pro users will be able to experience these perks as well.
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However, the major drawback with this otherwise stellar display is the refresh rate. The 15 and the 15 Plus still come with a 60 Hz refresh rate which is a massive letdown by 2023 standards. Apple has kept the high refresh rate only for the Pro models this year too.
The Camera
Like last year, there’s a dual diagonal camera on the back. The main sensor has been upgraded to 48 MP from last year’s 12 MP. The sensor has an f/1.6 aperture with sensor-shift OIS and 100% focus pixels.
The main sensor is complemented by a 12 MP 2 times telephoto lens with the same f/1.6 aperture. It enables the sensor to achieve lossless optical zoom of up to 4 times and digital zoom of up to 10 times.
The front side has the same 12 MP f/1.9 aperture sensor from last year.
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This year, Apple has infused a lot of cutting-edge camera tech on the 15 Plus, owing to the upgraded sensor that is now on par with the main sensor on the Pro model. Users will be getting true tone flash, a photonic engine, smart HDR 5, next-generation portraits and depth controls, photographic styles, and many more.
The camera samples from the launch event looked right on par with the flagships out there. The real-world performance remains to be seen.
The videography on the 15 Plus remains the same as last year. There’s 4K at 24,25,30 and 60 fps. The cinematic mode is also here with 4K HDR at 30 fps. The action mode which can shoot hyper-stabilized videos at 2.8K is also here. The sensor shifting OIS coupled with an improved main sensor will provide some excellent videography, probably the best among any smartphones of 2023.
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Review: Worth the Price?
The iPhone 15 Pro, along with the iPhone 15 Series, was introduced during Apple's September 12, 2023 event. Pre-orders for the iPhone 15 Pro began on September 15. What are the new features of 15 Pro? Can it hold the legacy? Let’s take a look into the key specs, pros and cons of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro.
Key Features of Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Design
The iPhone 15 Pro distinguishes itself from its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro, primarily in terms of design and functionality. Notably, Apple has opted for a revamped design, shedding the sharp edges that characterized the iPhone 14 Pro in favor of a sleek titanium 146.6 mm by 70.6 mm by 8.3 mm frame. This redesign not only enhances the phone's aesthetics but also makes it lighter with 187g weight and more comfortable to hold, addressing concerns raised by users about the previous model's edges.
The iPhone 15 Pro retains features such as the Dynamic Island and brushed glass rear panel, with the latter being safeguarded by Apple's Ceramic Shield for added protection.
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Beyond the design changes, the iPhone 15 Pro introduces functional updates. The traditional physical mute switch is replaced with an Apple Watch Ultra-style Action button, which is highly customizable and allows users to trigger up to nine different actions, providing quick access to various functions.
Another significant modification is the replacement of Apple's proprietary Lightning port with a USB-C port, aligning with the universal USB-C standard. While this change does not affect charging speed, it enables faster data transfer speeds of up to 10GBps, making it easier to connect the iPhone 15 Pro to other devices like a MacBook Pro.
Display
The iPhone 15 Pro maintains its predecessor's 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED screen, featuring Apple's ProMotion technology that adjusts the refresh rate from 10 Hz to 120Hz based on the displayed content. It features resolution of 1179 by 2556 pixels, with 19.5:9 ratio and about 461 ppi density.
The Dynamic Island digital cutout, now present in all models, is accompanied by nearly bezel-less edges.
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The screen remains exceptional, boasting a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits and exceptional responsiveness. The reduced bezel size enhances the immersive experience. However, when compared to the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display, it falls slightly short.
In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro features a top-tier display, maintaining its predecessor's excellence while making minor improvements.
Cameras
In terms of its camera setup, the iPhone 15 Pro incorporates three lenses: a 48 MP primary camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and a 12MP 3x telephoto camera.
Notably, Apple has reserved the 5x optical zoom telephoto camera exclusively for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, creating a significant technological distinction between the two models for the first time. Nevertheless, the iPhone 15 Pro continues to stand out as one of the leading camera phones available.
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On the front, the iPhone 15 Pro employs the same 12MP TrueDepth camera like the ancestor iPhone 14 Pro.
Although there is limited opportunity to extensively test this camera array, it is expected to perform at least on par with the iPhone 14 Pro. Some noteworthy enhancements in image processing include the new default 24MP shooting mode. This mode combines the best aspects of the 12MP and full 48MP capabilities of the main camera, delivering impressive detail and accurate representation of environments, fabrics, and skin tones. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro now has the capability to recognize image depth in any photo, allowing users to convert it into Portrait Mode and easily adjust the focal point from one subject to another. This feature renders direct Portrait Mode shooting less necessary.
However, the absence of the more powerful 5x optical zoom, which is available on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, raises questions about the iPhone 15 Pro's overall appeal. It's unfortunate that Apple did not extend this valuable technology further down its product line.
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Apple iPhone 15 Review: What's New?
The highly anticipated Apple iPhone 15 was officially announced on September 12, 2023. With its cutting-edge features and sleek design, the iPhone 15 is set to make its mark in the world of smartphones. This article will delve into what the iPhone 15 has to offer and why it's generating such excitement in the mobile phone market.
Key Features of Apple iPhone 15
Design
The iPhone 15 model’s dimensions are 147.6mm by 71.6mm by 7.8mm weighing 171g. The latest iPhone shares almost similar dimensions and weight with its predecessor, the iPhone 14 (146.7 by 71.5 by 7.8 mm; 172g).
It features a color-infused glass back and has replaced the Lightning port with a USB-C port. The aluminum frame of the iPhone 15 has been redesigned to provide a more comfortable grip by smoothing out sharp edges.
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The iPhone 15 comes in five pastel colors, including black, blue, green, yellow, and pink. The color-infused glass back seamlessly integrates the camera bump, enhancing its overall aesthetics.
Notably, the USB-C port enables compatibility with modern MacBooks and iPads, streamlining the charging process for users who own these devices. However, the iPhone 15 lacks the new Action Button found in other models.
The Ceramic Shield on the back of the phone still houses a diagonal dual-camera system. On the front, it incorporates a Dynamic Island on the screen, replacing the notch found in previous models. Apple maintains its reputation for IP-rated protection, surpassing the IP68 certification for dust ingress and ensuring reliable water resistance.
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Display
The iPhone 15 boasts a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with a resolution of 2556 by 1179 pixels and a 60Hz refresh rate. While many had hoped for a higher refresh rate, it remains at 60Hz, unlike the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, which feature a variable 120Hz refresh rate. This keeps the standard iPhone 15 behind competitors in terms of screen smoothness.
Nevertheless, the Super Retina XDR OLED display offers a visually pleasing experience, with Apple claiming it to be slightly brighter this year, with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits rising to 2,000 nits. The display maintains the same resolution as its predecessor, resulting in a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch (ppi). Essentially, the display on the iPhone 15 is comparable to the previous two generations of non-Pro iPhone displays.
One notable change to the 6.1-inch screen on the standard iPhone 15 is the absence of a notch. Instead, it features the Dynamic Island, a feature previously exclusive to the Pro models. This makes the Dynamic Island a standard feature across the iPhone 15 lineup for 2023.
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The Dynamic Island on the iPhone 15 offers all the capabilities it had on the Pro models, and there is potential for iOS 17 to introduce additional functionality over time, even though no new functionalities were announced during the launch event.
Performance
In the iPhone 14 series, Apple introduced a noticeable division by equipping the base iPhone 14 with the same Apple A15 Bionic chip as the previous year, while reserving the more powerful and power-efficient A16 Bionic exclusively for the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. This trend of a two-tiered processor strategy continues into 2023.
The iPhone 15 now features the A16 Bionic chip, which was introduced in the previous year, while the 15 Pro models are equipped with the potentially more capable A17 Pro.
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In terms of performance, the iPhone 15 appears to be highly responsive, akin to the iPhone 14 Pro, thanks to the A16 Bionic chip. This processor has consistently demonstrated fast performance, and it's expected to perform similarly in the iPhone 15.
Storage options have remained unchanged from the previous year, offering a baseline capacity of 128GB, a mid-tier option of 256GB, and a top-tier choice of 512GB. Notably, the Pro models now start with double the storage capacity compared to their predecessors.
Software
iOS 17 may not bring substantial enhancements compared to the more feature-packed iOS 16, but it does introduce several noteworthy improvements that enhance the user experience on the iPhone 15.
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Some key features include Contact Posters and NameDrop, real-time location sharing (referred to as Check In) within Messages, automated nudity blurring in Messages and AirDrop, Live Voicemail with transcription, Interactive Widgets, and the addition of StandBy mode, which was initially thought to be exclusive to iPhones with always-on displays but is also available on the iPhone 15. It's important to note that without an Always-On display, tapping the screen is necessary to view the iPhone 15's display in Standby mode.
Despite running iOS 17, the iPhone 15 retains a familiar feel compared to the iPhone 14. However, the introduction of the Dynamic Island brings a refreshing element to the user experience. The Dynamic Island can display various information depending on user activities, such as directions, music controls, or Uber ride status.
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