Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Review

Finally, a clear upgrade: Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus Review

iPhone 15 In a nutshell

The Apple iPhone 15 isn’t just a bit cheaper than its predecessor; it also boasts much-improved specifications. The device feels more comfortable in hand and features a new screen with Dynamic Island, delivering excellent color reproduction and significantly higher peak brightness compared to the old model.

However, the 60Hz refresh rate is a bit outdated. The new 48-megapixel main camera captures incredibly sharp photos, and even the non-Pro iPhone finally gets a decent zoom function, as long as you’re not zooming in too far. The ultrawide camera is a bit dated, and the absence of a macro function is noticeable. The iPhone 15’s battery life is slightly better than its predecessor, making it the longest-lasting among smaller phones. Unfortunately, despite the switch to USB-C, charging is still not as fast as one would hope. The A16 chip isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s speedy, and users can expect long-term software updates

Pros: Fast hardware and software Bright display with excellent color reproduction Sharp main camera Long battery life

Cons: Slow charging Screen still has a 60Hz refresh rate Lagging ultrawide camera without macro functionality

Over the past few years, those who opted for a regular iPhone didn’t get much in return.

Creating a non-Pro iPhone is indeed a tricky balancing act. Apple has to ensure that a device has enough innovations compared to its predecessor to be a solid standalone choice. At the same time, it shouldn’t become so high-end that it threatens the Pro series. After all, there must be a good reason to spend well over a thousand bucks on a phone.

Three years ago, when Apple last gave its iPhones a major refresh, the added value of the Pro version was limited.

The iPhone 12, compared to the iPhone 12 Pro, had almost the same design, the same cameras minus a telephoto lens, and a nearly equally good display. In the following years, the flagship models in the Pro series received increasingly impressive cameras, better displays, and faster chips in their more luxurious-designed casings.

Improvements for iPhones with only a numeral suffix came more slowly, and last year they were almost non-existent. Not only did the iPhone 14 start to lag behind smartphones from other manufacturers, especially in terms of screen brightness and camera quality, but you could also just as well purchase an iPhone 13, which remained readily available last year and was even cheaper than the new model.

With the iPhone 15 series, Apple’s ‘mid-ranger’ takes a bigger leap forward again, considering you can still call a device that costs almost 1000 euros that.

The device features the updated screen with rounded corners, Dynamic Island, and higher peak brightness, which was already present on the iPhone 14 Pro last year, along with a 48-megapixel camera that allows for a two-fold zoom without a significant drop in image quality. The iPhone 15 still lacks a dedicated telephoto lens, like most expensive devices, so the 48-megapixel camera is a welcome addition. Lastly, the USB-C port could be a reason to upgrade, just like with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Following the lead of the European Commission, we are finally getting closer to a world where you only need one cable to charge all your devices.

Alongside the iPhone 15, Apple is also releasing an iPhone 15 Plus, with a screen size equal to the iPhone 15 Pro Max but at a lower price than the smaller iPhone 15 Pro.

Speaking of prices: where Apple significantly increased prices last year, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are actually a few tens of euros cheaper than their predecessors.

Smoother design, much brighter display

259 Facebook Linkedin X The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus bear a much closer resemblance to the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max than the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus did to their Pro counterparts in that year. That is, from the front. From the back, the difference with the more luxurious models is quite noticeable. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus come in cheerful, light pastel colors and feature a slightly smaller camera bump, housing two lenses instead of three.

The Pro iPhones have matte glass with a subtle glow, a feature absent in the ‘regular’ iPhone 15 models. While the side edge of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is made of aluminum, the frame of the 15 Pro models boasts a brushed titanium finish.

The edge of the iPhone 15 series is slightly more rounded compared to the iPhone 12 through 14. The front and back remain entirely flat.

In hand, the rounded edge makes a more significant difference than I initially expected, especially if you’re not using a case. Due to the less sharp transition between the front and the side, the new iPhones feel much better to hold. I find the iPhone 15, without a case, even more comfortable than the iPhone Xs and 11. Those had a rounder edge, but also some sharp transitions around the speaker holes and Lightning port at the bottom, which could be a bit uncomfortable in hand.

As is well known, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus no longer feature Lightning but have adopted USB-C.

Otherwise, all buttons and ports are in the expected locations where they were in previous models: the power button on the right, the volume buttons on the left, with the traditional silent switch above them. The Pro models this year introduce the new Action button in that space. Since Apple often introduces innovations on Pro models one year and brings them to non-Pro models the following year, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus could be the last iPhones with the traditional silent switch.

In terms of dimensions and weight, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus differ only slightly from their predecessors.

While not a true ‘mini,’ the iPhone 15 is, by current standards, the next best thing; it’s slightly larger than the ASUS ZenFone 10 and almost the same size as the Samsung Galaxy S23. On the other hand, the iPhone 15 Plus is a relatively large device, comparable in size to the average Android flagship.

Unless you have very large hands, this is likely a phone to be operated with two hands, although we appreciate that Apple has managed to make it slightly narrower compared to its predecessor.

Similar to previous iPhones, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus feature Ceramic Shield on the front,

Apple’s equivalent of Gorilla Glass, protecting the screen like most other phones. There is no reinforced glass on the back of the iPhones. The IP68 certification remains the same, promising thirty minutes of water resistance up to six meters deep.

Still no 120Hz display, but higher brightness The OLED screen of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus follows the same design as that of the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max,

featuring the Dynamic Island instead of a notch, but without the ultra-thin screen borders of the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. The relatively large cutout in the screen is not always aesthetically pleasing but serves as a convenient status bar for various information that, on iPhones with a notch, is dispersed in different places in iOS.

In addition to notifications about the battery or pairing Bluetooth accessories, the bar sometimes also contains small widgets that can be enlarged with a tap on the bar.

A smooth 120Hz screen refresh and the always-on display feature remain exclusive Pro features for the iPhone 15 series.

This is disappointing, especially considering that you can buy phones from other brands with both functions for as little as 300 euros. The less smooth 60Hz screen refresh on the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus doesn’t hinder practical use; it may only appear a bit jerky when compared to a 120Hz iPhone.

The absence of the always-on display feature is a practical drawback, as you need to turn on the screen each time you want to check your notifications. The new Stand-by feature in iOS 17 (see page 5) is much less useful without the always-on display.

We measured the screen of the Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Plus using our SpectraCal C6 colorimeter and Portrait Displays Calman Ultimate analysis software.

For the measurement, we don’t need to choose a color mode because iPhones don’t have them; we do, however, turn off True Tone (default enabled). With this feature, the screen automatically adjusts its color temperature based on ambient light. There aren’t many other phones that can do this yet.

 

The Tablet Smartphone Battle: Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus Vs Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4

[ad_1] Apple’s latest release highlighted the company’s new targets into the tablet smartphone market with the iPhone 6 Plus. Their biggest smartphone ever produced showed a keen interest in competing with a major competitor, Samsung, who recently released the Galaxy Note 4. To decide which device belongs in your pocket, we compare their key features in a summarised review. Design and Build Both smartphones hold on to the ability for use in one hand without having to call in the other. Samsung have ditched the use of plastic for a front casing and opted for an aluminium build, putting it closer in design terms to the Apple iPhone, giving it that much needed sleekness. While the iPhone 6 Plus is a little taller than the Note 4, it is significantly thinner, giving it the overall edge in comfort. Where the Note 4 does win is with its removable back cover,…

Continue reading

Apple iPhone 6S Review

[ad_1] A few months ago Apple released the iPhone 6S and if you’re not familiar with the Apple practice you may be confused about this new iPhone as it looks identical to the iPhone 6 but fear not they are not the same. On the inside at least. There is better hardware, improved camera, stronger case, the new 3D Touch and (at last) 2GB of RAM. Over the years the ‘S’ always brought something new to the plate, the iPhone 4S added Siri and the iPhone 5S had the Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The main addition to the iPhone 6s is definitely the new pressure-sensitive touchscreen technology named the 3D Touch that although right now is quite awesome and will definitely become more interesting when more apps are released for it. Overall, what Apple has to do is to convince people that the S variant of iPhone 6 is worth…

Continue reading

iPhone Troubleshooting – Blank or Black Screen iPhone Problems

[ad_1] So, Your iPhone has a Blank or Black Screen So, you have a problem with your iPhone screen and are looking to fix it. Troubleshoot your iPhone to find and fix the cause of the problem often is quite easy and simple to fix. The best way of looking at this is to go through different solutions in step by step fashion making sure nothing is left out. As a result of this approach you may feel that you want to skip some step or you have tried some methods before. I’d urge you to go through each step to make sure you’ve tried everything. Apologies if you’ve tried some approaches before! Now, the best way to do this is to go through a process step by step, apologies if you have already tried some of these but it is often best to be though! So step one in…

Continue reading

5 Of the Best Accessories for the iPhone 6

[ad_1] There’s a lot of ranting and raving about Apple’s new phone, the iPhone 6. It’s an expensive piece of technology that almost everyone wants. Here are the best accessories for the Apple iPhone 6. 1. Apple iPhone 6 Case The cases that are available for the Apple iPhone 6 are more popular than ever, and it’s one great accessory for this piece of technology. The cases for these phones are available in a wide range of colors, shapes, and popular cartoon characters. The cases that are manufactured by Apple for their iPhone protects the phone from collecting dust, sustaining ample amounts of damage, and keeps the phone looking as good as the first day you purchased it. 2. Apple iPhone 6 Belt Clip Case The belt clip case that is made for the 6th edition of the iPhone is growing more popular by the day. The belt clip case…

Continue reading

iPhone 6 Versus Samsung Galaxy Edge S6

[ad_1] Introduction This is a simple comparison to understand the performance levels of the two Smartphones. There are many misconceived notions available in the public domain that make tall claims about each brand. We have compiled the information about each one of them for the benefit of users. Correspondingly, you can take call on what you want and decide on its configuration. Some features of one are better than those of other and vice versa. In this article, we would be just giving the comparisons for you to make your own informed decision. We suggest you to get clarity on the features you want to use and then decide which one you would go for. 1. Processor and RAM : Samsung Galaxy Edge S6 has a new octa-core processor and 3GB RAM. On the other hand, an iPhone has a dual-core processor and 1GB RAM. On the first comparison, it…

Continue reading

Choosing Between The Apple iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S5

[ad_1] The two major manufacturers of the world's most popular smartphones continue to compete with two high spec smartphones: Apple's iPhone 6 and Samsung's Galaxy S5. We compare the two mobile phones from a consumer point of view by summarizing the most important features and specifications. DESIGN iPhone provides users with a smooth & slim aluminum based smartphone device, while Samsung focuses on melting soft touch plastic with hard plastic edges that are colored to appear like metal. The iPhone 6 is 2mm thinner and 5mm less wide, fitting nicely in the palm even with one hand. The winner here is clearly the iPhone when taking an aesthetic point of view. SCREEN Both phones have similarly spectacular screens. The Galaxy S5 holds a 5.1-inch AMOLED display with a full HD resolution of 432 pixels per inch. The advantage of this type of display is the ability to display perfect blacks…

Continue reading

Apple’s iPhone 6 Vs HTC’s M8: A Comparison

[ad_1] Apple have finally cast their eyes on close competition, recently releasing their iPhone 6, a device that meets many of the latest innovations from other manufacturers. One of these is the HTC M8, a powerful phone that looks similar to Apple’s latest release. This can only initiate a necessary comparison of both devices to help you choose one most suitable. Starting off with aesthetics and design, both manufacturers went along with its casing composed entirely of aluminum. Both are curvy, elegantly finished and fit well in a single hand. If you’re against the move into the “phablet” market, stretching your jean’s pocket, then both devices are among the very best without taking too much space. But if you’re really keen on a small smartphone as possible, then the Apple iPhone wins by measuring at 2.5mm thinner, 12.2mm shorter and 3.6mm less wide than the HTC M8. But take note…

Continue reading

The Big Decision: Apple iPhone 6 or Galaxy Note 4?

[ad_1] The moment is here. You are over with your old phone and are ready for a big upgrade, the upgrade that will affect your pictures, videos and your overall joy and experience of interacting with the connected and digitally social world in front of you. But which one of the big shots will be your gateway to the digital world? The new and bigger iPhone 6 or the already big and glorified Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Back in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone, no one needed to think twice before they sided with the iPhone. It was flat out cool and packed with features that only a creative imagination could come up with. Not today, seven years after the introduction of the first iPhone, competition is so high with devices filled with beautiful aesthetics and useful technologies that sometimes we either have to sacrifice between technology…

Continue reading

8 Different Kinds of iPhone 6 Case To Suit Your Need And Style

[ad_1] There are different kinds of iPhone 6 case for sale which can prolong the life of your expensive smartphone. The price of an iPhone is indeed very steep and with that value, you want to be able to use it for a long period of time. Remedy: you have to invest in a protection casing so that your iPhone 6 is guarded. The different kinds of luxury case for the iPhone The cheapest Apple case you can buy is about $ 10. It can go up until a couple of hundred dollars depending upon the design of the casing. Some has Swarovski crystals in it. Some are just plain silicone or rubber. So it really depends on what iPhone 6 case you prefer. The price of the casing is a combination of both function and style. Skin This is usually a thin plastic or silicone phone case that covers…

Continue reading