Apple just announced its new high-end iPhones: the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. They’re made of titanium, they have Action Buttons, and Apple promises they’re the most powerful smartphones Apple has ever made. The 15 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB of storage, and the Pro Max at $1,199 with 256GB of storage. Both will be available for preorder this Friday and on sale September 22nd.
This year’s Pro has a 6.1-inch screen, and the Pro Max has a 6.7-inch display — same as the new iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Both are powered by the A17 Pro chip, which Apple says has the fastest performance in any smartphone and can even challenge some high-end PCs. Along with a redesigned GPU, Apple seems to think these devices could be poised to level up the kinds of games you can play on your phone. (Of course, Apple likes to talk a lot about high-end gaming, and the results... don’t always keep up.)
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Both phones, of course, have a USB-C port on the bottom rather than the old Lightning port. But in the Pro’s case, it could be for more than charging: Apple says the 15 Pro is the first phone with 10Gbps transfer speeds, which will make getting photos and videos (or large files of any kind) off your phone vastly easier.
All that power is inside a new, stronger enclosure, which Apple promises is some of the toughest stuff you’ll find on a phone anywhere in the industry. Just based on what we’re seeing in the video so far, it doesn’t look hugely different, but it’s a big change nonetheless. The new devices come in white, black, blue, and “natural” colors. And naturally, Apple is extremely proud of the complex engineering behind the process.
The Action Button, which replaces the ringer switch on the left side of the iPhone Pro, is a new button that you can customize to run shortcuts, bring up accessibility features, open the camera, turn on the flashlight, and more. By default, it’s still a ringer switch —but you’re going to want to use it to do more.
Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
The Pros both have Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion and support both the always-on display and the new StandBy mode in iOS 17.
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s marketing chief, promised that the 15 Pro and Pro Max have Apple’s best cameras yet — the equivalent of seven distinct lenses. That includes an upgraded 48-megapixel camera that supposedly takes better low-light photos, captures less lens flare, and uses Apple’s AI systems to take full-res HEIF photos. You can now change your default lens and shoot at multiple focal lengths — 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm — within the main camera. You can also get up to 5x optical zoom, the most Apple has ever offered, to 120mm focal length. Fans of Samsung’s latest cameras won’t be blown away by the specs here, obviously, but they’re a big upgrade for iPhone users.
On the video side, you’ll be able to shoot 4K60 ProRes video on the devices or even shoot directly to an external drive through the USB-C port (as long as you have the right cable). The 15 Pro can capture “spatial video,” too, the kinds of 3D content we’ve been seeing for the Vision Pro — though that feature’s coming later this year. It’s clear that Apple imagines the 15 Pro as both a consumer device but also a genuine professional tool for the creators and filmmakers of the world.
Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge
Apple CEO Tim Cook introduced the new devices at Apple’s Wonderlust event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, though the rumor mill has (as always) been going for months. In terms of how you’ll actually use your iPhone, some of the largest changes this year will be in iOS 17: the new StandBy mode could change the way you use your phone when it’s off, interactive widgets could redesign a lot of homescreens, and features like Live Voicemail and Contact Posters might have you actually making phone calls every now and again.
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Apple followed roughly the same rubric it has for the last few iPhone launches: the base models get the stuff from last year’s Pro —like the Dynamic Island and some of the camera tech, even the A16 Bionic chip — and the Pros are the guinea pigs for Apple’s big new ideas.
This year, while Apple may not have talked much about USB-C itself, the new port seems to have given Apple new ideas about how you might capture data on the Pro phones and then use it elsewhere. (Nobody needs 48-megapixel photos for Instagram, but now it’s much easier to use those huge photos elsewhere.) Joswiak called the new Pro lineup “our best and most Pro iPhone ever,” and he’s not wrong. While the 15 models improve the everyday experience of using an iPhone, the new Pro seems to be heading somewhere else entirely.
FAQs
If you're someone who prefers a smaller device that is easier to use one-handed, then the iPhone 15 Pro is the best choice. If you want a larger screen, a bigger battery, and a better zoom lens, then the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the better option.
Is there a problem with the iPhone 15 Pro Max? ›
Burn-in issues with the iPhone 15 Pro Max
This issue has been popping up, mostly specific to owners of the most expensive iPhone 15 Pro Max model. The problem is OLED burn-in, which is not just an iPhone-specific problem since it can occur on any device with an OLED screen.
Is it worth getting the iPhone 15 Pro Max? ›
But you should definitely consider upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro Max if you've been hanging on to an older edition of the iPhone, or if you're using the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, or iPhone 14 Pro and want to take advantage of the larger and more vibrant display of the Pro Max model, or its camera features.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro Max exist? ›
The iPhone 15 Pro Max display has rounded corners that follow a beautiful curved design, and these corners are within a standard rectangle. When measured as a standard rectangular shape, the screen is 6.69 inches diagonally (actual viewable area is less).
Which is better, 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max? ›
The Pro Max's 6.7-inch panel gives it roughly 20% more screen estate than what the Pro's 6.1-inch unit does. So if you are routinely using your phone for stuff that benefits from a big screen (like watching videos, for example, or maybe gaming), the Max is the logical answer.
How big is the iPhone 15 Pro vs 15 Pro Max? ›
The iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro actually share the same display size: 6.1 inches. If you want something bigger (e.g., 6.7 inches), consider getting the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Max share the same screen size, they do not have the same display tech.
Does the iPhone 15 Pro still overheat? ›
Some iPhone 15 Pros are still overheating – but Apple store employees reportedly say it's 'expected behavior' There have been several reports of the iPhone 15 Pro running warmer than expected.
Which iPhone is the most value for money? ›
The iPhone 13 stretches the definition of a "budget" option with its $599 starting price, especially when the iPhone SE (2022) is less expensive at $429. However, the iPhone 13 comes more highly recommended over the iPhone SE because the former offers a better value and experience in the long run.
How much will the 15 Pro Max cost? ›
The 256GB iPhone 15 Pro Max costs $1,199, followed by the 512GB model at $1,399 and the 1TB model at $1,599. The iPhone 15 Pro Max was announced at the Apple Event on September 12 and went on sale September 22.
Will iPhone 15 be a big change? ›
Factor in the iPhone 15's new capabilities, such as its ability to capture higher resolution photos, its compatibility with USB-C charging cables and the more useful Dynamic Island that replaces the notch, and you've got a compelling upgrade. The bottom line: The answer is a clear yes.
Both phones are also comparable in speed and performance. The Galaxy S24, however, benefits from a variable refresh rate (which the iPhone 15 doesn't have), as well as slightly more versatile cameras (you get a whole telephoto lens with the Samsung phone).
Will iPhone 15 Pro be different? ›
The iPhone 15 Pro has a more premium build than the iPhone 15, as well as a higher refresh rate display, a more powerful chipset, more RAM, an extra camera for telephoto shots, and better battery life. On the other hand, the screen size and resolution and the general overall appearance is much the same on both phones.
Is the iPhone 15 Pro waterproof? ›
These models have a rating of IP68 under IEC standard 60529 (maximum depth of 6 meters up to 30 minutes): iPhone 15. iPhone 15 Plus. iPhone 15 Pro.
Will iPhone 15 Pro Max be lighter? ›
Apple says that the 6-inch iPhone 15 Pro is 187 grams, or 9% lighter than last year's model. The iPhone 15 Pro Max, with a bigger 6.7-inch screen, weighs 8% less. But in practice, it feels like an even bigger reduction. Going back to my old iPhone 14 Pro, it feels like a brick.
What is the difference between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max? ›
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has a bigger screen than the iPhone 15, along with a higher refresh rate, a more premium construction, an Action button, an extra camera lens, a bigger battery (offering longer life), a more powerful chipset, and more RAM.
Is the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max the same size? ›
That means a 2,556 x 1,179-pixel screen for the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro and 2,796 x 1,290 pixels for the 6.7-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
What will be different about the iPhone 15 Pro Max? ›
The iPhone 15 Pro Max has the familiar triple camera with a LiDAR system, and now uses its internal room to house a new 5x zoom lens (120 mm equivalent). Of course, that 48 MP sensor was introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro series and was a leap from the 12 MP of before.
Is there a big difference between Pro and Pro Max? ›
The differences in the models are size-related, with the Pro using a 6.1-inch screen and the Pro Max with a 6.7-inch version. The resolutions also massively differ, with the Pro at 2,556 by 1,179 pixels and the Pro Max at 2,796 by 1,290 pixels. Both have a pixel density of 460 pixels per inch.
