Apple iPhone 15 is the iPhone 15 Pro Apple introduced the newest wave of iPhones on Tuesday at its “Wonderlust” event, along with improvements to the Apple Watch. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are here, and when they go on sale on September 22nd, you may have to choose whether to spend the extra cash for a Pro model.
The new Dynamic Island, which distinguished the iPhone 14 from the iPhone 14 Pro on previous models, has now trickled down to the standard iPhone 15, rendering the whole iPhone 15 line notchless. However, there are crucial distinctions to take into account while choosing between the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro. Keep in mind that we haven’t reviewed the new iPhones yet; therefore, this analysis is based on our firsthand observations of them and their technical specifications.
Apple iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Display and casing
The 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro both has a resolution of 2,556 x 1,179 pixels. However, Apple’s ProMotion technology means that the display on the Pro has a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz. Compared to the iPhone 15’s fixed 60Hz refresh rate, it should produce smoother action in videos, games, and even just navigating through websites. The Pro will reduce the refresh rate while you aren’t playing games or watching YouTube on your phone in order to save battery.
The always-on display on the iPhone 15 Pro keeps the screen lit as it charges so you may enjoy StandBy mode. The iPhone 15 does not have an always-on display.
The materials used to make the 15-inch and 15-inch Pro iPhones differ. The iPhone 15 has an aluminum body and a glass back with color infusion, while the iPhone 15 Pro has a titanium body and a matte, textured glass back. For the iPhone 15, additional color choices include pink, soft yellow, light green, pastel blue, and black. More sober colors like black, white, dark blue, and natural titanium that has a beige appearance are offered on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 15 is somewhat larger overall than the iPhone 15 Pro, but it is also lighter. Despite the fact that titanium is lighter than aluminum, the iPhone 15 Pro weighs more than the iPhone 15 in large part due to the third camera it features. The weights of the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are 6.02 ounces (171 grams) and 6.6 ounces (187 grams), respectively. The iPhone 15 Pro sports ultrathin bezels, is a millimeter slimmer than the iPhone 15, and loses a millimeter from both the width and height of the device.
The addition of the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro is the final distinction between the two enclosures. It takes the place of the iPhone 15’s still-present mute switch. The Action button mutes and unmutes by default, but you can customize it to perform various tasks, such as turning on the flashlight, creating a voice note, or launching the camera app and taking a picture.
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Cameras
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro both have two cameras on the back, similar to earlier iPhone models. The iPhone 15 Pro adds a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with a 3x optical zoom that allows you to get closer to your subject. Both models come with a 48-megapixel wide lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens.
While night mode is supported on both devices, only the iPhone 15 Pro allows for portrait-style night mode photography.
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Components
The A16 Bionic chip within the iPhone 15 and the A17 Pro chip inside the iPhone 15 Pro are different. Given that each processor is a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores, both models should be more than fast enough. The A17 Pro Bionic CPU in the iPhone 15 Pro includes a six-core GPU compared to the A16 Bionic’s five-core GPU, making it more suitable for graphics and gaming.
Both models come in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options, with the iPhone 15 Pro also providing a 1TB option.
USB-C rates between the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro
The latest versions feature USB-C charging, however only the iPhone 15 Pro is compatible with USB 3.0’s 10Gbps transfer rates. Since Apple includes a USB 2 cord with both phones, the 15 Pro only supports USB 2 speeds of 480Mbps, therefore you’ll need to provide your own USB-C 3 cable.
Prices for the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro
Finally, we reach the price disparity. No real shocks here: Apple continues to charge $200 more for the iPhone 15 Pro than the iPhone 15 does. Starting prices for the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are respectively $799 (£799, AU$1,499) and $999 (£999, AU$1,849).
Apple iPhone 15 vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, tech, resolution, refresh rate, brightness | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate; 1,000 nits | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 120Hz adaptive refresh rate; 1,000 nits |
| Pixel density | 460 ppi | 460 ppi |
| Enclosure material | Aluminum with color-infused glass back | Titanium with textured matte glass back |
| Dimensions (inches) | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in. | 2.78 x 5.77 x 0.32 in. |
| Dimensions (millimeters) | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm | 70.6 x 146.6 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 171 g (6.02 oz) | 187 g (6.6 oz) |
| Mobile software | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel telephoto (3x optical) |
| Front-facing camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video capture | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A17 Pro |
| RAM/storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Battery/charging speeds | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours streamed) | Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed) |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C (USB 2.0) | USB-C (USB 3.0) |
| Side button/switch | Mute switch | Action button |
| Headphone jack | None | None |
| Special features | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe (up to 15W), Qi wireless charging to 7.5W, Dynamic Island | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe (up to 15W), Qi wireless charging to 7.5W, Dynamic Island, 3x optical zoom |
| US price off-contract | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $999 (128GB, $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) |
| UK price | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB) |
| Australia price | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) | AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,399 (512GB), AU$2,749 (1TB) |
