Apple’s New iPhone 15 Models come with Big Changes

iPhone launches are an interesting phenomenon – while one could argue that the technological advancements on iPhones have been somewhat “underwhelming” in the past few years, it’s undeniable that fans of the Cupertino-based tech brand and loyalists will have no difficulty investing into the current year’s latest smartphone releases.

This remains true for the iPhone 15 series, which finally brings some new features that a considerable number of the fanbase have been clamouring for some time now. Announced just recently, the iPhone 15 series heralds some significant new steps for Apple, while bidding farewell to some of the company’s older products like the iPhone Mini series. So what did Tim Cook and co. show off for this year’s new Apple handsets? Read on below!

Going Pro

Arguably the more popular of Apple’s 2023 smartphone lineup, the iPhone 15 Pro series retains a dual-size selection, although there are some differences that buyers will want to take into consideration. With that being said though, let’s check out some of the similarities between the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

As speculated in several smartphone leaks and predictions for the past year, the iPhone 15 Pro devices come with Grade 5 Titanium, which do seem more durable compared to the stainless steel sides that were present in previous Pro iPhones. Both phones also come with Apple’s Pro-Motion display, which gives users higher refresh rates on their display, as well as the new programmable action button, which replaces the mute switch formerly found on the upper-left corner of Apple’s smartphones.

Perhaps one of the biggest changes with the new Pro models this year is the inclusion of USB-C connectivity, which finally brings Apple up to speed with the rest of the smartphone industry. This opens up a new possibility of accessories such as chargers and more, which we imagine should be flooding marketplaces soon.

Of course, the Pro Models are powered by the company’s newest and most powerful (at least at the moment) A17 Bionic chip. The new processor is developed using a 3nm process, and according to Apple allows for improved performance and power efficiency, as well as support for ray-tracing capabilities for gaming. Apple even went so far as to unveil new games for the iPhone 15 Pro, which include Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil Village, two graphically-heavy games – that’s how much faith the company has in its new chipset.

There are some differences between the two Pro models – the “regular” 15 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch display, which is outsized by the Pro Max’s 6.7-inch screen. Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also comes with 5X optical telephoto zoom, a considerable change from last year’s Pro Max model.

Elsewhere, both phones come with a similar hardware setup in terms of cameras. The 15 Pro phones come with a 48MP main camera, aided by 12MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses, and a front camera with a 12MP resolution. Of course, you do get Apple’s suite of camera photo and video features.

The Cheaper Route

Up next is the “regular” and more affordable iPhone 15, which consists of the base model with a 6.1-inch screen, and 15 Plus with a larger 6.7-inch display. As with the Pro variants, Apple has included USB-C for the iPhone 15 models, which means that users can also make use of reverse wireless charging. Another big feature of the new 15 series iPhones is the Dynamic Island cutout, which is no longer exclusive to the Pro models.

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus also come with an ever-so-slight redesign courtesy of a matte glass back, a nice change from the glossy (and frankly scratch-prone) glass backs of older iPhones. Housed within the rear panel is compatibility for MagSafe Qi 2 wireless charging. The phones do retain the mute switch however, as the action button is reserved for Apple’s more expensive phones at the moment. One big caveat is that the phones come with last year’s A16 Bionic chip – no A17 on here, unfortunately.

For optics, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus finally get their main sensors upgraded to a 48MP main camera, a much-welcome change from the 12MP sensors that we’ve seen on older iPhone models such as the 13 and 14. Other “new” features include support for 4K cinematic video, and improved portrait mode photo quality.

As for pricing and availability, Apple has priced its new smartphones starting at £799 for the base model iPhone 15, and £999 for the iPhone 15 Pro. Buyers can expect to get their hands on the new devices on 22nd September, with pre-orders going live on 15th September.