iPhone 15 is here. Apple finally got to work. But not all iPhones are equally good

I guess all the leaks about the iPhone 15 were unanimous. The fifteen is to be the first Apple smartphone to be equipped with a USB Type-C port. And it is. Although Apple didn’t pay much attention to this during the conference. And it completely forgot why Lightning was actually abandoned.

iPhone 15 is here. Four versions and… almost identical design

The September Apple conference traditionally resulted in the presentation of new Apple smartphones. The flagship product of the American giant – as in previous years – appears in four versions differing in screen size and capabilities. These are:

• iPhone 15 with a 6.1-inch screen;
• iPhone 15 Plus with a 6.7-inch screen;
• iPhone 15 Pro with a 6.1-inch screen;
• iPhone 15 Pro Max with a 6.7-inch screen.

Those who expected any changes in the size and design of the new iPhones will be disappointed. Individual versions of the iPhone 15 have screens of the same size as last year’s iPhone 14. The appearance of the new smartphones is also almost the same as what Apple has accustomed us to in recent years. There are angular housings, interesting colors and characteristic islands with cameras on the back. It is difficult to distinguish this year’s Apple flagships from last year’s.

iPhone iPhone

iPhone 15 is almost no different from iPhone 14

Let’s start with the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Unfortunately, there is as much news as the cat cried. The new iPhones are powered by the same Apple A16 Bionic chip that powered last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. It’s still an efficient processor, but it’s a pity that Apple didn’t try to introduce something new in this matter. There is no mention of any changes to the screen or performance of the smartphone. We only know that the display brightness is now 1,600 nits, and even 2,000 nits at peak.

Traditionally, Apple boasts about the photographic capabilities of the iPhone 15. The photos are to be even more realistic and at the same time full of color and – thanks to HDR technology – have a huge tonal range. However, changes are scarce. The main matrix of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus now has a 48 Mpix matrix. Apart from that, there is also a camera for wide-angle photography. Traditionally, there is no camera with a telephoto lens.

There are also some new software features. iPhone 15 has a noise removal function during voice calls. Of course, artificial intelligence deals with noise reduction. The new smartphone also has the ability to locate friends in a crowd and the satellite SOS function, which so far only works in a dozen or so countries (but not in Poland).

The biggest change is probably the abandonment of the infamous notch (cutouts in the screen) and the use of a dynamic island in iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which houses the camera and Face ID sensors. Well, we’ve already seen this with last year’s iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

Hell froze over, Lightning evaporated. iPhone 15 got USB Type C

The big change that Apple barely hinted at is the presence of the USB Type-C port mentioned at the beginning. iPhone 15 owners will finally be able to charge their device with the same cable that they use to charge their laptop, tablet or headphones. It is a pity that the change was forced only by European Union regulations, which assume the use of USB-C as a common charging standard in all mobile devices sold in the Community.

Before the premiere, users of the X website (Twitter) even bet whether Apple would even mention that the change was forced by the EU. You guessed it, no one from Apple said a word about it. Instead, we learned that USB-C was chosen because it is a widely used standard and has been present in Apple devices (Mac and iPad) for years.

The manufacturer also boasts that USB-C allows not only to charge the iPhone, but also to transfer data, audio, video and even charge headphones. However, it is difficult to share Apple’s enthusiasm here, because Android smartphones have had such capabilities for many years.

iPhone 15 with USB Type C photo: Apple / X

iPhone 15 Pro is a completely different topic. We finally have some news

iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the new A17 Pro chip, which is the first processor made in 3nm technology. the system is made of 19 billion transistors, which should result in an increase in system efficiency by approximately 10%. Apple also boasts about the redesign of the GPU graphics system, which in the Apple A17 Pro will quite unexpectedly support Ray tracing technology. We definitely didn’t expect this.

The changes also affected the cameras placed on the backs of iPhone Pro. The main camera is equipped with a 48 Mpix matrix, which is even larger and should cope better in poor lighting conditions. Apple has also designed a portrait mode that – using this camera – will allow you to take portraits with focal lengths of 24 mm, 28 mm and 35 mm. The night mode has also been improved to offer “twice the performance” than a year ago.

It is even more interesting in the case of a camera with a telephoto lens, which in iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will offer up to five times optical zoom. This is possible thanks to the use of a new periscope lens system. This is also a huge positive change, and Apple also boasts that the tele camera sensor has a larger matrix and improved image stabilization.

The design has also undergone minor changes. The casings of the new iPhones with the note Pro in their names are this time made of titanium and aluminum, which – as it was emphasized during the conference – come from recycling. The frames around the screen have also been slightly reduced, making the Pro version of Fifteen look a bit more modern.

This year, Apple also abandoned the iconic slider on the casing, which from time immemorial allowed for quick and convenient muting of the device. Instead, we got a programmable button to which each user can assign any function. Surprisingly, the slider was replaced with a button only on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

We know the prices. They went crazy in Cupertino

Finally, prices. And to say that it is expensive is to say nothing. Pricing for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus starts at $799 and $899, respectively. At least in the USA (it will definitely be more expensive in Poland). The prices of the better Pro versions are crazy. iPhone 15 Pro will cost at least $999, and iPhone 15 Pro Max will cost $1,199 in the cheapest version!

iPhone 15 – Prices iPhone 15 – Prices

Apart from the new iPhones, Apple traditionally presented several ecosystem accessories. There are new smart watches Apple Watch Series 9, a new generation of the uncompromising Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods with the ability to charge via USB-C. We will write more about these news in a separate text on Next.Gazeta.pl.