If you're looking for the best iPhone out there, then the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are the ones to aim at. Revealed along with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, these two flagship phones come packed with changes and features, including a titanium build, Action button, USB-C port, and more. Here's everything you need to know about Apple's highest-end 2023 smartphones.
iPhone 15 Pro: Release date and availability
Apple revealed the iPhone 15 Pro models on Sept. 12 during a special event. Interested customers can pre-order these devices starting Sept. 15 for $999 and $1,199 respectively, with availability to follow on Sept. 22. Both models offer multiple colorways and storage configurations that go up to 1TB. Though, interestingly, the base Pro model includes 128GB, while its Pro Max counterpart goes for 256GB.
Specifications
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Apple iPhone 15 Pro Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max SoC Apple A17 Pro Apple A17 Pro Display 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR 6.7-inch OLED Super Retina XDR Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB Battery 23 hours 4,422mAh Ports USB-C USB-C Operating System iOS 17 iOS 17 Front camera 12MP TrueDepth camera 12MP TrueDepth camera Connectivity USB 3.0, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread USB 3.0, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Thread Dimensions 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 inches (146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm) 6.29 x 3.01 x 0.32 inches (159.9 x 76.7 x 8.25mm) Colors Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, Black Titanium Camera Main, ultrawide, telephoto 48MP f/1.78 main, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, & 12MP f/2.8 telephoto with 5x optical zoom; 12MP TrueDepth camera Weight 6.6 ounces (187g) 7.8 ounces (221g) IP Rating IP68 IP68 Price $900 $1,200 Release date 2023-09-22 2023-09-22 Main Camera 48MP f/1.78 Wide-Angle Camera 12MP f/2.2 Telephoto 12MP f/2.8
Display
Thinnest bezels in an iPhone
With the introduction of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max came the birth of the controversial Dynamic Island. While some users are fascinated by how it behaves and adapts to the on-screen content, others despise its very existence. The good or bad news, depending on the user category you fall into, is that the Dynamic Island is here to stay. All iPhone 15 models feature this software/hardware magic, so you'll get it whether you get a regular iPhone 15 or a Pro.
And just like on the iPhone 14 Pro, the always-on display is available exclusively on the iPhone 15 Pro models. That's in addition to the 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, which contributes to smoothen animations. Expectedly, the iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen, while the Pro Max goes for a 6.7-inch one. And just like 2022's models, they both offer a pixel density of 460ppi and up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness.
Ports
USB Type-C has arrived
With the EU forcing phone manufacturers to adopt a common charging port, Apple finally made the switch from Lightning to USB-C. This allows users to carry fewer cables when moving around since most recent gadgets recharge through the USB Type-C standards. Some people argue that Lightning is more durable than USB Type-C. While this might be true, the latter supports faster data transfer speeds, giving iPhone 15 Pro users a boost from USB 2 to USB 3. Apart from that, Apple still excludes the physical SIM tray in the U.S. So if you buy an iPhone 15 Pro from the United States, you will have to rely on eSIMs exclusively.
Design
Action button and new colors
Moving on to design, Apple has replaced the mute switch on the iPhone 15 Pro with a multifunctional Action button. Users could also remap it to execute other tasks, such as launching an app. Apart from button, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have ditched the stainless steel build in favor of titanium. The new chassis retires the boxed design and introduces slightly more rounded edges. That's not to mention that it offers four finishes: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Blue Titanium, and Natural Titanium. Lastly, the company has redesigned the internals to make the Pro iPhones more repairable. The change was already applied to the regular iPhone 14 models but not the Pro ones in 2022.
Charging
MagSafe, Qi2, and USB-C
For years, Apple has supported wired and wireless charging on iPhones, and this release is no different. The highest-end models get both Qi2 and MagSafe support, allowing users to choose their preferred option. That's in addition to wired connections through the USB-C port at up to 20W. More interestingly, though, users can now rely on their iPhones to charge an AirPods' case or Apple Watch through a wired connection.
Processor
An exclusive A17 Pro
Apple started including year-old chipsets on regular iPhones with the launch of the 14 series. So while the iPhone 14 Pro models got a taste of 2022's A16 Bionic chip, the regular 14 and 14 Plus had to settle for 2021's A15 Bionic. The Cupertino firm has followed the same route with the iPhone 15 series. This means that only the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max pack the A17 Pro chip, while the regular models have stuck to the A16 Bionic.
The A17 Pro offers a CPU that is up to 10x faster, a 6-core GPU that is up 20% faster, and a Neural Engine that is twice as fast. These upgrades will boost the phones' performance when executing everyday tasks, gaming, and relying on AI-powered features, such as predictive text.
And speaking of chips, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max introduce an upgraded ultra-wideband chip. For reference, Apple first introduced the U1 chip when it debuted the iPhone 11. Since then, the company has used it in many of its products, including flagship Apple Watches, HomePods, AirTags, and more. This enables these devices to gain spatial awareness of their positioning, which unlocks more precise tracking and features. The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max now include a U2 chip, which contributes to preciser positioning when locating compatible devices.
Camera
5x optical zoom for the Pro Max
Apple has begun distinguishing between its Pro iPhone models, starting with the camera hardware. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has an all-new lens that supports up to 5x optical zoom and 25x digital zoom. This change allows Pro Max users to retain acceptable photographic qualities when shooting far subjects. For reference, the iPhone 15 Pro, just like its predecessor, supports up to 3x optical zoom and 15x digital zoom.
Apart from the zoom, both iPhone 15 Pro models can now automatically detect subjects (humans, cats, and dogs) and collect depth data. This enables users to apply Portrait mode effects without needing to toggle the mode manually before shooting. That's not to mention that these two phones are the first to support the Academy Color Encoding System (ACES), which is a standard for color workflows.
iPhone 15 Pro: Bottom line
Apple is further redefining what a Pro iPhone 15 is
In 2022, Apple started heavily distinguishing between the regular and Pro iPhones, although the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are pretty much identical apart from the battery and screen size difference. Similarly, users would only buy an iPhone 14 Pro Max if they wanted a larger display on a Pro unit. This has changed with the iPhone 15 series.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus don't have any notable differences apart from the screen/battery sizes. However, the Pro models have started disintegrating into their own separate identities. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max adopting a superior camera, the iPhone 15 Pro has become a "mid-range" premium iPhone as the Pro Max has stolen the highest-end crown and left the 15 and 15 Plus with the "low-end" price tag.