The benefits and drawbacks of the iPhone 15 are detailed below.
Opinions on the upcoming iPhone 15 are likely to differ. For some others, the phone’s most notable features are ones that were unveiled a year ago. Others will be able to enjoy premium features that were previously exclusive to Apple’s Pro smartphones for a few hundred dollars less.
For what it’s worth, after spending time with the iPhone 15, phones editor John Velasco was impressed, complimenting the device’s improved camera and the Dynamic Island feature it borrowed from the iPhone 14 Pro. Additionally, the $799 starting price, which is exactly what Apple charged for the earlier, more constrained iPhone 14, would undoubtedly tempt phone buyers.
However, just because a phone has a desirable function doesn’t necessarily make it the best gadget for you. Here’s a closer look at the iPhone 15 features that we liked and those that made us think about switching to another phone.
iPhone 15:Reason To Buy
A Great Camera Update
The 48MP camera sensor, which replaces the 12MP main camera that has been a mainstay of iPhones for years, is an upgrade that Apple introduced to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. But as long as an improvement is present today, who cares when it happens?
Owners of the iPhone 15 will be able to shoot at full resolution for incredibly detailed photos thanks to the 48MP main camera. When you want detailed images at more manageable file sizes, the iPhone 15 picks up a clever trick from the iPhone 15 Pro: the sensors group pixels together for 24MP shots that balance illumination and quality.
2x optical zoom
You see, Apple might never include a dedicated zoom lens in the ordinary iPhone model since it believes that capability belongs exclusively on Pro phones. But at least the iPhone 15 offers a workable substitute by supporting a 2x zoom capability by utilizing both hardware and software.
You specifically use the 2x button in the Camera app UI to zoom in on subjects using the main camera. By doing so, you can force the 48MP camera to focus on your subject, resulting in a 12MP photo that is clear and free of the noise and blur that occasionally accompany digital zooms. When you record video, the zoom is also constant and seamless.
Higher-quality computational photography
Have you had a feeling that the iPhone 15’s cameras would be its standout feature? That’s not just due to hardware advancements; Apple has also made significant changes to imaging software, which has led to better pictures overall, particularly when it comes to portraits.
The iPhone is now intelligent enough to recognize whether people, animals, or both are in the frame, so you don’t even need to be in Portrait mode to capture one. Additionally, new software allows you to change the focal point after the photo has been taken.
Apple promises more vivid colors and better details in the photographs you capture in night mode, which also sees enhancements. Additionally, updates to the Smart HDR feature include improvements to skin tones and shadows.
A brighter display
The 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 14 met our standards, but it could have been brighter given that the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7 outperformed it in our tests. Apple is increasing the maximum HDR brightness to 1,600 nits, indicating that it certainly doesn’t want that to happen again.
The iPhone 15’s screen now has a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits, which is twice as bright as the iPhone 14’s. Since we’ve only ever seen the iPhone 15 display in Apple’s demo area under flattering light, we assume we won’t have any trouble seeing the panel’s finer details in bright sunlight.
Hello, Dynamic Island. Goodbye, notch
Which thrills us more, the introduction of Dynamic Island cutout on iPhone 14 Pro versions or the disappearance of the notch after six long years of hiding a portion of the iPhone’s screen?
We’ll say it’s because the Dynamic Island is now available since iPhone 14 owners were very envious of it. In addition to providing a relatively subtle home for notifications and live activities, Dynamic Island also houses the True Depth and Face ID sensors. Now, all it takes is a quick glance at the top of your iPhone’s screen to check baseball scores, watch timers, check your flight gate and departure time, or see when that Uber you ordered might arrive.
iPhone 15:Reason to Avoid
The always-on display is not present
The always-on display that Apple added to the iPhone 14 Pro a year ago is the feature that we wish the iPhone 15 could have stolen. If you own an iPhone 14 Pro or, as of recently, an iPhone 15 Pro, you may configure the display on your device to show a darker version of your lock screen when it is dormant. In this way, without your intervention, widgets, the clock, and even your lock screen wallpaper remain displayed.
I believe the Pro models have a Motion Pro display with a dynamically adjusted refresh rate while devices like the iPhone 15 do not. This is the reason why the iPhone 15 lacks an always-on display capability.
Last year’s silicon is back
I’ve already argued that Apple’s choice to use various chipsets on various iPhone models within the same phone family is a horrible approach, so I won’t say it again here other than to state that I still believe this is a fruitless method to distinguish Pro phones from regular models.
Look, the A16 Bionic chipset found within the iPhone 15 isn’t exactly a mediocre performer. The benchmarks from the iPhone 14 Pro serve as evidence. However, the chipset has been available for a year, and the rivalry is catching up.
No charging speed improvement
Although Apple’s migration to USB-C is likely the best long-term move for the firm and its iPhones, some of the primary advantages of that change have not yet been realized.
Apple reserves faster data transfer rates for its expensive phones, so if you want them, you’ll need to shell out for an iPhone 15 Pro. There is no change here; the iPhone 15 charges at 20W much like a number of iPhones before it. If you want the faster charging you’ve seen in phones that use USB-C, you’ll probably need to wait until the iPhone 16.
