Iphone 15 series Review

The iPhone 15 features a sleek design with clean lines, adopting a more mature aesthetic. Apple introduces a new color infusion process for the rear glass, providing matte Black and pastel options in Blue, Green, Pink, or Yellow.

With dimensions of 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (HWD) and a weight of 6.02 ounces, the iPhone 15 is slightly taller by 0.03 inches but lighter by 0.05 ounces compared to the iPhone 14. The phone exhibits excellent build quality, utilizing Apple's Ceramic Shield for display protection and textured matte glass covering the battery. It is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance, capable of withstanding submersion in up to 18 feet of water for 30 minutes. Despite the matte finish, the phone may be somewhat slippery, recommending the use of a protective case.

Unlike the Pro models, the iPhone 15 lacks the Action button, retaining the traditional ringer switch present in all iPhones since 2007. The phone maintains separate volume toggles and the power/screen lock button, offering satisfying travel and feedback. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus support USB 2.0 with data transfer speeds of 480Mbps, while the Pro models feature faster USB-C supporting speeds up to 10Gbps, along with advanced features like direct video recording to external hard drives. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus can utilize an Apple adapter for video mirroring and support video out up to 4K through DisplayPort-to-USB-C.

iPhone 15's Dynamic Island and Enhanced Visual Experience

The iPhone 15 introduces a significant screen change with the adoption of Apple's Dynamic Island, eliminating the notch for a smoother display experience seen in the iPhone 14 Pro models. The Dynamic Island surrounds the TrueDepth selfie and Face ID cameras, providing dynamic content for various apps, although the base iPhones lack the Pro line's always-on display.

The iPhone 15's Super Retina XDR OLED display, maintaining a 6.1-inch size, increases pixel density to 460ppi at 2,556 by 1,179 pixels. The larger 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 15 Plus maintains the same density at 460ppi with 2,796 by 1,290 pixels. Both screens feature a two-million-to-one contrast ratio and improved brightness levels of 1,000 nits (typical), 1,600 nits (HDR), and 2,000 nits (peak outdoor), aligning with the brightness of the iPhone 15 Pro models.

In everyday use, the iPhone 15's screen performs well, with the Dynamic Island upgrade being a highlight for users transitioning from older iPhones. The display offers improved visibility under direct sunlight and provides an excellent content consumption experience with Wide P3 color and HDR support, despite the 60Hz refresh rate, which may go unnoticed by many users.

iPhone 15 Unleashes A16 Bionic Brilliance for Superior Performance

The standard iPhone 15 models implement a novel approach by incorporating the A16 Bionic chip from the previous year's Pro line, specifically from the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. This 4nm process chip boasts a six-core configuration, featuring two performance cores at 3.46GHz, four efficiency cores at an undisclosed speed, a five-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. With 6GB of LPDDR5x RAM and storage choices ranging from 128GB to 512GB (without expandable storage), the iPhone 15 base models showcase a substantial performance improvement, despite recycling internals from prior devices.

Graphics enhancements are evident, as benchmark scores from GFXBench Aztec Ruins, T-Rex, and Manhattan average 60fps, surpassing the iPhone 14 and Galaxy S23 and aligning with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Real-world tests affirm the iPhone 15's ability to smoothly handle demanding games like Genshin Impact at high settings, navigate simpler games from Apple Arcade, and seamlessly run various iOS apps. The larger iPhone 15 Plus, with identical specifications, delivers a similarly impressive performance.

iPhone 15 Packs More Power and Enhanced Charging Features

The base iPhone 15 features a 3,349mAh battery, a slight increase from the iPhone 14, resulting in an additional 30 minutes of power in battery tests. It performs as Apple claims, playing video for 16 hours, a half-hour improvement over its predecessor. In real-world use, the iPhone 15 comfortably lasts through a full day with a bit of power remaining. The larger 15 Plus offers a few more hours of runtime.

Both models support 20W wired charging, with no charging brick included in the box but a high-quality USB-C-to-USB-C cable provided. Charging times are comparable to other models, and wireless charging is available with MagSafe accessories at 15W or regular Qi wireless chargers at 7.5W.

iPhone 15 Balances Impressive 5G Performance with Wi-Fi Choices

The iPhone 15 maintains connectivity in line with the Pro models but falls slightly short in some aspects. It adopts the Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem for 5G, delivering impressive speeds on AT&T's network in New York City. The Wi-Fi, however, retains the iPhone 14's Wi-Fi 6 instead of upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E, resulting in slightly slower speeds. The phone features Bluetooth 5.3 for robust connections with lower battery consumption.

Notably, the iPhone 15 lacks support for the Thread smart home networking standard, a feature present in the Pro models. In the US, all iPhone 15 models are eSIM-only, supporting up to two active numbers simultaneously. AT&T facilitates seamless remote provisioning of the iPhone 15. Call testing on AT&T's network showed consistently loud and clear conversations, and the stereo speakers provided ample punch and volume. The Emergency Roadside Assistance service offers two years of access, allowing users to send satellite text messages for assistance in areas with no regular cellular coverage, connecting them with a local AAA provider for services like tows.

Advanced Camera Capabilities of the iPhone 15 Series

The iPhone 15 series shares a consistent 48MP main camera sensor. Unlike typical approaches that produce 12MP photos, Apple uniquely combines a full 48MP shot with a 12MP binned photo, resulting in a final 24MP image. This method aims to maintain fine detail and improve low-light performance. While users can save photos in HEIF or jpeg formats, the ProRAW feature is exclusive to the 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Notably, the iPhone 15 introduces 2x "optical" zoom without a dedicated telephoto lens, achieving clarity comparable to a 2x lens through software enhancement of the central 12MP sensor. The secondary 12MP ultra-wide camera lacks macro support, distinguishing it from the Pro models, but it captures expansive 0.5x photos ideal for various settings. The consistent 12MP TrueDepth selfie camera across all models offers advanced features like Deep Fusion, Night Mode, and Portrait Lighting.

Photos from both cameras exhibit impressive quality, particularly in daytime shots with vibrant color and balanced HDR adjustments. While the ultrawide sensor may introduce some optical distortion, resulting images are engaging with appealing color and focus. Nighttime shots, even with deep zoom on a moving boat, demonstrate sharpness and exposure. Selfies and portraits deliver solid results, with the portrait effect working well for people.

Video capabilities on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus match most features of the Pro models, excluding ProRes, Log, and Macro recording. However, users still enjoy 4K60 from all three cameras, along with Action mode, Cinematic mode, and Dolby Vision. The video quality reinforces the iPhone's reputation for excellent performance in smartphone video capture, even when compared to feature-rich Android counterparts.

Standby Mode

A notable addition is Standby mode, turning the iPhone into a smart display when plugged in and placed on its side. In Standby mode, the phone can showcase two widgets simultaneously, including batteries, calendar, clock, news headlines, reading list, reminders, and weather. This feature makes it a convenient companion for desksides or bedside use.

Users can be assured that Apple commits to providing software and security updates for the iPhone 15 for a minimum of five years. This is a significant advantage compared to Android smartphones, which typically receive updates for two to four years in terms of both operating systems and security.

Final Thoughts

The iPhone 15 stands out as a top-notch smartphone, offering almost all the cutting-edge features. Its quick performance, vibrant display, and high-quality cameras make it a solid recommendation for those upgrading from an iPhone 12 or 13. It's also a great option for beginners, providing strong performance and typical iPhone excellence at a reasonably affordable price.