The iPhone 15 Pro was released in September 2023 and now, several months later, it’s time for a comprehensive review. As a buyer from day one, I was able to test its features firsthand. Coming from an iPhone 12 Pro, the updates were impressive, but several issues inevitably arose.
If you’re not sure whether to leap or not, this guide should help you. I’ll talk about the pros and cons of the new line to help you decide if it’s worth your money or not. Let’s dive in.
What’s so special about the iPhone 15?
USB-C cable compatibility
As we all know, the iPhone 15 series is the first iPhone to feature USB-C. It’s the main reason I wanted to upgrade my device in the first place. I was incredibly excited that Apple finally made the change.
For me, the iPhone 15 Pro’s switch to USB-C has been almost entirely positive. While I did have to purchase some new cables (USB-A to USB-C, specifically), this was mainly due to my home setup. If not for that, the USB-C cable that comes with the device would have been enough, and purchasing more cables is neither difficult nor expensive.
Despite this setback, a USB-C iPhone with USB-C is a blessing because I no longer need a proprietary cable just for my phone. Having an iPhone that charges the same way as any other device I have is fantastic. While Apple fought for Lightning for as long as it could, I think the change is fantastic. I feel like most consumers will agree on that point as well.
Extended battery life
When making the jump from the iPhone 12 Pro to the iPhone 15 Pro, one of the biggest things that caught my attention was the battery life. With a decent 3274 mAh battery, it does a great job of keeping a charge throughout the day. While I was used to carrying an external battery with my iPhone 12 Pro, I don’t feel it as necessary with the iPhone 15.
Now, this is obviously because one is newer (and a little bigger) than the other, but considering that the iPhone 15 Pro’s battery needs to keep the powerful A17 Pro running, I think the iPhone 15 Pro is capable of Withstand all-day use. fairly good.
However, is the iPhone 15 Pro’s 3,274 mAh battery an upgrade from the 12 Pro’s 2,815 mAh battery? Well, one number is greater than the other, that’s for sure. I admit that I may like the battery on my new device because it is indeed a new device and battery. Despite this, I expect a good battery to keep me topped up all day with typical use, and the iPhone 15 Pro succeeds more than it fails. In the end, that’s all I care about.
All new action button
For my last point, I want to take a look at what I think is the sleeper of the Pro series: the action button. Along with USB-C, another new feature for the iPhone 15 Pro series is the move from a physical slider to an action button, which is customizable and lets you quickly access a variety of functions.
Admittedly, when the button was first announced, I didn’t see much use. While everyone capable should always keep their phone on mute anyway, the physical switch on the iPhone just made sense. Apparently. While you can assign different things to the action button, like your camera or even language translation, I think assigning the flashlight to the action button is a real-life changer for me.
Before the button, I didn’t realize how often I use my iPhone’s flashlight. Turns out I use it all the time. As a musician, I’m constantly trying to find small things in a dark or dimly lit room, and being able to access my flashlight without even turning on the screen is a real blessing.
Of course, this only scratches the surface of what I like about the iPhone 15 Pro. I haven’t even gotten into the camera improvements, satellite roadside assistance, and power behind the A17 Pro, but I’m trying to keep this brief for all. Personally, if you already like the iPhone, you will love the improvements and updates to this device.
What are the disadvantages of the iPhone 15?
Overheating problems
Following the launch of the iPhone 15, reports emerged that the devices were overheating, especially while charging. While iOS 17.0.3 attempts to fix this issue, my personal iPhone still gets quite hot. While I’ve never faced the overheating issues that many experience, I found that the device often feels incredibly warm, even with moderate use.
I notice this most when using my smartphone outside with something CPU-intensive. However, this will happen regardless of the device you use.
While running resource-intensive apps in hot weather conditions will increase the temperature of your device, I still find that my iPhone 15 Pro generally runs hotter than my iPhone 12 Pro. This is noticeable simply by handling the device, which can cause a problem for some users.
Now, since I’m using a launch day device, those who buy a New iPhone may not have the same experience as me. That being said, the heat emanating from my device is enough to make it worth mentioning, but not enough to ruin my experience with the device entirely.
You still need screen protectors
I’m not a fan of cell phone cases and have debated whether to put this in the pros or cons category. With my iPhone 12 Pro, I decided to end cases and screen protectors halfway through the life of the device.
Despite my new preferences, I don’t know if this device is enough evidence for my creed. Look, I’m not a fancy person. I drop my phone a lot. There’s been more than one time when I dropped the 15 Pro and thought, “Well, that screen is broken.” and I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong.
While I haven’t dropped the device on concrete yet (thank goodness), it’s been doing a good job managing my clumsy lifestyle while remaining naked and free.
The fact that it doesn’t have a case doesn’t seem so bad for the device itself, although my screen hasn’t been so lucky. After about eight months of use, I have two fairly decent-sized scratches on the screen, as well as several fine scratches that simply come from dirt and debris in my pockets.
I’m not inclined to run a razor blade across the screen or camera lens, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t take much to create some gnarly indentations in my screen.
I think you can skip the case if you’re careful with your iPhone (don’t try to bend it with your bare hands). Just get at least a screen protector.
The hype has faded
While this may simply be a personal complaint, I think one of the most disappointing experiences with my upgrade was the transition. This has stuck with me since I started upgrading my iPhone, and I feel like this is a shared experience online: I don’t enjoy buying a new iPhone. Sure, I love the updates, but where is the love I used to feel?
I used to feel excited when opening a product and that doesn’t seem to happen anymore when I buy a new iPhone. Apple practically invented unboxing videos and I miss that feeling. I miss feeling excited about having a new device in my hands: looking at it in awe as if I were holding something embryonic.
Apple still does a great job with its packaging, making the act of opening a product an experience in itself. However, by the time I’m halfway through the setup process, the device already feels like it’s the same as always.
Yes, I have more cores in my CPU and more megapixels in my camera, but how often do I notice them? Maybe this is just me. Maybe I’m getting tired as I get older. However, I don’t feel alone in this, especially for long-time iPhone users.
Should you buy the phone or not?
At this point in the iPhone lifecycle, I would recommend waiting to see what the iPhone 16 series offers. The device is worth the money, but unless you haven’t upgraded for a while, subsequent models will likely offer more features. You may also find better build quality. I must say, however, that if you’re dying to upgrade to USB-C, then the device is worth the jump.
If you have an iPhone 14 (or even an iPhone 13), I don’t think it’s worth upgrading right now. Of course, that doesn’t mean I don’t love the phone: I love it. But as I mentioned, I just don’t see the magic in leaping. I don’t think the iPhone 15 Pro has enough tricks for a spectacular act, but Apple still has some rabbits in its hat.
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