iPhone 15 Pro

Trade in iPhone 15 Pro

(Image credit: Jason Hiner/ZDNET)

The iPhone 15 Pro models are being heralded as one of the most significant iPhone upgrades since the introduction of the 10th-anniversary iPhone X in 2017. Your first impressions of both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max after seeing them at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino were highly favorable. Notable highlights included their lighter weight, slightly thinner build, and the tactile sensation of the new brushed titanium material.

Last year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max was a best-seller in the iPhone lineup, and this year’s models are expected to continue that trend, especially with the addition of Apple’s new 5x telephoto lens, which adds further exclusivity.

However, the standard iPhone 15 models are also highly impressive this year, as you and ZDNET’s Kerry Wan observed when trying out all four of the new iPhone 15 variants at the event. Your colleague Kerry expressed a preference for the standard iPhone 15, highlighting its impressive features.

Nonetheless, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max offer significant improvements that may make upgrading worthwhile. Let’s explore the key enhancements that are likely to have the most significant impact on daily iPhone usage.

1. Titanium finish means a lighter carry

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max undergo a noticeable transformation in terms of their design and feel this year. The traditional stainless steel chassis has been replaced with brushed titanium, resulting in a matte finish with a textured and more tactile sensation.

Perhaps even more striking than the texture of the titanium is the reduced weight of the Pro models when held in your hand. At 221 grams, they are 8% lighter than last year’s iPhone 14 Pro Max, and Apple proudly labels them as the “lightest Pro models ever.”

Given that the Apple Watch Ultra already utilizes titanium and Apple has a team of metallurgists dedicated to material innovation, there is a high level of confidence in this new titanium finish.

Recent iPhone models have trended towards being quite heavy, so any efforts to make the device more manageable for one-handed use are welcome. Additionally, if the phone becomes less slippery and more user-friendly without the need for a case, it would be an added advantage for users.

2. 5x telephoto means much better photos from a distance

The long-standing rumors about the iPhone getting a true telephoto lens have finally materialized with the introduction of the new 5x zoom, which is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This telephoto lens offers the equivalent of a 120mm focal length on a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Lenses of this kind typically measure 8-10 inches in length and are filled with heavy glass elements, so Apple had to employ engineering wizardry to condense it into a compact circular module with a width only slightly larger than several small coins.

Telephoto photography has indeed been one of the last frontiers for the iPhone camera to conquer. The iPhone has effectively replaced many point-and-shoot cameras and even competed with higher-end professional cameras for certain scenarios, particularly wide-angle shots. However, one area where the iPhone has lagged behind mirrorless and DSLR cameras is in telephoto zoom photography.

To clarify, the 5x zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max matches the zoom capability of the Google Pixel 7 Pro but falls short of the 10x optical zoom offered by Samsung and Huawei. As someone who uses a Samsung phone with a telephoto lens for work, you’ve experienced firsthand the crispness and clarity of photos taken at 5x to 10x zoom with Samsung’s technology, which has outperformed the iPhone’s telephoto capabilities for many years. This new addition to the iPhone’s camera system is a significant step toward closing the gap in telephoto photography.

It’s understandable that you’re eager to test the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto capabilities and assess its image quality, even though it doesn’t quite match the zoom length of Samsung’s telephoto lens. Your full review will provide valuable insights into how the iPhone’s new telephoto lens performs and how it stacks up in terms of image quality. We look forward to reading your comprehensive evaluation in the future.

(Image credit: Jason Hiner/ZDNET)

3. Action button means quick access to your favorite tasks

Apple has introduced a notable change by replacing the traditional Ring/Silent switch on the iPhone with a new Action button. This feature is borrowed from last year’s Apple Watch Ultra, where it was initially introduced as a bright orange button. On the Apple Watch Ultra, this button is customizable with seven different sets of functions. The iPhone version takes this concept even further, offering enhanced customization options and functionality, which could provide users with new ways to interact with their devices.

The Action button on the iPhone offers a range of customization options, allowing users to tailor its functionality to their preferences. By default, the button serves as a mute switch, placing the phone in Silent Mode. However, through the new Action button section in Settings, users can easily switch its function to various other actions, including Focus Mode, Camera, Flashlight, Voice Memos, Magnifier, Shortcuts, or an Accessibility feature.

One particularly versatile use of the Action button is with Shortcuts, where users can set up shortcuts to launch virtually any app on their phone. This flexibility provides the Action button with almost limitless possibilities.

In your case, setting the Action button for instant camera access and using it as a physical shutter button for taking photos is a smart choice. It addresses the delay in accessing the camera app when the phone is locked, which can be a common frustration. This feature is especially valuable for avid photographers like yourself, who capture thousands of photos each year. With the Action button’s quick camera access, you’ll likely take even more photos and miss fewer shots, enhancing your overall photography experience.

4. USB-C means a lot more versatility and speed

The transition from Apple’s Lightning charging port to the more universal USB-C was one of the most highly anticipated changes across all iPhone models this year. This shift was partly driven by a mandate from the European Union, aiming to benefit consumers by reducing electronic waste and improving charging compatibility. Many of Apple’s competitors had already adopted USB-C in their phones for years, enabling faster charging speeds and quicker data transfers compared to the Lightning port used in iPhones. This change aligns the iPhone with the industry standard and brings the benefits of USB-C to Apple’s ecosystem.

The USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max brings several new capabilities thanks to its support for USB 3.0, including:

1. 10Gbps data transfers, which are 20 times faster than USB 2.
2. The ability to charge AirPods Pro 2 (with the new USB-C case) or an Apple Watch directly from the iPhone.
3. Connecting external storage drives to the iPhone.
4. Capturing Apple ProRAW photos in 48 megapixels and automatically transferring them to a Mac via USB-C.
5. Shooting ProRes video and recording directly to an external drive, such as an SSD.
6. Connecting an external 4K monitor to your iPhone.

However, it’s worth noting that most of these capabilities require a USB 3 cable, and the cable that comes in the box with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max supports USB 2. To access these advanced features, you’ll need to purchase a third-party USB 3 cable.

Additionally, the switch to USB-C means you can use the same charging cable for your iPhone, MacBook, or iPad, as well as other non-Apple accessories like cameras, headphones, and the Nintendo Switch. However, your existing Lightning cables and accessories will no longer work with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, although they will still be compatible with older iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and other Apple devices that use Lightning ports.

(Image credit: Jason Hiner/ZDNET)

5. A17 Pro chip means computer-like performance

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the A17 Pro chip, which represents a significant leap forward in performance. This chip is one of the first in the world to use a next-generation 3nm manufacturing process. If you’re not into the technical details of processors, the key takeaway is that the iPhone is now equipped with one of the fastest, most efficient, and most advanced chips available in the market. This advancement in chip technology contributes to enhanced overall performance and efficiency for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

The increased speed and power of the A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max enable these phones to handle high data throughput through the USB-C port and deliver console and desktop-class gaming experiences. The inclusion of ray tracing, a feature used in advanced video games for more realistic graphics, highlights the devices’ gaming capabilities. The fact that the iPhone 15 Pro Max can handle such advanced gaming graphics features traditionally associated with dedicated gaming consoles and PCs underscores its remarkable power.

However, it’s worth noting that despite these performance enhancements, Apple did not allocate additional resources to improve battery life. Some users have reported intermittent battery issues with the iPhone 14 Pro, and even the larger battery in the iPhone 14 Pro Max may struggle to provide a full day of heavy use in certain scenarios, especially in areas with poor mobile connectivity.

Hopefully, in future iterations like the iPhone 16 Pro models, Apple will prioritize increasing battery life to address these concerns and provide a more robust mobile experience.

Source: ZDNET