After months of leaks and rumours, Apple has officially taken the wraps off its 2023 iPhones, and once again, we're getting four brand new devices: the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
Once again, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max have received the more significant upgrades. They're built from titanium instead of stainless steel, the mute toggle has been replaced with a customisable Action Button, and the Pro Max has the first 5x zoom lens we've seen on an iPhone.
Meanwhile, the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus benefit from many features first introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro last year, like the Dynamic Island and a step up to a 48MP camera.
All four new iPhones have dropped the Lightning connector in favour of USB-C charging.
Like last year, every iPhone is a bit more expensive when compared to previous models. The iPhone 15 starts at $1,499, up from $1,399 for the iPhone 14. The iPhone 15 Plus starts at $1,649, up from $1,579.
If you're going Pro, you're looking at $1,849 for 6.1-inch model - a $100 increase on last year. Lastly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $2,199 for a 256GB model. That's also a $100 increase on last year's 256GB model, but Apple is no longer offering a 128GB option for the Pro Max. The iPhone 14 Pro Max started at $1,899 last year.
If you want to go all out, a 1TB iPhone 15 Pro Max will set you back $2,899.
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what's new, here's the important stuff. All four iPhone 15 devices will be available for pre-order from 10pm AEST on September 15, ahead of a September 22 release date.
iPhone 15 Pro & iPhone 15 Pro Max
As Apple's "Pro" handsets, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max definitely feel like the newer handsets in the iPhone 15 family.
To start, while the pair have the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes as last year, Apple has cut down on bezel, making the phones a little bit smaller. They're now made of titanium instead of stainless steel, which also makes them lighter and more durable.
On the design front, Apple has swapped out the mute switch for an Action Button. By default, a long press will swap your phone from silent to loud and vice versa, but you can customise what it does. For example, you can use the Action Button to start a voice memo, open the camera, start accessibility features, or open a shortcut.
In terms of the camera, the pair have an upgraded 48MP primary lens with a larger sensor than last year. It can now take 48MP photos outside of ProRAW, and defaults to larger 24MP images. It's also a bit more flexible, and can replicate 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm focal lengths. You can pick your favourite as a default.
The ultra-wide camera has also been upgraded, and should perform better in low light.
The iPhone 15 Pro still has a 3x zoom lens, but the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a longer range 5x zoom lens with a f/2.8 aperture. This makes it faster than what we've seen in rival phones like the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Both phones are powered by Apple's new A17 processor. The CPU is up to 10% faster, while the GPU is up to 20% faster and more energy efficient. As a result, several console titles including Resident Evil Village, Death Stranding, and Assassin's Creed Mirage will be available for iPhone 15 Pro. The first two will be available later this year, while Mirage is coming in the first half of 2024.
Full pricing for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max is as follows:
- iPhone 15 Pro 128GB: $1,849
- iPhone 15 Pro 256GB: $2,049
- iPhone 15 Pro 512GB: $2,399
- iPhone 15 Pro 1TB: $2,749
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB: $2,199
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 512GB: $2,549
- iPhone 15 Pro Max 1TB: $2,899
Both phones are available in a choice of natural titanium, blue titanium, white titanium, and black titanium.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are "standard" iPhones, succeeding last year's iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus. They're a bit more of a significant upgrade compared to what we saw going from iPhone 13 to iPhone 14.
To start, both phones swap out the notch for the Dynamic Island first introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro last year. The Dynamic Island is a persistent UI element that foregrounds background tasks. Active timers, navigation, or what you're listening to, for example. You can then use the Dynamic Island as a quick shortcut back into the relevant app, or long-press it for quick access to extra information.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus still measure in at 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch respectively, but have a brighter display, able to hit up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness. This makes it twice as bright as the iPhone 14 display. As with previous models, the pair have a Ceramic Shield display for drop protection.
In terms of camera, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus both feature lenses on the back. The ultra-wide is still 12MP, but the primary lens has been increased to 48MP. The phones will be able to 48MP full-resolution photos, but will default to 24MP. You'll also be able to use the primary camera as 12MP 2x zoom lens.
The camera's portrait mode has also been improved. You no longer need to shoot a portrait - you can turn photos with a human, dog, or cat into a portrait later on. Apple also says night mode photos now have improved texture, and smart HDR does a better job of balancing bright skies.
Inside the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, you'll find the A16 Bionic processor from last year's Pro iPhones. In terms of battery, Apple says the iPhone 15 will last "all day", and that the iPhone 15 Plus has even better battery.
iPhone 15 pricing is as follows:
- iPhone 15 128GB: $1,499
- iPhone 15 256GB: $1,699
- iPhone 15 512GB: $2,049
- iPhone 15 Plus 128GB: $1,649
- iPhone 15 Plus 256GB: $1,849
- iPhone 15 Plus 512GB: $2,199
You'll be able to buy either in a choice of black, blue, green, pink, or yellow. Each finish now has a matte texture.
Old iPhone price cuts
The iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, and iPhone 13 are all sticking around, and have received a discount. New pricing for Apple's existing iPhone line-up is as follows:
- iPhone 14 128GB: $1,299
- iPhone 14 256GB: $1,499
- iPhone 14 512GB: $1,849
- iPhone 14 Plus 128GB: $1,499
- iPhone 14 Plus 256GB: $1,699
- iPhone 14 Plus 512GB: $2,049
- iPhone 13 128GB: $1,099
- iPhone 13 256GB: $1,299
- iPhone 13 512GB: $1,649
All these phones should come down in price on a plan too.
Notably, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 12.
Alex Choros
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