Apple announced the new generation of iPhone during the “Wonderlust” event on September 12, 2023. In this article, we are focusing on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus (not the PRO model) as it brings several features that make it a worthwhile upgrade over the previous generation.
In comparison to the improvements from iPhone 13 to iPhone 14, the new iPhone 15 models offer a better value for your money due the five reasons mentioned below:
1. Dynamic Island
The regular iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now feature the Dynamic Island, which was previously reserved exclusively for the PRO lineup. The Dynamic Island provides a more efficient way to view and manage notifications and alerts. It can display notifications for multiple apps at once, and allows users to quickly tap and hold to view more information or tap to open the app. The Dynamic Island can display the status of things like music playback, timers, and navigation directions, even when users are using other apps. This means that users don’t have to switch back and forth between apps to see what’s happening. It adds a touch of fun and interactivity to the user interface as it can change shape and size to accommodate different content, and it can also be animated to provide feedback to users. This makes it more enjoyable to use the iPhone and makes the user interface more dynamic and engaging.
Here are some specific examples of how the Dynamic Island can improve user experience:
- Music Playback: Dynamic Island displays the album art and song title. It also provides playback controls so the user can pause, play, and skip songs without opening the music app
- Navigation: Dynamic Island displays the next turn information and estimated travel time, and shortcut to the navigation app
- Phone Call: Dynamic Island displays the caller ID and duration of the call with quick controls for mute and end call
- Timer: Dynamic Island displays the remaining time on the timer, allowing users to pause, resume, or stop the timer
2. iPhone 15 has better camera
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus now includes a powerful 48MP Main camera with a new 2x Telephoto option. Compared to the 12MP main camera on the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 lineup has a larger sensor with less noise and more detail with high-resolution photos at 24MP and 48MP. For the first time on an iPhone dual-camera system, the camera on the iPhone 15 can also zoom in further as it has additional 2x Telephoto option to achieve a 2x optical-quality zoom level without sacrificing detail. The iPhone 15 uses a new machine learning algorithm can automatically switch to portrait mode when it detects a person, dog, or cat in the frame and create a precise depth map. This depth map is then used to blur the background and create a bokeh effect and adjust the focus point after the photo has been taken.
| Feature | iPhone 15 | iPhone 14 | iPhone 13 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 48MP, f/1.6, OIS | 12MP, f/1.5, OIS | 12MP, f/1.6, OIS |
| Optical Zoom | .5x, 1x, 2x | .5x, 1x | .5x, 1x |
3. iPhone 15 has Brighter Screen
The iPhone 15’s screen has a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, which is almost double the peak brightness of the iPhone 14’s screen, which had 800-1200 nits. This means that the iPhone 15’s screen is easier to see in bright conditions, such as outdoors on a sunny day. The brightness of the screen makes a big difference on the usability of the device, and iPhone 15 is receiving PRO level brightness capability, making it a worthwhile upgrade.
4. iPhone 15 has A16 Bionic Chip
The iPhone 15 is powered by the new A16 Bionic chip, which is even faster and more efficient than the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14. The A16 Bionic chip has a faster CPU than the A15 Bionic chip, thanks to its new 4nm manufacturing process and improved architecture. This means that the A16 Bionic chip can handle demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, and machine learning more quickly and efficiently. Users can expect smooth multitasking, fast app launches, and enhanced gaming experiences. Thanks to the A16 Bionic chip, the iPhone 15 is more efficient with power consumption and it has a larger battery than the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14.
5. Versatile connectivity with USB-C
In 2022, the European Union passed a law that requires all smartphones and other electronic devices sold in the EU to use a common charging standard by 2024. As a result, the iPhone 15 has switched to USB-C port, which is a big deal on the iPhone because it is a universal standard that is supported by a wide range of devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and accessories. This means that if you have a USB-C cable, you can use it to charge or transfer data between any of your devices, regardless of the brand. In addition, there are few other benefits that make this upgrade worthwhile on the iPhone 15:
- USB-C cables are widely available and affordable
- USB-C supports faster data transfer speeds than Lightning (iPhone 15 only has USB 2,0, so transfer speed will not be any better)
- USB-C can deliver more power than Lightning, charging the phone faster
The Lightning port was a proprietary standard only supported by Apple devices, which meant that it was not as versatile compared to the modern USB-C charging standard. This is a positive development for both consumers and Apple.
Technical Specs: iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14 vs iPhone 13
| Model | iPhone 15 | iPhone 14 | iPhone 13 |
| Product Image |  |  |  |
| Announced | 2023, September 12 | 2022, September 07 | 2021, September 14 |
| Screen Size | 6.1 inches with Dynamic Island | 6.1 inches | 6.1 inches |
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density) | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) | 1170 x 2532 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~460 ppi density) |
| Display | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak) |
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| CPU | Hexa-core (2×3.46 GHz Everest + 4×2.02 GHz Sawtooth) | Hexa-core (2×3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4×1.82 GHz Blizzard) | Hexa-core (2×3.23 GHz Avalanche + 4×1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| Storage and RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM, 512GB 4GB RAM |
| Camera | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120Ëš (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/1.5, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7″, 1.9µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120Ëš (ultrawide) | 12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 120Ëš, 13mm (ultrawide) |
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), Cinematic mode (4K@30fps), stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), Cinematic mode (4K@30fps), stereo sound rec. | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. |
| Front Camera | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) HDR, Cinematic mode (4K@30fps) 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) HDR, Cinematic mode (4K@30fps) 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | 12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″ SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) HDR 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Port | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort | Lightning, USB 2.0 | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.31 in) | 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.7 mm (5.78 x 2.81 x 0.30 in) |
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | 172 g (6.07 oz) | 174 g (6.14 oz) |
| Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame |
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | Ceramic Shield glass IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | Ceramic Shield glass IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) |
| Connectivity & Sensors | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot Nano-SIM and eSIM – International Dual eSIM with multiple numbers – USA Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) – China Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Ultra Wideband 2 (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving) | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot Nano-SIM and eSIM – International Dual eSIM with multiple numbers – USA Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) – China Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Ultra Wideband (UWB) support Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving) | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot Nano-SIM and eSIM or Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Ultra Wideband (UWB) support |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion, non-removable | Li-Ion 3279 mAh, non-removable (12.68 Wh) | Li-Ion 3240 mAh, non-removable (12.41 Wh) |
| Charging | Wired, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 7.5W wireless (Qi) | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 7.5W wireless (Qi) | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 7.5W wireless (Qi) |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink | Midnight, Purple, Starlight, Blue, Red, Yellow | Starlight, Midnight, Blue, Pink, Red, Green |
| OS | iOS 17 | iOS 16, upgradable to iOS 16.6.1, planned upgrade to iOS 17 | iOS 15, upgradable to iOS 16.6.1, planned upgrade to iOS 17 |
| Price (USD) | $799 | $699 | $599 |
| Performance Tests | TBD | AnTuTu: 817125 (v9) GeekBench: 4761 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 775519 (v9) GeekBench: 4645 (v5.1) GFXBench: 59fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
iPhone 15: Last gen Pro model in disguise
Overall, the iPhone 15 offers an enticing package of design enhancements, camera improvements, powerful performance, and updated connectivity options. The regular iPhone 15 borrows many of the key features of the iPhone 14 Pro model, which makes it a worthwhile upgrade for those looking to experience Apple’s latest innovations in smartphone technology. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said about the iPhone 15 Pro, as it doesn’t offer any significant improvements over the last gen iPhone 14 Pro. The regular model is actually a much better value for your money over the Pro models. If you need 120Hz display, Triple camera and LiDAR Scanner, then we recommend that you buy the iPhone 14 Pro instead.
Source: GSMArena
I am officially a tech addict and enjoy providing my views on matters related to this industry. I am always interested in trying out new tech gadgets and I have owned multiple smartphones including the legendary HTC One, SGS2, Nexus 4, iPhone 4, 5S, 6S, XR, Note 9. You can ask me any tech related questions in the comment section or on twitter @hookedNav