Apple debuted the latest iPhone 15 series today. Now we’re pretty sure you would like to know whether any of these new iPhones are worth upgrading to, or skip and wait for another year. To make things easier for everyone to decide, let me share my first impressions of the new iPhone 15 series.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
The most affordable iPhone in the series still retains its size and form factor with a 6.1-inch Full HD Super Retina XDR Display for the base and 6.7-inch for the Plus variant. Nothing new there, but what you’ll read next may make you smile thanks to these features of the new iPhone. The Dynamic Island originally seen in the iPhone 14 Pro, which delivers alerts and live activities can now be enjoyed on the iPhone 15. As expected, the iPhone 15 inherited the A16 Bionic chipset of the iPhone 14 Pro series with a bigger battery capacity.
While the cameras of the Pro versions are much to be desired, you’ll be delighted to know that the main camera of the iPhone 15 now has 48 Megapixels which can capture higher resolutions for images and videos. The iPhone 15 is still made of aluminum design but now uses a color-infused glass back, giving it a matte finish.They did away with the brighter colors and went with the subdued, less vibrant versions of Black, Green, Yellow, Pink and Blue.
The last improvement worth noting on the iPhone 15 is inclusion of the USB-C charging port in lieu of the lightning port. This means iPhone 15 users can now borrow their friend’s USB-C cables or chargers used for their Android smartphones or other devices.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
In the past, iPhone owners were very careful in protecting their prized devices due to their vulnerability to accidental drops. We may not worry about these things anymore as the new iPhone 15 Pro is already built with Titanium – stronger than the previous materials used. Its front glass also features a stronger ceramic shield which is said to be even tougher than the Gorilla Glass Victus. These could be compelling enough to show off your new “iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB Fully Paid” without a protective case.
We welcome the slightly curvier back of the iPhone 15 Pro that would let us hold the device with a little more comfort. This would also benefit those who choose the bigger and heavier iPhone 15 Pro Max thanks to its lighter Titanium built and smaller bezels.
It’s widely expected that the iPhone 15 Pro will have a new processor called the A17 Pro Bionic. This may not mean anything for an ordinary iPhone user, but if you’re a gamer, this is considered a major upgrade! This new powerful chip has the capacity to play PC/Console games on the iPhone 15 Pro! The A17 Pro Bionic also lets the iPhone 15 Pro transfer data through its new USB-C port up to 10Gbps. This will definitely be a godsend for content creators who need to transfer high res files to other devices.
Let’s talk about the cameras, probably the best reason why almost every person on earth would love to buy the iPhone. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max still retains its 48 Megapixel cameras from its predecessor with a bigger sensor and improved lens coatings. However, the Pro Max variant would probably be considered more thanks to its all-new 12 Megapixel 5x Telephoto Camera. We are hoping images taken with its Telephoto lens will produce sharp results.
Lastly, the Action Button replaces the Mute switch which is a present feature since the first iteration of the iPhone. Personally, I welcome the change as I tend to forget to switch it back to ring mode after a meeting.
Which iPhone 15 Should I Buy?
Professional filmmakers and content creators will find the iPhone 15 Pro Max as their weapons of choice. The superior cameras and ease of file transfers would be the primary reasons why they will pick this variant over anything else.
Those who need a smaller Pro camera without the Max size (and premium price) will settle for the iPhone 15 Pro. It has almost everything, sans the bigger size, Telephoto lens (and again, the premium price.) This should be the sweet spot for all iPhone fans.
Users who just want the latest iPhone without having to fork over P60,000 can just go for the base iPhone 15 model. It still comes with a better camera, newer colors and a generic USB port (unfortunately without the fast transfer rate.) The iPhone 15 Plus are for those users who prefer a bigger screen.
Should I Upgrade from the iPhone 14?
It depends on your needs. If you are still content with your iPhone 14 or iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras and other features, or if you still want to use your decade’s investment of lightning cables, then do not upgrade.
As a Tech Journalist who also creates multimedia content, I am compelled to upgrade to an iPhone 15 Pro. The cameras are already sufficient to my needs and transferring of photos and videos should be easier than any of my previous iPhones.
Soon enough, you’ll see me wielding my “iPhone 15 Pro 256GB Fully Paid” in a mall.