Apple has just unveiled its latest premium iPhones, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. These devices boast titanium construction, a novel Action Button, and Apple’s claim of being the most powerful iPhones to date. The 15 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage, while the Pro Max begins at $1,199 with 256GB of storage. Preorders commence this Friday, with sales starting on September 22nd.
The iPhone 15 Pro sports a 6.1-inch screen, and the Pro Max features a 6.7-inch display, matching the sizes of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Both run on the A17 Pro chip, which Apple touts as offering unparalleled smartphone performance, even rivalling some high-end PCs. Apple has also revamped the GPU, aiming to elevate mobile gaming experiences, though their claims about gaming often don’t entirely align with reality.
Both phones feature a USB-C port instead of the previous Lightning port. The 15 Pro boasts 10Gbps transfer speeds, making it much more efficient for transferring large files, photos, and videos.
These high-performing devices are housed within a sturdier enclosure, which Apple asserts is among the most robust in the industry. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max come in white, black, blue, and “natural” colors, showcasing Apple’s dedication to intricate engineering.
The noteworthy Action Button replaces the traditional ringer switch on the iPhone Pro’s left side. It can be customized to execute shortcuts, access accessibility features, activate the camera, turn on the flashlight, and more. By default, it retains its ringer switch functionality, but it offers versatile possibilities.
Both Pro models boast Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion, supporting the always-on display and the new StandBy mode in iOS 17.
Apple’s marketing chief, Greg Joswiak, claims that the 15 Pro and Pro Max feature Apple’s best cameras yet, akin to having seven distinct lenses. This includes an enhanced 48-megapixel camera for superior low-light photography, reduced lens flare, and AI-powered full-res HEIF photos. Users can now switch between multiple focal lengths within the main camera, ranging from 24mm to 35mm. The optical zoom goes up to 5x, a significant improvement for iPhone users.
For video enthusiasts, these devices can capture 4K60 ProRes video, and you can even record directly to an external drive through the USB-C port. Spatial video capture is also on the horizon, offering 3D content creation capabilities.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, introduced these devices at the Wonderlust event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California. Notable changes in how iPhones are used will come from iOS 17, including the new StandBy mode, interactive widgets, Live Voicemail, and Contact Posters.
Following its recent iPhone launches, Apple continues the pattern of incorporating features from the previous year’s Pro models into the base models. This year’s innovation focuses on the new USB-C port and its potential for data capture and transfer.
In sum, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max represent Apple’s most advanced and professional-oriented iPhones to date, offering improvements in everyday use while also catering to creators and filmmakers.