Full reviews of Apple iPhone 15:
The Apple iPhone 15 is the latest flagship smartphone in this year from Apple. As with every new iPhone release, there’s a lot of hype and excitement around the device. But is the Apple iPhone 15 worth an upgrade? Here’s an in depth full review of the Apple iPhone 15 features, performance, camera capabilities, battery life, and more.
Pros and Cons of the Apple iPhone 15
Pros:
- All-new design with softer edges
- Dynamic Island display cutout
- Brighter OLED display with HDR
- A16 Bionic chip delivers fast performance
- New 48MP main camera captures more detail
- Auto-portrait mode and improved low light photos
- Crash detection and emergency SOS features
- Satellite connectivity for emergencies (available in November)
- Durable ceramic shield front glass
- Now uses USB-C for charging/syncing
Cons:
- Still 60Hz display on base model
- Colors are a bit underwhelming
- No fast charging included
- Most changes are minor updates rather than groundbreaking new features
- Very similar design to iPhone 14 and 13 models
Design and Display quality
The Apple iPhone 15 looks very similar to the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 models before it. You get the same flat-edge design with aluminum rails and a glass back. However, Apple has slightly rounded the edges and corners to make it more comfortable to hold. The back glass now has a soft “satin” finish as well.
Available colors include Midnight (black), Starlight (off-white), Blue, Purple, and Product Red. The colors are unfortunately a bit muted and underwhelming. Blue is barely noticeable. The satin back helps hide fingerprints and smudges at least.
The 6.1” OLED display is brighter than ever at up to 2000 nits peak HDR brightness. This makes it easy to see outdoors in sunlight. The screen now has the Dynamic Island cutout instead of the old notch. This houses the front facing camera and Face ID tech while also serving as an interactive notification hub.
Unfortunately, the base iPhone 15 is still limited to a 60Hz refresh rate display. All pro models and many cheaper Android phones now offer higher 90Hz or 120Hz displays for smoother scrolling and animations. For the average user though, 60Hz is likely fine.
A16 Bionic Performance
Powering the Apple iPhone 15 is Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chip. It’s built on a 4nm manufacturing process and has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core neural engine. This delivers excellent performance for apps, games, AR experiences, photography, and more.
While not quite as fast as the A16 found in iPhone 14 Pro models, the A16 here is 20% faster than the previous A15 chip. This makes the iPhone 15 feel very speedy and fluid in daily use. It can handle demanding games and augmented reality apps without any issue.
The neural engine powers the phone’s machine learning capabilities for things like live text recognition in photos and app recommendations in the App Library. Overall performance is superb thanks to Apple’s tight integration of hardware and software.
Apple iPhone 15 Cameras:
The Apple iPhone 15 brings some solid upgrades to its rear dual camera system:
Main: 48MP sensor (from 12MP before).
Ultra Wide: 12MP sensor with f/2.2 aperture.
That new 48MP main sensor captures a tremendous amount of detail. Apple leverages pixel binning to turn this into sharp 12MP photos normally. The default setting combines and processes 4 pixels into 1 to reduce noise.
You can switch to the full 48MP resolution when you need massive prints or want to crop in on photos. Detail is preserved incredibly well. Low light photos also look fantastic thanks to the sensor’s wider aperture and improvements to Smart HDR 4.
The ultra wide camera lets you capture sweeping landscape or architecture shots. Its quality is improved over previous models as well.
But there are two particularly awesome new camera capabilities on the Apple iPhone 15:
Auto Portrait Mode Apple iPhone 15
You no longer need to manually switch into portrait mode to take background-blurred photos. Apple iPhone 15 automatically detects faces and pets and captures depth information. Later, you can turn these into portrait shots using the photo editing tools.
Action Mode for iPhone 15
This uses the phone’s advanced stabilization to make videos incredibly smooth, even when you’re moving around. Action mode video almost looks like it was shot on a gimbal. You can capture shockingly stable footage while following fast moving subjects. Vloggers will love this new mode.
Battery Life of Apple iPhone 15
Battery life sees noticeable improvements on the Apple iPhone 15 thanks to the power efficient A16 chip and iOS 16 software optimizations. You can expect about 1.5 hours longer run time than the iPhone 14.
The iPhone 15 Plus bumps this up even further, with Apple claiming it has the longest battery life ever in an iPhone. That model can last days on a single charge with light use.
Both phones still charge rather slowly with the included Lightning to USB-C cable. 0-50% charge takes about 30 minutes with a 20W adapter. There’s unfortunately no fast charging support out of the box. At least the shift to USB-C makes it easy to use higher wattage third party chargers and peripherals now.
Additional Features of Apple iPhone 15
Here are some other noteworthy features and capabilities of the iPhone 15:
Crash detection: The iPhone can now detect severe car crashes and automatically dial emergency services if you are unresponsive. This could be lifesaving technology.
Satellite connectivity: Starting in November, iPhone 15 models will be able to connect to satellites to send emergency texts and share your location when outside cellular or Wi-Fi coverage.
Emergency SOS via satellite: If you’re stranded without service, you can now use satellite connectivity to contact emergency services, share your location, and more. Rolls out in November.
Dual eSIM: Apple iPhone 15 models are the first to offer dual eSIM functionality rather than a physical SIM card slot. This makes it easy to manage multiple lines.
Ceramic shield display: The durable ceramic shield front glass protects against scratches and drops.
Improved haptics: A new, more precise haptic engine makes taps and vibrations feel more responsive.
A16 Bionic chip: The A16 chip brings performance gains and enables advanced features like crash detection.
Action mode stabilization: The new action mode keeps video incredibly smooth and stable for activity shots.
Overall, while not revolutionary, the Apple iPhone 15 offers great refinements and new capabilities that iPhone users will appreciate.
Who Should Buy the iPhone 15?
The Apple iPhone 15 delivers an all around upgrade over previous models. But is it worth the $799 starting price. Here’s a look at who should consider buying the iPhone 15.
Current iPhone owners: Those upgrading from an iPhone 11, XR, or older will see major improvements across the board. The cameras, battery life, performance, and display are noticeably better.
First time iPhone buyers: This is an excellent option for iOS newcomers. You get Apple’s latest technology in sleek, premium package that will feel fast and fluid for years.
Photography enthusiasts: The much improved camera system with 48MP sensor and new modes like Action mode make this a great choice for photographers and content creators.
Frequent travelers: The satellite connectivity for emergencies gives you peace of mind when venturing off the grid. Dual eSIM support also makes it easy to get connected abroad.
For anyone clinging to an older generation iPhone, the iPhone 15 is a worthwhile step up across the board. Power users may still want to spring for the iPhone 14 Pro or upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models. But most buyers will be very happy with the Apple iPhone 15.
iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Which Should You Buy?
The Apple iPhone 15 refines and builds upon the iPhone 14 without completely reinventing Apple’s flagship phone. But is it enough of an upgrade over the now discounted iPhone 14? Here’s how the two phones compare:
- The iPhone 15 has a new 48MP main camera vs 12MP on the iPhone 14. This allows for more detailed photos.
- Visual core and ISP upgrades on iPhone 15 improve low light shots. The ultra wide camera is better too.
- Crash detection and satellite connectivity for emergencies give you more peace of mind with the iPhone 15 when traveling.
- While minor, the iPhone 15 design tweaks do make it more comfortable to hold with its softened edges and satin glass back.
- Both have the A15 Bionic chip, so performance is virtually identical. The iPhone 15 will get an extra year of iOS updates down the road however.
- Battery life sees a nice bump on iPhone 15 – expect over 1 hour longer runtime.
Overall, while the upgrades are not massive, the iPhone 15 does offer a better display, cameras, battery life, and safety features compared to the iPhone 14. Unless you find the iPhone 14 at a steep discount, the iPhone 15 is the way to go for future-proofing.
So, Final Opinion for iPhone 15:
Apple iPhone 15 is more refinement than revolution. But the smart upgrades across the board make this an excellent option for upgraders and new iPhone buyers alike.
You get excellent performance from the A16 Bionic chip, much improved battery life, highly capable dual cameras, crash detection, and an overall premium iOS experience. While the 60Hz display and mundane design are disappointing, the iPhone 15 still shines in daily use.
Starting at $799, it’s certainly not cheap. But thanks to the smooth software, long support lifetime, and reliable hardware, you can be confident the iPhone 15 will deliver years of hassle free use. If you want Apple’s latest tech in a reasonably sized form factor, the iPhone 15 delivers.
FAQs for Apple iPhone 15:
Here are answers to some common questions about Apple’s new iPhone 15:
Q: How is the battery life on the iPhone 15?
Battery life is significantly improved on the iPhone 15. Apple claims it lasts over 1 hour longer than iPhone 14. Expect it to comfortably get through a full day of heavy use.
Q: What colors does the iPhone 15 come in?
It’s available in Midnight (black), Starlight (white), Blue, Purple, and Product Red color options. However, the new blue color is quite muted and subtle.
Q: Does the iPhone 15 have a headphone jack?
No, there is no headphone jack on any iPhone 15 model. You’ll need to use the built-in speakers, Lightning headphones, Bluetooth headphones, or a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter.
Q: Are the cameras better on the iPhone 15?
Yes, the rear camera system sees major improvements. This includes a new 48MP main sensor for detailed photos, Action Mode for stabilized videos, and Auto-Portrait mode.
Q: Does the iPhone 15 have USB-C charging?
Yes, the iPhone 15 has made the switch to USB-C charging rather than Lightning. This allows for faster charging and compatibility with more accessories.
Q: Should I buy the iPhone 14 or iPhone 15?
The iPhone 15 has a better camera, battery life and new safety features like Crash Detection. But the iPhone 14 is cheaper. Overall, the iPhone 15 is the better buy unless you find the 14 heavily discounted.
Hope this detailed Apple iPhone 15 review helps you determine if it’s the right upgrade for you! Let me know if you have any other questions.
