iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Choosing the Right Model

Politics, News Sept. 14, 2023, 10:58 p.m.

Apple unveiled iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro at the Wonderlust event. Pro has advantages like ProMotion display, more color choices, and extra camera, but comes at a higher price.

In its recent Wonderlust event held on Tuesday, Apple took the wraps off its latest lineup of iPhones, alongside some noteworthy updates to the Apple Watch. The spotlight was on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, which now stand before you, inviting a crucial decision: Should you splurge on the Pro model? In the past, the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro had one significant distinguishing feature—the Dynamic Island, which was exclusively reserved for the Pro version. However, this time, Apple has bridged the gap by including this feature in the standard iPhone 15, resulting in a notchless design across the entire iPhone 15 series. Nevertheless, there are still crucial distinctions to ponder when making your choice between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Let's dive into the details.

Display:

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro boast an identical screen size—a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2,556x1,179 pixels. The Pro model, however, takes it a step further with ProMotion technology, Apple's fancy term for a variable refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz. This promises smoother motion in videos, games, and everyday scrolling through web pages compared to the fixed 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 15. When not actively engaged in watching YouTube or gaming, the Pro model automatically adjusts the refresh rate to conserve battery life.

Always-On Display:

The iPhone 15 Pro offers an always-on display, which remains active and dimmed when charging, allowing you to access StandBy mode. Unfortunately, this feature is absent in the standard iPhone 15.

Design and Materials:

When it comes to construction materials, the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro differ. The iPhone 15 sports an aluminum enclosure with a glass back infused with color, while the iPhone 15 Pro opts for a titanium build complemented by a textured matte glass back.

Color Options:

For those who appreciate a splash of color, the iPhone 15 provides a more vibrant selection, including shades like pink, soft yellow, light green, pale blue, and black. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro offers a more restrained palette with options such as black, white, dark blue, and natural titanium, which has a beige-like appearance.

Size and Weight:

In terms of dimensions, the iPhone 15 is marginally larger yet lighter than the iPhone 15 Pro. This is due to titanium being a lighter material than aluminum. Despite this, the iPhone 15 Pro manages to weigh more than its counterpart, mainly due to the inclusion of a third camera. Specifically, the iPhone 15 weighs in at 6.02 ounces (171 grams), while the iPhone 15 Pro tips the scales at 6.6 ounces (187 grams). The Pro model also boasts ultrathin bezels and trims down the width and height by a millimeter while being slightly thinner.

Action Button:

An interesting addition to the iPhone 15 Pro is the Action button, which replaces the mute switch found on the side of the iPhone 15. By default, a long press on the Action button serves as a mute and unmute control, but it can be customized to trigger various shortcuts, such as activating the flashlight, recording voice memos, or launching the camera app for quick snapshots.

Camera Setup:

Both models feature two cameras on the back: a 48-megapixel wide lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. However, the iPhone 15 Pro goes a step further by incorporating a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, allowing for closer shots. Night mode is supported on both models, but only the iPhone 15 Pro allows for night mode photography in portrait mode.

Processor:

Under the hood, the iPhone 15 is equipped with the A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 15 Pro boasts the A17 Pro chip. Both processors are impressively fast, with each featuring a six-core CPU comprising two performance and four efficiency cores. Notably, the iPhone 15 Pro is tailored for graphics and gaming, thanks to its A17 Pro Bionic processor sporting a six-core GPU, whereas the A16 Bionic chip in the standard iPhone 15 comes with a five-core GPU.

Storage Options:

Both models offer storage options of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, but the iPhone 15 Pro takes it a step further by offering a whopping 1TB storage option.

USB-C Charging:

The new iPhone models introduce USB-C charging, but there's a catch—the faster 10Gbps USB 3 speed is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro. To harness this speed, you'll need to provide your own USB-C 3 cable since Apple ships both phones with a USB 2 cable. The iPhone 15, on the other hand, supports only USB 2 speeds, capped at 480Mbps.

Price:

In terms of pricing, there are no surprises. Apple continues its tradition of charging a premium for the Pro model, with the iPhone 15 starting at $799, £799, and AU$1,499, while the iPhone 15 Pro commands a higher starting price of $999, £999, and AU$1,849.

In conclusion, the choice between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro boils down to your specific needs and preferences. While both models share some similarities in terms of screen size and basic camera features, the Pro version stands out with its ProMotion display, always-on screen, premium materials, additional camera, and enhanced graphics capabilities. However, these upgrades come at a higher price point. Consider your budget and how you plan to use your device when making your decision, as both models offer impressive performance and functionality./In conclusion, the choice between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro boils down to your specific needs and preferences. While both models share some similarities in terms of screen size and basic camera features, the Pro version stands out with its ProMotion display, always-on screen, premium materials, additional camera, and enhanced graphics capabilities. However, these upgrades come at a higher price point. Consider your budget and how you plan to use your device when making your decision, as both models offer impressive performance and functionality.