Over the weekend, I happened to watch “The Godfather,” a movie that has remained a cultural phenomenon even 50 years after its release. The film has inspired numerous sequels and spin-offs, and its influence can still be felt across the industry. However, what truly makes the movie continue to resonate with audiences strongly is its complexity and depth of characters. I felt the same way when I was using the new iPhone 15 Pro. Each feature of the iPhone has a character of its own and is central to the core experience.
This makes the high-end iPhone 15 Pro particularly noteworthy as it strives to demonstrate the power and influence of the device. You know the iPhone, you understand the camera, and you are familiar with how the Apple ecosystem works, yet you are emotionally impacted by what it represents. That’s why the story of the iPhone is timeless, and the iPhone 15 Pro is a reinterpretation of a modern classic.
I have been using the iPhone 15 Pro as my daily phone for a few days. I’m a long-time iPhone user but have never had the Pro model. The last iPhone I used was the iPhone 14. Although it still works just fine, I wanted to try out the Pro model.
Here is my review of the iPhone 15 Pro.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro price in India (as reviewed): Rs 184,900
‘Titanium’ makes the iPhone 15 Pro lighter
Coming from the iPhone 14, the iPhone 15 Pro felt both familiar and different. I don’t like extra-large screen-sized smartphones, so it was natural for me to opt for the iPhone 15 Pro over the 15 Pro Max. The size of the 15 Pro is exactly the same as the iPhone 14, but the phone feels immediately different when you hold it in your hand. It’s actually smaller in height and width than my iPhone 14 but a little thicker. It’s unlikely you will really notice an immediate difference if you are coming from last year’s iPhone 14 like I did. Apple says the iPhone 15 Pro is stronger and lighter than the previous-generation Pro model. This is due to a change in frame materials from stainless steel to titanium. If you opt for the iPhone in Natural Titanium, the sides may feel a bit duller, but I like the rawness of the material for some reason.
Gone are the sharp edges; instead, the iPhone 15 Pro has slightly contoured edges, which make it more comfortable to hold without a case. Yes, the phone’s textured matte glass finish feels luxurious, but I would still recommend getting a case to protect the device from accidental scratches. Although there have been no drastic design changes for the third year in a row, the iPhone 15 Pro continues to feel premium.
The ‘Action button’ is a clever addition
Not only the Titanium frame, but the Action button, which replaces the slider switch on the side, is also new to the iPhone 15 Pro. The best thing about the Action button is that it can be programmed to perform various tasks, such as operating the camera, switching focus modes, initiating a voice search, and more. Currently, my favourite function is launching ChatGPT using the Action button, but I might soon customise the button to open The Indian Express app with a single press.
To programme the Action Button, you need to access the button’s settings and control several different features. The Action Button is undoubtedly useful, but there’s a slight learning curve, as many users, including myself, have the habit of using the old slider switch to silence the phone. It remains to be seen how the Action Button will evolve on the iPhone since this customisable tool is still new.
I am confident that Apple will continue to enhance the Action Button and its functionalities. I wouldn’t mind if Apple allows us to set different “actions” for a single, long, or double press in the future.
USB-C connectivity is a boon for frequent travellers
I don’t know if you’ve heard this before, but Apple no longer ships the new iPhone 15 lineup, including the Pro models, with an old-school Lightning charging port. It has been replaced with a universal open USB-C standard due to incoming EU rules. I know this change requires some adjustments, but the USB-C port offers many advantages.
The other day, I was running late for a meeting, and upon sitting in the car, I realised that my Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds were almost out of battery. I had a call in another 10 minutes, and what I did was plug the USB-C cable into the iPhone 15 Pro to charge the earbuds.
The switch to the USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Pro opens up a lot of functionalities, such as plugging in SD card readers and microphones, which you couldn’t do before. The USB-C port on the iPhone 15 Po is capable of speeds of up to 10Gbps which is an advantage but again it totally depends on what type of user you are. As a frequent traveller like myself, I no longer need to carry different cables and that really matters to me at the end of the day.
The display continues to be bright and colourful
In terms of the screen, the resolution and type of screen remain the same as the iPhone 14 Pro. So you get a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED, with 2556 x 1179 pixels, at 460 ppi and 120Hz. The “Always On” display, the excellent colours, and a maximum of 2,000 nits of peak brightness in outdoor conditions remain the same. The only cosmetic difference that you might notice is that the iPhone 15 Pro has tiny edges around the display, and that’s about it.
I am pretty happy with the iPhone 15 Pro’s display. I don’t know about others, but I spend a lot of time writing and editing copies on my iPhone itself. Every morning, I find stories to be done during the day, and therefore I need a phone with a good display. For someone who manages and keeps a tap on the Indian Express tech page, it’s a prerequisite to have a phone with a high-quality display.
When you start using the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, the first thing you check out is Dynamic Island, a pill-shaped area that fades into the screen’s notch. Existing iPhone Pro users are already familiar with Dynamic Island, but for someone who is coming from an older iPhone, it will be a new experience. However, within days of use, the craze for Dynamic Island wears off. It’s really cool for sure; the Island displays app-specific information that you can expand and interact with by pressing and holding onto the pill-shaped area. For instance, if you’re listening to music on Apple Music, the Island will display a tiny thumbnail of the album art and a small moving icon to let you know that music is currently playing. And once you tap and hold the Island, you will see the basic audio controls.
The thing is, Dynamic Island becomes a part of the device after a few days of using the iPhone 15 Pro. That’s not a bad thing, but I feel Dynamic Island can be used to provide more useful information without opening the phone itself.
3nm silicon is incredibly powerful
The iPhone 15 Pro is in another league of its own, thanks to the sheer horsepower and technical specifications contained within. It’s an incredibly powerful mobile device, but that totally depends on what you want to do with the iPhone 15 Pro. The device is powered by the A17 Pro, and it’s built on 3nm architecture, the first mobile chip to do so. If you are a content creator or a YouTuber, you would want to have a phone that has that much speed and the need for enhanced visuals and graphics. Games run smoother and load faster, something you need to experience and feel yourself.
Now that the Pro iPhone models have hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, the gaming experience when playing titles like Resident Evil Village will be superior. The problem is, as an average user, you can’t actually assess how fast the chip is. For instance, if you are sending an email or uploading a video on Instagram, I don’t think the A17 Pro would feel a lot better than the A16, which powers the baseline iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. But yes, the difference starts showing up when you edit heavy videos on the iPhone or when you use imaging tools like Adobe Lightroom. That’s why Apple is marketing a device like the iPhone 15 Pro for creators and gamers who can take advantage of the processing capabilities this phone has to offer. However, reviewing a brand-new smartphone console early on is always a tricky thing. There are just so many unknowns.
My experience of using the iPhone 15 Pro today (at the time of filing the review) is very different compared to when I initially got the review unit. During the initial days, my unit used to get so hot that I couldn’t even hold it for long. That issue of overheating, however, has been long resolved. The phone gets warm even now but only when charging or taking photos outside. That’s normal.
The battery life is fine
One thing I envy about the iPhone 15 Pro Max is its battery life. I wish the iPhone 15 Pro could also last for two days with normal use. Battery life seems to be under a day on the iPhone 15 Pro if you use it normally. Oddly, I have noticed that the battery drains quickly in the first half of the day. My observation is that when I am out for an interview or a product launch event, I use my phone a lot during the morning. Of course, I will monitor the iPhone 15 Pro’s battery situation for a few more days and will update the review accordingly.
The camera captures realistic shots
The iPhone 15 Pro’s camera system is identical to the bigger iPhone 15 Pro Max, except the latter phone has a new 5x telephoto camera, whereas the 15 Pro has a 3x telephoto camera like previous models. Both Pro models also have the same 48MP main sensor with its 24mm f/1.78 equivalent lens. They have the same 12MP ultrawide camera with a 13mm f/2.2 lens. A new feature added to the Pro iPhone range is that the standard output is now 24 megapixels, compared to last year’s 12 megapixels. That is only if you are using the main sensor, and only if you are using the standard shooting – but as soon as you switch to macro or night modes, it will revert back to 12MP output.
The new default 24MP output from the main sensor is fantastic, as it gives you the option to shoot a high-res 48MP shot. I also have the 24/28/35mm options from the 1x sensor. While it’s not as simple as a simple zoom, the results come out as fantastic. The “next-gen” portraits are worth checking out. A lot of times you would want to take a portrait mode shot with background blur but always forget to switch to portrait mode. I find this feature very useful.
Take a look at some of my favourite photos that I took with the iPhone 15 Pro in the last few days. These are all straight from the camera, with no retouching or editing.
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One of the things I particularly liked about the iPhone camera, no matter which model you choose, is the versatility of the camera system. The iPhone’s camera gives you the confidence to take a shot without worrying about the results. I like my camera to capture the subject I intended it to be, and the iPhone camera just does that. I am someone who doesn’t really tweak the picture or edit it before uploading it on social media. I like the way the subject has been shot and intend to remain as it is. This is where the iPhone 15 Pro camera shines. There is no heavy amount of skin smoothing, which many smartphone cameras do, photos have a certain sense of realism, and there are plenty of finer details included.
Photos taken after dusk and during the night are a little crisper with a better colour balance and the least noise possible I have seen from a smartphone camera. My only concern with the iPhone 15 Pro camera is the lack of details one expects from a 3x optical zoom. There was a lot of noise in the photos, surprisingly. Maybe a software update can fix it.
Should you buy the Apple iPhone 15 Pro?
We may have reached a peak in smartphone innovation, but it’s surprising to see how Apple keeps making the iPhone better every year. Yes, a lot of people will debate whether the iPhone 15 Pro deserves the hype it is getting, especially since iPhone prices have gone up in India in recent years. The hard truth is that Apple does deserve special mention for not bringing something entirely new with the iPhone 15 Pro but for continuously iterating on the formula that makes the iPhone so special.
