iPhone 15: Your new companion

Every few years, Apple updates its hardware lineup with significant, feature-rich updates. And when it doesn't, some really funny memes are produced. But 2023 won't be a meme year for the iPhone since the regular iPhone models are still fascinating. The iPhone 12, which was the first non-Pro model to acquire an OLED screen, is one example of an older model that we have previously seen this transition in. The iPhone 12 (or earlier) owners who have been waiting for a better model may now finally upgrade to the iPhone 15, which is the most exciting iPhone of the year in our opinion.

Apple iPhone 15 specs at a glance:

• Body: 147.6x71.6x7.8mm, 171g; Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame; IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min), Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified).
• Display: 6.10" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak), 1179x2556px resolution, 19.51:9 aspect ratio, 461ppi.
• Chipset: Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm): Hexa-core (2x3.46 GHz Everest + 4x2.02 GHz Sawtooth); Apple GPU (5-core graphics).
• Memory: 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM; NVMe.
• OS/Software: iOS 17.
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm, 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS; Ultra wide angle: 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120-degree.
• Front camera: Wide (main): 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm, 1/3.6", PDAF; Depth: SL 3D.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 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; Front camera: 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS.
• Battery: 3349mAh; Wired, 50% in 30 min (advertised), 15W wireless (MagSafe), 7.5W wireless (Qi), 4.5W reverse wired.
• Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.3; NFC.
• Misc: Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer; stereo speakers; Ultra Wideband 2 (UWB) support, Emergency SOS via satellite (SMS sending/receiving).

A new Apple A16 Bionic chipset is also included with the new iPhone 15. As is customary, the flagship chip from last year is being included with the Pro models rather than the newest and finest device that Apple has to offer. Given the recent debate surrounding the new Apple A17 Pro chip's thermal throttling, this might perhaps be a blessing in disguise. Conversely, the A16 is worn out and accurate. A few other "minor" tweaks are also included in the iPhone 15, such as the addition of an Ultra Wideband 2 (UWB) chip to improve the accuracy of the Find My Friends function.

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that Apple has now adopted the USB Type-C connector for its devices. Cupertino had to make this change primarily because of increasing regulatory demands, but the transition has indeed taken place. Therefore, if you're considering purchasing an iPhone 15 series device, be prepared to replace some of your existing cables.

When it comes to the general outline, the iPhone 15 closely resembles the iPhone 14, and the iPhone 14 is essentially the same as the iPhone 13. Although the overall body dimensions like 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm and a nearly identical weight of 171 grams remain consistent with last year's model, the notable change this year is the introduction of the Dynamic Island, marking a more significant redesign.

The iPhone 15 has bid farewell to the prominent display notch seen in the iPhone 14, replacing it with the same substantial display cutout found in its Pro counterparts. Apple refers to this as the Dynamic Island, and it has been integrated into the user interface with features like notification bubbles.

This cutout is quite large and accommodates various hardware components for Apple's Face ID system, including the selfie camera, which has a relatively large cutout compared to the camera lens itself. The Dynamic Island occupies a significant portion of the iPhone 15's 6.1-inch display, offering a more contemporary appearance compared to the previous notch.

As for the bezels around the display, they aren't particularly thin on the iPhone 15, though they are entirely reasonable for a modern device. However, they are noticeably larger than those on the Pro models.

Apple products consistently demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship, and the iPhone 15 is no exception in terms of its construction. It exudes a remarkable level of solidity, lacking any signs of flex or hollowness, delivering a robust feel.

Corning is providing an enhanced and more resilient glass panel called Ceramic Shield for the front of the device.

It's worth noting that the iPhone 15 boasts an IP68 ingress protection rating, which means it is designed to withstand submersion in up to 6 meters of fresh water for as long as 30 minutes without any issues.

The 6.1-inch OLED display is truly outstanding and surpasses what you'd find on devices of similar size. It reaches an impressive peak brightness of 2,000 nits when used outdoors, ensuring clear visibility even in bright sunlight. Apple's Face ID system, housed within the dynamic island at the screen's top, continues to be one of its standout features.

In place of the traditional mute switch found on previous iPhones, there's now a new action button. This button can be customized to initiate various functions, such as launching apps or performing tasks like activating the flashlight or switching focus modes, rather than simply muting the phone.

Another notable improvement is the transition from Lightning to USB-C. This change primarily entails swapping out the cable for most individuals upgrading from older iPhones, and a cable is already included in the package. Those with existing accessories might need to purchase adapters, but this shift enables the iPhone 15 Pro to charge using virtually any charger and USB-C cable, which are standard for Android devices, PCs, Macs, iPads, and other tablets. You're no longer required to invest in specialized Apple cables.

Furthermore, this change expands the potential for connecting a wide range of accessories, such as display cables, SD card readers, audio adapters, game controllers like the Backbone One, and numerous other USB-C compatible products.

The newly introduced A17 Pro chip offers impressive speed and introduces advanced ray tracing graphics capabilities, akin to those found in gaming consoles. This translates to an enhanced gaming experience, and its speed is expected to remain consistently high for many years.

In terms of battery life, it excels for a phone of its size, lasting approximately 38 hours between charges with active screen use of five hours. Even on the most demanding days, characterized by heavy 5G usage for maps and photography, the battery still manages to provide about 28 hours of use. This implies that you'll need to charge it nightly, but it should effortlessly see you through a full day of use.

The camera on the iPhone 15 Pro is identical to that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, except for the telephoto camera, which provides a 3x optical zoom, similar to previous models.

The primary camera defaults to capturing 24-megapixel photos and offers the flexibility to shoot at three different focal lengths (24, 28, or 35mm). It can also capture full 48MP photos in ProRaw or HEIF formats, a feature appreciated by photography enthusiasts. Additionally, the camera includes the convenient 2x zoom mode from the previous year. All three cameras now automatically generate portrait photos without requiring a dedicated mode, offering a more user-friendly system.

In general, the ultrawide, primary, and 3x telephoto cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro outshine competitors in its size category, delivering impressive image quality in most conditions with minimal effort. However, it's regrettable that it lacks the 5x optical zoom camera found in the Pro Max.

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