This year, Apple showed significantly upgraded iPhone 15 and pro max, as well as a completely new flagship iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Has Apple managed to make another revolution in the world of smartphones?
New building iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 pro and pro max series received slightly rounded edges to make the smartphones fit more comfortably in the hand. This year, the company decided to abandon surgical steel, which debuted in 2017 with the release of the anniversary iPhone X, in favor of lighter and stronger aerospace-grade titanium. Interestingly, the chassis of the smartphones is still made from 100% recycled aluminum.
Apple also claims that the frosted glass on the back of the device is much stronger than previous models. At the same time, the company said that replacing the glass or battery has become much easier since the new design allows you to disassemble the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max from the back. The camera block has become a little larger, but the number of cameras and sensors remains the same.
Another important change in firmware affected the “calling card” of Apple smartphones. After 16 years, the brand has ditched the silent mode lever in favor of a new multi-function Action button. During the presentation, we were shown some of its capabilities. In iOS 17, users will be able to select one of the following functions and assign it to this button:
- Silent mode;
- Flashlight;
- Camera;
- Voice notes;
- Translator;
- Magnifier;
- Quick commands;
- Universal access;
- Focus profiles.
And of course, what has been talked about for so long is a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer instead of the outdated Lightning, which, by the way, is exactly 10 years old. One of the advantages of this solution is the ability to use one charger for iPhone or Android smartphones, iPad tablets, Mac laptops, and even portable consoles. Most likely, Apple would not have decided on such a castling if not for the EU law, according to which all new gadgets sold in the European Union must be equipped with USB Type-C ports.
For some reason, Apple decided to abandon the gold color scheme in this firmware generation. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are available in four special colors that the company calls: Titanium Black, Titanium White, Titanium Blue, and Natural Titanium. The brand chose to use the latest colorway in all promotional materials.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Displays
On the front panel, we are greeted by chic displays. Apple says it has also managed to once again reduce the bezels around the screen, but the company is in no hurry to disclose exact numbers.
The iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2556 x 1179 pixels (460 ppi density), and the iPhone 15 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2796 x 1290 pixels (density also 460 ppi). Both models support Always On Display and ProMotion technologies. The latter provides a variable refresh rate from 1 Hz to 120 Hz. Other display features include HDR High Dynamic Range, True Tone (matches color temperature to your surroundings), wide DCI-P3 color gamut for accurate colors, and 2,000 nits peak brightness. With such characteristics, the information on the screen will be readable even in direct sunlight.
At the top of the screen, there is a signature cutout familiar to us from the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max models called Dynamic Island. It contains a TrueDepth scanner and a front camera, which are responsible for the Face ID function (biometric user identification using a face scan).
Of course, Apple also took care of protecting the screens of the new iPhones – they are covered with durable new-generation Ceramic Shield glass. However, it is best to avoid any contact with concrete, tiles, or other hard surfaces as much as possible.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Professional cameras
Thanks to the deep integration of hardware and software components, engineers were able to install an advanced camera system in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, which includes the equivalent of seven professional lenses, all thanks to the new A17 Pro chipset.
The main camera with a 48 MP sensor shoots in 24 MP resolution (used by default). This strikes a balance between image quality and file size for easy storage and transfer. Let us remind you that the pictures in the iPhone 14 Pro were 12-megapixel. The camera allows you to easily switch between three popular focal lengths – 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm – and even set the default one.
In addition to shooting 48MP photos in ProRAW format, the main camera can now capture 48MP photos in HEIF format.
In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro features a 12MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max has the longest optical zoom ever on an Apple smartphone: 5x zoom with an equivalent focal length of 120mm. The new telephoto lens in iPhone 15 Pro Max is ideal for capturing close-ups, nature photos, and action scenes from great distances. Apple calls the entire new sensor design an innovative tetraprism design with combined optical image stabilization and a 3D sensor shift module with autofocus.
Apple also upgraded portrait photography. iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max deliver images with greater detail and richer colors. The company has also improved video and photo recording in low-light conditions. For the first time, users can take portrait photos without having to switch to Portrait mode in the Camera app menu. The neuro engine of the A17 Pro processor will automatically detect if there is a person, dog, or cat in the frame. On top of that, algorithms allow you to adjust the focus point after taking a photo.
Here are a few more features that improve the performance of all cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
- Improved Night Mode with sharper details and richer colors. A special Photonic Engine processor core is responsible for its operation, and with the help of a LiDAR scanner, you can also take portrait photos in night mode.
- New Smart HDR mode that delivers more accurate images of individual subjects and backgrounds while preserving natural skin tones.
- Video quality is enhanced by the A17 Pro processor, including in low light conditions and in Action mode.
- The new option for encoding in Log format will be useful for directors when shooting films. In addition, the iPhone 15 Pro became the first smartphone in the world to support ACES, a color coding system developed by the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (a global standard for working with color correction).
Another feature of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is the ability to shoot spatial video for later viewing in the Apple Vision Pro headset. Apple says users can capture their memories in 3D and relive them with incredible immersion with Apple Vision Pro.
The front camera remains the same – it’s still the same 12 megapixels. However, new processing algorithms allow you to capture more light, so that even in low-light conditions the images turn out to be of better quality.
For professionals, the company has improved shooting in the ProRes format – iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max support recording in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max CPU
This year, Apple managed to make a revolution by equipping the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max with the new A17 Pro chipset. This is no longer just a processor for a smartphone, but a full-fledged member of the Apple Silicon family, designed specifically for the iPhone.
The Apple A17 Pro is the industry’s first 3nm chip that runs up to 10% faster than its predecessor thanks to microarchitecture improvements, and the Neural Engine is twice as fast. The latter is responsible for the functions of autocorrect, voice digitization in iOS 17, and many other tasks. The main difference from previous chipsets is a powerful graphics processor with 6 cores and support for hardware ray tracing, which is 4 times faster than software.
Simply put, the iPhone 15 Pro offers console-level graphics. The presentation even showed new gaming features and gameplay of AAA titles: Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4, Death Stranding, and Assassin’s Creed Mirage. This has never happened before in smartphones. These and other games will be available early next year.
Separately, it is worth mentioning support for external monitors via the USB Type-C port, which provides video output in resolutions up to 4K at 60 frames per second in HDR. Perhaps Apple will allow the iPhone 15 Pro to be used as a portable console, like a Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch.
The A17 Pro chip also includes a dedicated AV1 decoder, delivering more efficient and high-quality video for streaming services.
Autonomy is the main issue
As usual, Apple did not disclose the capacity of the batteries installed in the new smartphones. According to insiders, the iPhone 15 Pro received a 3650 mAh battery, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max – 4852 mAh. However, we will only be able to find out the exact numbers after the official start of sales.
Apple itself claims that the iPhone 15 Pro will last up to 23 hours when watching video and 75 hours when listening to audio. The older iPhone 15 Pro Max model will provide up to 29 hours of continuous video viewing and up to 95 hours of music listening. The most obvious and perhaps the only disadvantage of the new flagship iPhones is limited charging power. Here it is the same as a year ago:
- wired – 20 W;
- wireless Qi – 7.5 W;
- MagSafe/Qi2 – 15 W.
With a 20W wired adapter, new iPhones charge from 0 to 50% in just 30 minutes.
What else surprised Apple?
Like the lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, the top-end iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max received new U2 ultra-wideband chips. They are needed to improve the accuracy of device searches in the Find My app. The flagships also boast support for high-speed wireless networks Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
Unlike the basic “tags”, the “firmware” ones have a fast USB Type-C port of the USB 3 standard with data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s.
It is important to note several more improvements, including an upgraded noise reduction system for calls – now the interlocutor will hear your voice much more even in noisy rooms or on the street.
Like several previous generations, the new iPhones support fifth-generation 5G networks, as well as the ability to call emergency services via satellite.
The dust and moisture protection of the devices remains unchanged – IP68. In theory, gadgets can withstand immersion under water to a depth of 6 meters for 30 minutes – this is exactly the information indicated on the website. However, in practice, this should not be checked, since the company does not accept “recessed smartphones” for warranty repairs.
Out of the box, all new items come pre-installed with the iOS 17 operating system. The package includes the smartphone itself, a clip for removing the SIM card tray, a quick user guide, and a USB Type-C/USB Type-C cable.
Specifications
iPhone 15 Pro
Display: 6.1”, OLED, 2556×1179 pixels (density 460 ppi), brightness 2000 nits, refresh rate 1−120 Hz, ProMotion, HDR, Dolby Vision, Always On, Ceramic Shield glass;
Chipset: Apple A17 Pro;
Storage: 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB;
Cameras: main 48 MP (24 mm, f/1.78, OIS), ultra-wide-angle 12 MP (13 mm, viewing angle 120°, f/2.2, macro mode), telephoto 12 MP (77 mm, 3x zoom, f/ 2.8, OIS), front 12 MP;
Connections: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC module (Apple Pay), USB Type-C;
Other: LiDAR, TrueDepth (Face ID), stereo speakers, IP68 waterproofing;
Dimensions and weight: 146.6×70.6×8.25 mm, 187 g.
iPhone 15 Pro Max
Display: 6.7”, OLED, 2796×1290 pixels (density 460 ppi), brightness 2000 nits, refresh rate 1−120 Hz, ProMotion, HDR, Dolby Vision, Always On, Ceramic Shield glass;
Chipset: Apple A17 Pro;
Storage: 256 GB/512 GB/1 TB;
Cameras: main 4 8 MP (24 mm, f/1.78, OIS), ultra-wide-angle 12 MP (13 mm, viewing angle 120°, f/2.2, macro mode), telephoto 12 MP (120 mm, 5x zoom, f /2.8, OIS), front 12 MP;
Connections: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC module (Apple Pay), USB Type-C;
Other: LiDAR, TrueDepth (Face ID), stereo speakers, IP68 waterproofing;
Dimensions and weight: 159.9 × 76.7 × 8.25 mm, 221 g.
Prices and start of sales
The price of the iPhone 15 Pro in the US has not changed, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max has risen slightly in price, and now comes with 256 GB of memory in the base configuration.
Prices and configurations:
- iPhone 15 Pro with 128 GB storage – $999;
- iPhone 15 Pro with 256 GB storage – $1,099;
- iPhone 15 Pro with 512 GB storage – $1,299;
- iPhone 15 Pro with 1TB storage – $1,499.
- iPhone 15 Pro Max with 256 GB storage – $1,199;
- iPhone 15 Pro Max with 512 GB storage – $1,399;
- iPhone 15 Pro Max with 1 TB storage – $1,599.
New Apple products will go on sale in most countries around the world next Friday, September 22. Pre-orders have started in Russia. The cost of the iPhone 15 in M.Video starts from 129,999 rubles, the iPhone 15 Plus – from 139,999 rubles, the iPhone 15 Pro – from 159,999 rubles, iPhone 15 Pro Max – from 194,999 rubles.