Unboxing the iPhone 15 Pro

First things first, let's unbox the new iPhone 15 Pro. As we peel off those familiar stickers and slide off the lid, we're greeted by the phone itself. This particular model features the natural titanium finish, a material we'll examine closely in a bit.

Inside the box, you'll find the usual "Designed by Apple in California" packet, containing a tiny instruction booklet and a single Apple sticker. The most notable new accessory included this year is the USB-C to USB-C cable. Yes, Apple has finally transitioned from the Lightning port to USB-C, and this high-quality braided nylon cable should ease the transition for many users.

Design and Build

The iPhone 15 Pro comes in four colors: natural titanium, blue, white, and black. The pricing remains consistent with last year, starting at around $1,000 for the base model with storage options ranging from 128GB to 1TB. Despite rumors, there hasn't been a drastic price increase, which is a relief for many potential buyers.

Upon powering on the phone, you'll encounter a new setup menu related to the new action button, replacing the old silent ringer switch. This customizable button can perform various functions, which we'll delve into shortly.

Familiar Yet Refined Design

From a design perspective, the iPhone 15 Pro looks quite similar to last year's model. It retains the 6.1-inch display with the same size dynamic island notch at the top. While some claim the bezels are slightly smaller, the difference is minimal. The titanium build and finish, however, is new. Previous iPhone Pros used stainless steel, while the regular iPhones used aluminum. The iPhone 15 Pro's titanium construction, as Apple claims, uses the same alloy found in spacecraft. This makes the phone notably lighter, especially the Pro Max version.

One potential downside to titanium is its inconsistent finish. You might notice smudges, lines, or slight discoloration, particularly on the colored models. However, the phone is less prone to fingerprints compared to last year's polished stainless steel models. Additionally, the sharp edges of the iPhone have been subtly rounded off, making it more comfortable to hold.

Major Physical Changes: Action Button and USB-C

The action button, replacing the silent ringer switch, is a significant addition. This small button, similar to the volume buttons, can be customized to perform various functions when long-pressed. You can choose from nine different actions, such as toggling silent mode, launching the camera, flashlight, magnifier, starting a voice memo, triggering a shortcut, or accessibility feature, or even setting it to do nothing.

Another major change is the switch to USB-C. All iPhone 15 models now use USB-C, aligning with Apple's other major products. This change simplifies things, allowing you to use a universal smartphone plug and even share charging cables with non-Apple devices. While the transition may take some time, the benefits of a universal plug type are significant.

Display and Performance

The iPhone 15 Pro retains the LTPO Super Retina XDR screen with HDR10 and Dolby Vision support. The max brightness remains at 1,000 nits for user-adjusted settings and up to 2,000 nits peak auto brightness. The resolution is still 2556 by 1179, which is perfectly adequate for a phone of this size. The 120Hz ProMotion display ensures a smooth and responsive experience, making it one of the best displays on the market.

Under the hood, the iPhone 15 Pro is powered by Apple's new A17 Pro processor, paired with 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB in the previous model). This makes it the most powerful iPhone to date, capable of handling complex, console-quality games and other demanding tasks with ease. However, for everyday use, the performance improvements might not be immediately noticeable.

Battery Life and Charging

Surprisingly, Apple didn't highlight any significant improvements in battery life for the iPhone 15 Pro. The battery capacity is slightly larger than the iPhone 14 Pro, but charging speeds remain the same, even with the switch to USB-C. However, Apple has introduced an 80% charge limit option in the battery settings to help reduce battery aging and optimize charging.

Camera Enhancements

Camera improvements are a staple of every new iPhone release, and the iPhone 15 Pro is no exception. While the hardware remains the same as last year, featuring a 48MP main lens, 12MP telephoto lens, and 12MP ultra-wide lens, the software and functionality have seen significant upgrades.

You now have the option to capture 24MP and 48MP photos, with the ability to save them in the high-efficiency image file format (HEIF) instead of just RAW. The main camera lens offers three focal lengths—24mm, 28mm, and 35mm—accessible by tapping the 1X icon or using the zoom dial. These different focal lengths allow for creative flexibility in your photography.

The regular iPhone 15 Pro has a 3X optical zoom, while the Pro Max offers an improved 5X zoom lens. Apple has also enhanced portrait photography, low-light performance, detail, and color accuracy. We'll be conducting extensive camera tests soon to showcase these improvements.

Conclusion

In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro brings several notable updates, including the switch to USB-C, the new action button, and the lightweight titanium build. While it may not be a massive leap from last year's model, these enhancements make it a compelling upgrade, especially if you've skipped a few generations.

What are your thoughts on the new iPhone 15 Pro? Will you be upgrading this year? Share your review below.