In a highly-anticipated event, Apple introduced the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max at its annual fall gathering on Tuesday. The unveiling took place at the iconic Steve Jobs Theater, where tech enthusiasts got their first hands-on experience with these new offerings. The consensus? Substantial refinements compared to their predecessors.
A significant shift is evident in the construction of these flagship devices. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have bid farewell to stainless steel in favor of lightweight titanium, diverging from the materials used in last year’s iPhone 14 Pro models. This change translates to a noticeably lighter feel in hand.
In the official blog, this is what Greg Joswiak, the Senior Vice President of Apple had to say:
“This is the most pro lineup we have ever created, with a state-of-the-art titanium design, the best iPhone camera system yet that enables game-changing new workflows, and the A17 Pro chip, which ushers in a new chapter of performance and games never before seen on iPhone.”
Apple has cultivated a strategy in recent years, using the Pro models to showcase technological advancements while preserving the previous year’s technology in the standard models. This approach continues with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which inherit the perks of last year’s 14 Pro. Consequently, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max stand as Apple’s most advanced phones to date, particularly as rumors of an iPhone 15 Ultra have proven unfounded.
One of the immediate tactile improvements noticed by those who tested the devices in a crowded demo room is the slightly rounded edges, enhancing the ergonomic feel. The reduced weight and slimmer profile left a positive impression, with the new Pros boasting thinner bezels while maintaining screen sizes of 6.1 inches for the iPhone 15 Pro and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
In the realm of aesthetics, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max come in four metallic finishes: classic black and white titanium, as well as striking blue titanium and “natural” titanium with a subtle gray tone.
The pricing structure for these flagship models starts at $999 for the iPhone 15 Pro and $1,199 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Notably, the Pro Max offers more value as it starts with 256GB of internal storage, twice that of its predecessor.
Preorders for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max open this Friday 15 September, with the phones slated to be available in Apple Stores and online starting Friday, 22 September.
In line with recent speculation, Apple has replaced the Lightning port with USB-C for these models, boasting data throughput speeds of 10GB per second. Furthermore, a new action button replaces the traditional mute switch, allowing for a range of customizable shortcuts, from activating the flashlight to capturing photos.
The camera system receives notable upgrades with a 48-megapixel main camera, augmented by lidar scanning for low-light and night photography. A 12-megapixel ultra wide camera carries over from last year’s model, but the standout feature is the enhanced zoom capabilities, particularly on the Pro Max, which offers a 5x optical zoom.
Apple aims to attract professional photographers with additional zoom options in the camera app’s interface. Users can easily switch between popular focal lengths and set their preferred default.
The camera enhancements extend to video capabilities, including vlog encoding and faster data transfer through USB-C for Pro Raw format photos and ProRes format video recording.
One futuristic feature to look forward to is spatial video capture, ideal for users with Apple Vision Pro AR/VR headsets, although this feature is expected to arrive later this year.
Performance-wise, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max feature the A17 Pro Bionic processor, a 3-nanometer chip with 19 billion transistors, offering 20% faster graphics performance compared to the previous generation. This processing power enhances not only gaming experiences but also augmented reality applications.
These devices come equipped with iOS 17, which introduces StandBy Mode—a novel feature unveiled at WWDC 2023. This mode transforms the iPhone into a passive, oversized alarm clock when mounted on a MagSafe stand, providing a unique nighttime experience.
Read Also:
