Table of Contents
| Key Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, 2556 x 1179 pixels, 120Hz |
| Processor | A17 Pro (3nm) |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Main Camera | 48MP, f/1.78, OIS |
| Ultra-wide Camera | 12MP, f/2.2, 120° FOV |
| Telephoto Camera | 12MP, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom |
| Battery | 3,274 mAh, up to 23 hours video playback |
| Dimensions | 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight | 187g |
Pros
- Premium titanium build feels great in hand
- Incredibly powerful A17 Pro processor
- Stunning camera system with improved low-light performance
- ProMotion display with 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rate
- USB-C port with USB 3.0 speeds
- Action button is genuinely useful
Cons
- Still expensive, starting at $999
- 128GB base storage is insufficient for Pro users
- Battery life improvements are marginal
- Charging speeds lag behind competitors
- No significant design changes from the iPhone 14 Pro
Design and Build Quality
The iPhone 15 Pro introduces a significant material upgrade with a titanium frame that replaces the stainless steel used in previous Pro models. This results in a device that's 14% lighter while maintaining exceptional durability. The reduction in weight is immediately noticeable and makes for a more comfortable everyday experience.
Apple has also refined the edges of the device, with a slightly more rounded profile that feels better in hand. The new Natural Titanium color option is particularly striking, with a sophisticated matte finish that resists fingerprints remarkably well.
The new titanium finish provides both premium aesthetics and improved durability
Perhaps the most significant external change is the new Action button that replaces the traditional mute switch. This customizable button can be set to activate various functions such as the flashlight, camera, voice memos, or even custom shortcuts. It's a small but meaningful upgrade that enhances the phone's everyday utility.
Another welcome change is the move to USB-C, replacing the Lightning port. This not only brings the iPhone in line with most modern electronics but also enables faster data transfer rates (up to 10Gbps with an appropriate cable) and more versatile connectivity options.
Display
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display remains one of the best screens on any smartphone. It maintains the excellent ProMotion technology that allows the refresh rate to adapt between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the content, ensuring smooth scrolling and animations while preserving battery life.
Peak brightness has been improved to 2,000 nits outdoors, making the screen easily viewable even in direct sunlight. This is particularly noticeable when using the camera app or checking notifications outdoors.
Color accuracy continues to be exceptional, with support for the P3 wide color gamut and True Tone technology that adjusts the display's white balance to match the ambient lighting. The Dynamic Island, introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro, is still present and now feels more refined with better integration across iOS.
Performance and Battery
The new A17 Pro chip is Apple's first processor built on a 3nm process, resulting in significant performance improvements and better power efficiency. In our benchmarks, the iPhone 15 Pro showed approximately 20% faster CPU performance and up to 30% faster GPU performance compared to the iPhone 14 Pro.
Benchmark Results
This enhanced performance is particularly noticeable in demanding tasks like 4K video editing, AR applications, and gaming. For the first time, the iPhone can handle console-quality games with hardware-accelerated ray tracing, putting it on par with dedicated gaming devices.
Battery life sees moderate improvements over the iPhone 14 Pro. In our standard battery test (web browsing at 150 nits brightness), the iPhone 15 Pro lasted 11 hours and 45 minutes, about 30 minutes longer than its predecessor. Under typical use, most users will still need to charge daily, though light users might stretch to a day and a half.
Charging speeds remain relatively conservative. With a 20W charger, the iPhone 15 Pro reaches about 50% in 30 minutes and takes around 90 minutes for a full charge. Wireless charging via MagSafe tops out at 15W, which is adequate but lags behind competitors that offer 25W or even 50W wireless charging.
Camera System
The camera system represents the most substantial upgrade in the iPhone 15 Pro. The main 48MP sensor, while the same resolution as last year's model, features improved optics and computational photography capabilities. The sensor now captures more light, resulting in significantly better low-light performance.
Daylight photo showcasing excellent dynamic range
Night mode photo with impressive detail preservation
The telephoto camera has been upgraded to a 5x optical zoom (up from 3x), providing greater versatility for portrait and distant photography. This puts the iPhone on par with many Android flagships and is particularly useful for sports, wildlife, or concert photography.
Apple's Photonic Engine, which processes uncompressed images earlier in the capture pipeline, has been improved to deliver better colors and detail. This is especially noticeable in challenging lighting conditions, where the iPhone 15 Pro consistently produces more natural-looking images than most competitors.
Video capabilities continue to be industry-leading. The iPhone 15 Pro can now record 4K60 ProRes video directly to an external storage device via the USB-C port. It also introduces a new Log encoding profile that gives professional videographers more flexibility in post-processing.
Software and Features
The iPhone 15 Pro ships with iOS 17, bringing numerous refinements and new features. The StandBy mode transforms the iPhone into a smart display when charging in landscape orientation, showing customizable information like clocks, calendars, and photo galleries.
Interactive widgets now allow for more functionality without opening apps, and the new Journal app uses on-device intelligence to suggest moments to reflect on and record. Communication gets enhancements too, with the ability to leave video messages when FaceTime calls go unanswered.
Apple promises at least 5 years of software updates for the iPhone 15 Pro, giving it exceptional longevity compared to most Android devices. This long-term support adds significant value to the device, even with its premium price tag.
Verdict
The iPhone 15 Pro represents a substantial upgrade over its predecessor, particularly in terms of performance, camera capabilities, and the switch to USB-C. The titanium design feels premium while reducing weight, and the new Action button adds welcome customization options.
For iPhone 13 Pro or older users, this is a compelling upgrade that delivers noticeable improvements across the board. For iPhone 14 Pro users, the decision is less clear-cut unless camera quality and USB-C connectivity are priorities.
At a starting price of $999, the iPhone 15 Pro remains a premium product, but its combination of hardware excellence, software polish, and long-term support justifies the investment for those who want the best that Apple has to offer. The 128GB base storage, however, feels increasingly inadequate, especially for a device capable of shooting 4K ProRes video.
Final Score
Comments (12)
Thanks for the detailed review! I'm currently using an iPhone 13 and was wondering if the camera improvements alone justify the upgrade?
If you're a photography enthusiast, the upgrade from iPhone 13 to 15 Pro is significant. The 48MP main sensor and 5x telephoto will give you much more versatility and better low-light results. If photography isn't your primary use case, you might want to wait another generation.
I've been using the 15 Pro for about a week now, and I'm really impressed with the titanium build. It's noticeably lighter than my old 13 Pro Max. Battery life is pretty much the same though, still have to charge every night with my usage.
