Apple introduced four new iPhones on Wednesday, featuring new cameras, chips and, for the first time in over a decade, a new charging solution.
While Apple fans are going to find plenty to like with any of the four new models, a pickier phone enthusiast will be more drawn to the largest Pro Max model, as that is the device that saw the most upgrades.
Apple says titanium, though lighter than stainless steel, produces stronger frames. Apple also subtly rounded the edges where the frame meets the front and back glass panels, making for a more comfortable in-hand feel.
The most exciting addition is the 5X zoom lens in the iPhone 15 Pro Max; the 15 Pro recycles the same 3X telephoto lens from the previous generation.
Both iPhone 15 Pro phones also have a larger main camera image sensor, which combines with a new image processing technique to shoot at three different focal lengths – 24mm, 28mm and 35mm – while using the main image sensor.
There is also a new “action button” in the iPhone Pros that lets users quickly map an action and trigger it with a press. This could, in theory, jump to a specific camera shooting mode or start a recording with one touch, without needing to unlock the phone first.
The non-Pro iPhones are not as exciting, but should be considered good value for casual iPhone users upgrading from a years-old iPhone. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus also come in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes, and both phones gain the “Dynamic Island” feature that was exclusive to the Pro models last year.
The non-Pro iPhones do not get the brand new A17 Pro chip, running instead on the A16 Bionic – which powered the iPhone 14 Pro phones. It is still more than powerful enough.
The frames of these two lower-tier iPhone 15s are made of aluminium but their backs, including the camera module, are made of a single sheet of glass for a more seamless feel. The softer edges can also be found here.
It is not just about the hardware – the new iPhones are also the first Apple devices to ship with the new version of its IOS operating system. The iPhone 15 ships with IOS 17, which brings exciting changes such as interactive widgets and a vastly improved Airdrop that no longer requires the two devices to remain in proximity for the duration of a transfer.
So, while the non-Pro iPhone 15s are a bit boring in terms of hardware upgrades, they will still feel like a fresh device for most consumers, especially those who are jumping from the iPhone 13 series or older.
For power users, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is clearly the star of the show, and I cannot wait to put that new zoom camera to the test. The iPhone 15 series phones are available for pre-order now and will go on sale on September 22.
As for pricing, the iPhone 15 starts at US$799/HK$6,899, the iPhone 15 Plus starts at US$899/HK$7,699, the iPhone 15 Pro starts at US$999/HK$8,599, the Pro Max starts at US$1,199/HK$10,199.
