iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Long Term Review: Are They Still Worthwhile? Plus, They’re the Only iPhones Supporting Apple’s AI
Reviewing the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max: Enhanced Features and Gaming Performance
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Long-Term Review: Are They Still Worthwhile? Plus, They’re the Only iPhones Supporting Apple’s AI The iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max represent more than just incremental upgrades from their predecessors. While visually similar to the iPhone 14 Pro models, these new devices integrate several notable enhancements that distinguish them in the smartphone market.
Enhanced Features: What Sets Them Apart iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Key upgrades include a new “Pro” processor, an Action button, a USB-C port, a titanium frame, and smoother, rounder edges. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also boasts a new 5x zoom camera, enhancing its photographic capabilities significantly. :
Gaming Experience: Optimized for Performance iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Gaming on the iPhone 15 Pro delivers a familiarly smooth experience, akin to other recent iPhone releases. However, the standout feature is its 120Hz ProMotion display, enabling select games to run at 120 frames per second (fps). This higher frame rate provides notably smoother gameplay compared to games limited to 60 fps.
While the iPhone 15 Pro enhances gaming enjoyment, it’s worth noting that even older models such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 13 perform admirably with power-hungry games. Certain upcoming titles, like “Resident Evil Village” and “Assassin’s Creed Mirage,” will exclusively support the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro models, underscoring their necessity for cutting-edge gaming experiences.
Performance and Longevity: A17 Pro’s Advantages iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Benchmark tests reveal substantial improvements in gaming performance with the A17 Pro chip over its predecessors. Compared to the iPhone 13 Pro, the iPhone 15 Pro demonstrates an average gaming performance boost of 17.6%, showcasing its longevity and robust capabilities.
Other Considerations: Overheating Concerns and Exclusive Features
Some users have reported concerns about overheating, particularly with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, these issues may be mitigated by setting up the device without transferring a backup from a previous iPhone. Beyond gaming, the A17 Pro supports features like an AV1 decoder for high-resolution video and USB 3 for faster data transfers via the USB-C port.
Future-Proof Features: Apple’s AI and Beyond iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Looking ahead, the iPhone 15 Pro models will support Apple’s forthcoming AI capabilities with the rollout of iOS 18, distinguishing them from the base iPhone 15 models which lack this advanced integration.
Conclusion: Should You Upgrade to iPhone 15 Pro? iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
Despite the imminent release of the iPhone 16 series, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max remain compelling choices for users seeking cutting-edge performance and enhanced gaming capabilities. Their robust feature set and future-proofing ensure they will continue to excel well into the future. If you’re considering an upgrade, the iPhone 15 Pro models offer significant advancements that justify the investment.y
Design: Introducing titanium into iPhones iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro models mark a significant departure in design for Apple’s flagship smartphones, featuring a titanium frame with rounded edges. Unlike previous iPhone Pro generations with polished steel, the new brushed metal aesthetic of the titanium frame offers a subjective improvement, presenting as less of a fingerprint magnet while still susceptible to smudges from prolonged use. The softer, rounded edges enhance comfort and usability compared to the sharper edges of earlier models like the iPhone 12 to 14 series, though these nuances may go unnoticed if you opt for a protective case, which is recommended (explore our guides to the best iPhone 15 Pro cases and best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases for top choices).
Thanks to the titanium frame, the iPhone 15 Pro models are marginally lighter than their predecessors by 0.67 ounces. While not a drastic reduction, they represent the lightest iPhone Pros since the series debuted with the iPhone 11 in 2019.
Action button: A shortcut to your favorite feature, but it could be better iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro models debut a novel feature known as the “Action button,” replacing the familiar Silent switch. This new button serves as a customizable shortcut, allowing users to perform various tasks swiftly without unlocking their iPhone or navigating through iOS. Tasks include activating or deactivating Focus mode, accessing the camera, toggling the flashlight, starting voice memos, opening the Magnifier or Translate apps, triggering shortcuts in the Shortcuts app, and managing accessibility features. Importantly, the Action button retains the capability to toggle silent mode, akin to its predecessor.
For users seeking efficiency, the Action button proves advantageous, eliminating the need for frequent unlocking and app navigation. However, its potential remains somewhat limited as it supports only one app or feature shortcut at a time. Enhancements such as enabling multiple shortcuts through different button-press combinations (e.g., double or triple-presses) could significantly expand its utility.
Critically, the Action button’s small size and close proximity to the volume-up button may pose challenges, especially for users with larger hands or on the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max model. Despite these ergonomic considerations, the Action button sees increased use compared to the traditional Silent switch, which typically sees limited use over an iPhone’s lifespan.
Cameras: A new 5x zoom camera, but only for the Max: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro models bring several enhancements to their camera capabilities, including Apple’s Smart HDR 5, improved portrait mode, and the ability to capture photos at 24MP resolution alongside the standard 12MP resolution.
Overall, while these upgrades represent a significant step forward, the fundamental quality of photos from the iPhone 15 Pro models remains consistent with the high standards typical of Apple’s iPhone cameras. The noticeable improvements will largely depend on the age of your current iPhone.
One prominent difference between the iPhone 15 Pro models is the camera zoom capabilities. The iPhone 15 Pro Max features a new 5x zoom camera, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro retains the traditional 3x zoom camera. The advantage of the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x zoom camera becomes apparent when zooming beyond 5x, delivering sharper photos compared to the iPhone 15 Pro’s capabilities. Below 5x zoom, differences are less pronounced and mainly noticeable when zooming into already captured photos.
Video recording quality remains excellent and reliable across both models, maintaining Apple’s reputation for exceptional video capture. While the base iPhone 15 models offer similar quality recording up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second (fps), the dedicated zoom camera on the iPhone 15 Pro models provides a notable advantage for video enthusiasts.
Apple has also included professional-grade features in the iPhone 15 Pro models, such as log recording and the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES) for video. Combined with the ProRes recording format carried over from previous iPhone Pro models, these additions enhance the utility of the iPhone 15 Pro models for video professionals, content creators, and hobbyists alike. Additionally, support for Apple’s Spatial video recording, compatible with the Vision Pro AR headset, distinguishes the iPhone 15 Pro models. However, this feature is only relevant if you or your acquaintances own the Vision Pro headset for sharing and viewing Spatial videos.
In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro models elevate both photography and videography capabilities, offering substantial improvements over previous generations, particularly for users focused on advanced video features and enhanced zoom capabilities.
Battery life and charging: The same excellent battery life, and a totally new charging port iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro demonstrated impressive battery endurance, concluding our test with 58% battery remaining, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max retained 69% under similar conditions. Although these results underscore the models’ strong battery performance, they are unlikely to prompt significant changes in users’ charging routines.
A noteworthy update across the entire iPhone 15 series, including the base models, is the adoption of USB-C ports in place of Apple’s proprietary Lightning port. This shift is advantageous for users already equipped with USB-C chargers and cables from other devices such as laptops (including MacBooks), tablets (including iPads), or those transitioning from Android devices to iPhone. It eliminates the need for a dedicated Lightning cable solely for iPhone charging and broadens compatibility with a wider range of accessories compared to those designed exclusively for the Lightning standard.
However, for users deeply embedded in the Lightning ecosystem without other USB-C devices, acquiring new cables and chargers may prove inconvenient. Nonetheless, the move to USB-C was inevitable as Apple aligns its charging ports with industry standards.
Regarding the USB-C port specifics, the iPhone 15 Pro models support USB 3 speeds up to 10Gbps, significantly faster than the USB 2 speeds (around 480Mbps) supported by the base iPhone 15 models. This speed advantage is particularly valuable for users transferring large files, such as high-resolution ProRes videos, between their iPhone and computer. Notably, achieving USB 3 speeds requires a compatible cable, as the included USB-C cable with the iPhone 15 Pro models does not support these speeds.
It’s important to note that despite using the USB-C standard, the iPhone 15 Pro’s USB 3 port does not support Thunderbolt accessories, which may be a limitation for users with existing Thunderbolt storage devices. While Thunderbolt cables can still be used for general data transfer and charging, they won’t achieve Thunderbolt speeds on the iPhone 15 Pro.
In summary, the transition to USB-C in the iPhone 15 Pro models offers enhanced versatility and faster data transfer capabilities, catering to users accustomed to modern connectivity standards while introducing considerations for compatibility with existing accessories and Thunderbolt devices.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Should you buy it?
Designed with video content creators in mind, the iPhone 15 Pro models introduce features like AV1 decoding, USB 3 data transfer speeds, log video capture format, and ACES encoding, which elevate their appeal among professionals.
For gaming enthusiasts, the combination of the 120Hz ProMotion display and the powerful A17 Pro processor makes the iPhone 15 Pro models the best iPhones for immersive gaming experiences.
Even for casual users who prioritize ease of use over professional-grade features, the iPhone 15 Pro models are equally satisfying. The dedicated zoom cameras—a 3x zoom for the iPhone 15 Pro and a 5x zoom for the iPhone 15 Pro Max—cater to users who frequently rely on zoom capabilities or desire enhanced photographic flexibility.
It’s worth noting that the base iPhone 15 models also offer impressive features, including trickle-down advancements from the Pro series such as the Dynamic Island and a 48MP main camera. However, they are distinguished by their 60Hz display, slower USB 2 speeds, and a maximum storage capacity of 512GB compared to the Pro models’ 1TB option. The base models also feature a dual-lens camera instead of the triple-lens setup found in the Pro models.
Looking ahead, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 series in September, potentially introducing significant updates and upgrades. Following Apple’s emphasis on AI features in iOS 18 at WWDC, the next iPhone series is anticipated to integrate AI capabilities to a greater extent than the current iPhone 15 Pro models. Nonetheless, the iPhone 15 Pro models are set to be the only current iPhones compatible with Apple’s AI features upon the iOS 18 launch.
For prospective buyers considering carrier deals, there’s a possibility of substantial discounts or even free upgrades to the next iPhone Pro model with typical carrier agreements. Additionally, there may be discounts on the iPhone 15 Pro models if they remain in Apple’s lineup alongside the new iPhone launch, though historically, Apple tends to discontinue previous-generation Pro models while retaining base models.
In conclusion, whether for immediate needs or anticipation of future upgrades, the iPhone 15 Pro models offer a compelling blend of cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features that cater to a wide range of smartphone users.
