iPhone 15 – With USB-C, Dynamic Island, and other features, Apple has updated its flagship iPhone series for consumers.

JadiGini – Currently available with the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus were unveiled in September 2023. The new iPhones are around halfway through their release cycle, having debuted in September 2023. As new models won’t be released until September 2024, now is still a great opportunity to get an iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus.

As the most recent versions, the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus will last for many years to come and will be a part of Apple’s flagship lineup until September 2024, so you can be sure that something better and newer is not just around the horizon.

If money is your primary concern, Apple also offers the $429 iPhone SE with older technology and the prior-generation iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus with pricing starting at $699. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus start at $799 and provide a decent balance between usefulness, longevity and affordability. Starting at $599 is the two-year-old iPhone 13.

Step up to the iPhone 15 Pro or 15 Pro Max if you want something with more features than the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. The Pro models have the same screen sizes, but they have several improvements including a faster A17 Pro chip, a telephoto camera system, a customisable Action button in place of a ring/silent switch on the side, and more.

As selecting an iPhone is a big decision, we’ve created several buyer’s guidelines to help you make the best choice.

Guide of Features for iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

Apple’s premium consumer-focused iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are priced starting at $799. The pro-focused iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone Pro Max join them; they start at $999 and have more features and capabilities.

There are four variants in all—two 6.1-inch and two 6.7-inch—in the iPhone 15 family, same as the lineup for the iPhone 14 last year. The 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus and the regular 6.1-inch iPhone 15 are part of the consumer lineup. The more costly, premium varieties include the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro models.

The greatest features are saved for the iPhone 15 Pro models, like with the iPhone 14 range, making the additional expense justified, although the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are also rather powerful phones.

Each of the five colour choices for the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. Though data transfers on these models stay at the same USB 2.0 speeds that were offered with Lightning, the switch from the Lightning connector—which has been on every iPhone for more than ten years—to a USB-C port is maybe the biggest shift for the lineup.

New to the non-Pro lineup in 2023 is the Dynamic Island, which made its debut with the iPhone 14 Pro lineup a year earlier. The front-facing TrueDepth camera and other sensors are housed in the Dynamic Island, which replaces the prior notch at the top of the display. These actual components are concealed by software within the black Dynamic Island, which changes to show significant information and enable user interaction.

Using 20 percent less power and providing 50 percent greater memory bandwidth than the A15 Bionic chip in the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus feature the same A16 Bionic technology that debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max.

Among the camera upgrades is a new 48-megapixel Main camera with a quad-pixel sensor that automatically takes 24-megapixel images. A new 2x Telephoto option that is cleverly cut from the entire camera capture is also made possible by the upgraded Main camera.

With the iPhone 15 automatically obtaining depth information when a person, dog, or cat is identified in the frame, portraits no longer need to be switched to Portrait mode. Portraits are also rendered with greater detail, more vivid colours, and better low-light performance with the upgraded camera system; Night mode also benefits in these areas.

Improved proximity-based capabilities from a second-generation Ultra Wideband processor enable iPhones to communicate with one another three times farther than previously possible. In the Find My app, Precision Finding allows you to locate your friends even in crowded areas.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have the same battery life as its predecessors—up to 20 hours for the iPhone 15 and 26 hours for the iPhone 15 Plus. The iPhone 15 models employ a new Qualcomm X70 modem and offer 5G connection (both sub-6GHz and mmWave in the US), just like the previous several generations. With carriers now using eSIM, iPhone models in the US are once more sent without a real SIM card.

This year, Emergency SOS via satellite is being expanded to include Roadside Assistance, which debuted with the iPhone 14 series. In order to enable consumers who are having car problems while outside of mobile signal range to request repair—either as part of their AAA membership or at a cost—Apple is collaborating with service organisations such as AAA.

Storage sizes for the iPhone 15 models range from 128GB to 512GB. Furthermore supported are wireless charging via MagSafe and Qi2, in addition to cable charging via USB-C. Both Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 are supported by the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

The basic 6.1-inch iPhone 15 model starts at $799, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899, which is the same price as the earlier models.

Buying Guide

For the standard model with 128GB of storage, the iPhone 15 starts at $799; for the 128GB storage option, the iPhone 15 Plus starts at $899. Higher storage capacity are available for an extra charge if you require more.

Carriers, the Apple retail shops, the online Apple Store, and other approved third-party merchants are the places to buy the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

In reviews

Positive reviews were given to the iPhone 15, and most reviewers thought that the new iPhones—the 15 and 15 Plus—offered a substantial improvement over the first iPhone.

The sleek curved design and nearly “soft-to-the-touch” finish of Apple’s new matte glass used for the iPhone’s back made it a hit with consumers everywhere.

Reviewers were not happy with the restricted USB 2.0 speeds, which provide no advantages over Lightning, but overall the switch to USB-C was seen well. Not having to carry several cables for Macs and iPads is a benefit, but switching to Lightning will also mean throwing out all Lightning cables.

Reviewers highly like the iPhone 15 camera, which offers a significant upgrade with a 48-megapixel camera for high-resolution photographs and a 2x optical zoom option.

Design

The general design of the 6.1-inch iPhone 15 and 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus (measured diagonally at the display) is same to that of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, but the new iPhones stand out from previous year’s models with more curved edges that alter the feel of the devices in the hand.

Particular proportions have not altered all that much. The iPhone 15 Plus is 6.33 inches (160.9 mm) tall and 3.06 inches (77.8 mm) wide, compared to the iPhone 15 which measures 5.81 inches (147.6 mm) tall and 2.82 inches (71.6 mm) wide. Weighting 6.02 ounces (171 grammes) for the iPhone 15 and 7.09 ounces (201 grammes) for the iPhone 15 Plus, both models are 0.31 inches (7.80 mm) thick.

The iPhone 15 variants include a color-matched aerospace-grade aluminium frame around an all-glass front and a vibrant, matte glass back. Colours offered are pink, yellow, green, blue, and black. Apple strengthened the back glass this year using a new technique they call a “dual-ion exchange process,” which also infuses colour throughout. Although there isn’t a (PRODUCT)RED model available just now, maybe that will change in the following year.

The pill-shaped Dynamic Island has been extended to the iPhone 15 models by Apple, which replaced the notch at the top of the display in the iPhone 14 Pro model last year. Greater viewable display area is made possible by the Dynamic Island’s smaller footprint than the notch.

The phone has a set of antenna bands at the top and sides, a mute switch on the left, volume controls and a power button on the right. For the iPhone 15 Pro models, Apple substituted an Action button for the mute switch; for the regular iPhone 15 models, not so. A 5G mmWave antenna is located beneath the power button, yet it is exclusive to iPhone 15 models that are sold in the US.

Together with a USB-C port, another significant design modification, speaker holes and a microphone are found on the bottom of the iPhone 15 models. Apple has moved to USB-C charging technology, hence the Lightning port has been replaced with the USB-C port. Though the hardware SIM has been removed in the United States, the iPhone still has a slot in several other nations.

The Wide and Ultra Wide cameras have diagonal lens configurations, a True Tone flash, and a microphone all housed in the essentially same camera hump at the back of the iPhone.

Dust and water resistance

Water and dust infiltration resistance of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus is rated at IP68. The cellphones can survive a six-meter (19.7-foot) depth for up to thirty minutes.

The IP68 rating indicates that the iPhone 15 is water resistant, while the 6 indicates dust resistance (i.e., that it can withstand dust and other particles). The highest dust resistance rating now in use is IP6x. The iPhone 15 has an IP68 classification, which means it can survive splashes, rain, and unintentional water exposure; but, deliberate water exposure should be avoided.

According to Apple, resistance to dust and water is not a permanent state and can eventually diminish from regular wear. Liquid exposure is best avoided as Apple’s basic warranty does not cover liquid damage.

Display

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus use the same OLED Super Retina XDR display as previous iPhone models, but with enhanced brightness for better HDR and sunshine performance. Peak HDR brightness is 1600 nits (up from 1200), but typical max brightness is now 1000 nits (up from 800). A display feature debuted with the iPhone 14 Pro model last year and extended to the regular iPhone 15 models this year, Apple also claims that the iPhone 15 models can reach 2000 nits peak brightness outside.

The iPhone 15 Plus has a resolution of 2796 by 1290 with 460 pixels per inch, compared to the iPhone 15 which has a resolution of 2556 by 1179.

Wide colour support provides bright, lifelike colours; there is an unaltered 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio; and True Tone balances the display’s white balance with the surrounding lighting for an easier-on-the-eyes paper-like viewing experience. Additionally supported are Haptic Touch, which gives haptic feedback while interacting with the display, and an oleophobic layer that resists fingerprints.

A “Ceramic Shield” substance created by injecting nano-ceramic crystals into glass keeps the display safe. The display was made in association with Corning and the ceramic crystals were adjusted to maximise clarity while preserving durability. Apple claims that Ceramic Shield is the strongest smartphone glass available, and its dual-ion exchange mechanism guarantees defence against scuffs and general wear and tear.

The Always-On display technology found on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max as well as the ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate are not supported by the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

Dynamic Island

This year’s lineup of iPhones includes the Dynamic Island, which houses the front-facing camera and the TrueDepth camera sensor for Face ID. With the camera, dot protector, and other components housed in smaller cutouts, the proximity sensor for the setup is now beneath the display.

A pill-shaped cutout on the left side of the display houses the TrueDepth system for Face ID, while a tiny circular cutout on the right side houses the camera. These two cuts are being combined by Apple using software to create the one pill-shaped cutout that comprises Dynamic Island.

Apple has integrated the Dynamic Island into the iPhone’s user interface, serving as a central location for notifications and other quick information from services and apps. Dynamic Island, for instance, enlarges to confirm your Face ID scan when you make an Apple Pay payment and to provide phone controls at your fingertips when you’re on a call.

Everything from timers to Apple Music to the connection status of the AirPods to Maps directions can be shown. It may fold down or open up when tapped and links with Live Activities to track sports scores, Uber rides, and more straight from the top of the iPhone’s display without requiring you to leave the app you’re in.

Chip A16 Bionic

Apple’s A16 Bionic technology for the iPhone 15 series is the same as that found in the iPhone 14 Pro variants. Offering little advancements over the A15 processor, the A16 has two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores.

On Geekbench, the A16 Bionic chip with its 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU has scored 2522 for single-core and 6397 for multi-core. With reference to A-series processor performance, it is only surpassed by the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Inside the Neural Engine and ISP

With its upgraded 16-core Neural Engine, the A16 can perform almost 17 trillion operations per second.

An image signal processor on the A16 chip also drives the iPhone 15 models’ photographic capabilities, processing up to four trillion operations every picture.

RAM

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have the same amount of RAM—6GB—as the iPhone 14 versions.

Storage Space

The least expensive iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models come with 128GB of storage; more expensive models come with 256GB and 512GB.

Connector USB-C

The first iPhone models that have a USB-C port in place of a Lightning port enable charging with a USB-C cable. This modification allows for the charging of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods Pro 2 with USB-C charging case using the same cable.

An iPhone can supply up to 4.5W of power and can charge AirPods or an Apple Watch straight using a USB-C cord.

The USB-C port of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus is constrained to 480 Mb/s for USB 2 transfers, same as Lightning. Up to 10 Gb/s quicker USB 3 transfers are supported by the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Face ID with TrueDepth camera

The facial recognition technology from Apple, Face ID, is still used in the iPhone 15 models. Now included within the Dynamic Island, Face ID works similarly to the notch found on the iPhone 14 models.

Face ID is used throughout iOS to confirm app purchases, unlock the iPhone, enable access to apps protected by third parties with passcodes, and more.

One set of sensors and cameras powers Face ID. With an infrared camera reading the scan, a Dot Projector maps the contours and planes of each face by projecting tens of thousands of invisible infrared dots onto the skin’s surface.

The iPhone employs the mathematical model that the A16 processor converts the facial depth information into to verify identity. Face ID is functional in low light, at night, and with beards, glasses, scarves, masks, and other partially obscuring accessories.

Forward-Looking Camera

The 12-megapixel front-facing camera on all iPhone 15 models has a Ò/1.9 aperture, similar as that on the iPhone 14 range. Retina flash is integrated into the front-facing camera, which also supports nearly all of the functions included in the rear cameras.

Along with a Photonic Engine that enhances low-light performance, a selfie Night mode, enhanced Smart HDR 5 integration, Dolby Vision HDR recording, Deep Fusion to highlight fine details, and a next-generation Portrait mode that allows you to capture pictures and later convert them into portrait shots, Apple has added.

Furthermore available on the front-facing camera are 4K video recording, QuickTake video, slo-mo video, Portrait mode, Portrait Lighting, and the Photographic Styles tool for selectively applying edits.

Wide Angle Rear Camera

Apple has enhanced the dual lens camera technology included in the iPhone 15 models, launching a new 48-megapixel Main camera that is noticeably superior than the 12-megapixel Main camera found in the iPhone 14.

The 26 mm focal length and Ò/1.6 aperture of the camera provide enough of light in circumstances when illumination is not ideal. With the lens capable of 24- and 48-megapixel high-resolution photographs, Apple introduced sensor-shift optical image stabilisation for less movement and clearer shots and videos.

Because every two pixels are blended into one pixel with the 24-megapixel option, high-resolution photos with remarkable detail and low-light performance may be produced without exceedingly big file sizes. Additionally available this year and able to be saved in either RAW or HEIF format are 48-megapixel photos.

With the 48-megapixel lens update, Apple was able to include a 2x Telephoto option that employs the sensor’s centre 12 megapixels to produce full-resolution 2x images devoid of digital zoom. Apple has never before included an optical zoom feature on a regular iPhone, and the iPhone 15 lacks one.

The iPhones 15 and 15 Plus include a 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera with a Ò/2.4 aperture and 120º field of view in addition to the 48-megapixel Main camera. It is the same as the iPhone 14 models’ Ultra Wide camera.

Video Capabilities

At 24, 25, 30, or 60 frames per second, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus can record up to 4K video. Time-lapse, slo-mo, action, cinematic, and HDR recording are all supported.

New Portrait Mode

With the iPhone 15 series, Apple completely redesigned Portrait mode, so you don’t have to choose it explicitly before taking a picture.

Now you may take a picture and, if there’s a person or animal in it, depth information is gathered and Portrait mode with a blurred backdrop effect is immediately activated. You can switch this on or off in the Photos app, and it also works if you tap to focus on a section of an image.

Along with the standard background blur adjustment, the Photos app allows you to move the emphasis between the scene’s objects. According to Apple, Portrait shots have richer colour and more detail even in Night mode.

Other Functions of the Camera

Apple has been adding various camera bells and whistles to the iPhones over time.

• Smart HDR 5 – Identifies one or more individuals in a scene and adjusts lighting, contrast, and even skin tones for everyone to ensure that everyone appears their best. With the iPhone 15, Smart HDR was improved to provide more realistic skin tones and improved colour.
• Photonic Engine: The Photonic Engine produces a 24-megapixel image with detail extracted from an image twice the resolution by fusing the best pixels from a high-resolution image with an image optimised for light collection.
• Photographic Styles: Intelligent, programmable filters that can enhance or subdue colours without changing skin tones. Unlike a filter that covers an image in its whole, styles apply to it selectively. Photographic styles include Warm (highlights golden undertones), Rich Contrast (darker shadows and deeper colours), Vibrant (highlights blue undertones). Every design allows you to adjust the tone and warmth to achieve the precise appearance you desire.
• Night mode – Allows photography in extremely low light conditions by combining a sequence of photos taken over a few seconds. Richer colour and finer detail are seen in night mode scenes on the iPhone 15.
• Deep Fusion enhances the texture and detail in an image and operates in mid-to-low lighting.
• Portrait Lighting – Alters the lighting in portrait mode images with Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High-Key Mono effects.
• True Tone flash: The built-in flash, True Tone flash is made to complement the surrounding illumination so that when utilised, it doesn’t alter the photo’s white balance. Brighter and with more steady lighting is the iPhone 15 flash.
• Filming in cinematic mode means that the primary topic of the video remains the main focus even as you move.
• Action mode: Boosts image stabilisation to fix wobbly handheld video.
• Panorama – Takes 63 megapixel panoramic photos.
• Burst mode – Ideal for high-action shots, it lets you take a number of pictures at once.

Battery Life

Just somewhat larger than the batteries from the corresponding previous-generation models, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus have 3,349 and 4,383 mAh, respectively. Up to 20 hours of movie playback, up to 16 hours of streaming video playback, and up to 80 hours of audio playing are all possible with the iPhone 15.

Video playback on the iPhone 15 Plus lasts up to 26 hours, streaming video playing up to 20 hours, and audio playback up to 100 hours. All iPhone 15 versions have fast charging capabilities; with a 20W or higher power adapter, they can charge up to 50% in 30 to 35 minutes.

The battery cycle count is displayed for the first time on iPhone 15 models, and an integrated feature keeps an iPhone from charging past 80% in order to protect battery health.

Connectivity over 5G

A 5G capable next-generation Qualcomm Snapdragon X70 modem powers the iPhone 15 variants. With AI to allow faster 5G speeds, better coverage, reduced latency, and more power efficiency, Qualcomm claims that the X70 modem has the first 5G AI system in a modem system.

While other nations are limited to sub-6GHz networks, iPhone owners in the US can connect to both mmWave and sub-6GHz networks. The fastest 5G networks are mmWave, yet because of its low range and susceptibility to obstructions like trees and buildings, its application is restricted to large cities and metropolitan areas as well as venues like stadiums, airports, and other gathering places.

More widely available in urban, suburban, and rural regions of the US and other nations is sub-6GHz 5G. You will typically be using sub-6GHz 5G when using a 5G network. Though not always the lightning-fast 5G you might expect, sub-6GHz 5G is usually quicker than LTE, particularly when mid-band spectrum is utilised.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are said to have 5G download rates that are up to 54 percent quicker than those of the iPhone 14.

The 5G Bands

Over twenty 5G bands are supported with the US iPhone 15 models. Supported bands include:

mmWave 5G – Bands n258, n260, n261 Sub-6GHz 5G – 5G NR (Bands n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n14, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n53, n66, n70, n71, n77, n78, n79)

LTE Bands

For connecting to LTE networks when 5G isn’t available, the iPhone 15 models still provide Gigabit LTE with 4×4 MIMO. Bands listed below are supported:

Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 66, 71 are FDD-LTE.
TD-LTE – Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53

Satellite Emergency SOS

In case of an emergency with no cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity, any iPhone 15 model may connect to satellites. Through the new Emergency SOS via satellite function, Apple has enabled the iPhone’s antennae to link to Globalstar-operated satellites.

In an emergency where Wi-Fi or a cellular tower are unavailable, satellite communications are possible. The capability is intended to be utilised in broad areas with minimal trees so the iPhone may connect to a satellite in the sky.

Given that transferring data via satellite can take minutes, Apple has created a compressed messaging protocol and offers a walkthrough interface that shows you how to hold the iPhone to connect to a satellite. An emergency services notification can be sent in as little as fifteen seconds in a place without trees.

When you activate Emergency SOS via satellite, you are asked a series of crucial questions meant to get the information you need to emergency professionals as soon as possible. If text communication is available in your area, the answers you supply are forwarded straight to emergency services, or to relay centres manned by Apple-trained experts who can make emergency service calls on the user’s behalf.

Though its primary purpose is to enable users to call emergency services in an emergency, satellite connectivity may also be utilised to update your Find My location while camping or hiking off the grid, providing your loved ones with piece of mind regarding your whereabouts.

All iPhone 15 customers are entitled to free emergency SOS via satellite for the first two years; Apple has not yet disclosed the future fee.

In addition, Apple introduced Roadside Assistance via satellite with the iPhone 15, enabling American iPhone owners to call AAA for assistance in the event that their vehicle breaks down in a location without Wi-Fi or cellular service. With Roadside Assistance, there is no cost for using the satellite; but, AAA membership or a one-time payment is needed for the assistance.

Monitoring of Crashes

The iPhone 15 models include a dual-core accelerometer and a high dynamic range gyroscope that can measure G-force up to 256Gs. When combined with other iPhone sensors, such as a barometer that can identify changes in cabin pressure brought on by deployed airbags, this hardware enables a crash detection feature.

When a car crash occurs, the iPhone 15 models can identify it and, should the occupants be critically injured or unable to reach their phones, will instantly call emergency personnel. Both the microphone and the GPS on the iPhone can identify loud noises linked to serious traffic accidents. The Apple Watch has crash detection as well, and when an accident happens, the iPhone and Apple Watch collaborate to alert emergency services.

Ultra Wideband, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth

Along with Bluetooth 5.3, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus offer Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with 4×4 MIMO. An NFC chip with reader mode and an Ultra Wideband chip of the second generation are available. Better spatial awareness made possible by the new Ultra Wideband chip enables iPhone 15 models to more accurately locate other Apple devices that also have an Ultra Wideband chip. With the chip, two iPhones may communicate with one another at three times the range as before.

Precision tracking is possible with the Ultra Wideband chip, as when finding AirTags. Along with interacting with the HomePod mini and directing AirDrop, Apple has also included a Precision Finding tool that allows users to find friends who have an iPhone 15 in a congested space.

Regarding GPS, BeiDou, QZSS, GLONASS, Galileo, and GPS are all supported by the iPhone 15 versions.

MagSafe

The iPhone 15 models’ rears still include MagSafe magnets on them that may be connected to other magnetic accessories and the MagSafe charger. Wireless charging of the iPhone 15 variants at up to 15W is possible with official MagSafe chargers from Apple and approved third parties.

Additionally available is second-generation Qi-based charging, however it is still limited to 7.5W and does not enable quicker charging.

iPhone 15 Pro and Max

Along with the more expensive iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, which represent a significant upgrade this year, Apple is selling the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have faster and more efficient A17 Pro chips constructed on a new 3-nanometer process, a lighter, more durable titanium frame, ProMotion display technology, an Always-On display, and 3x and 5x Telephoto camera lenses, respectively, over the iPhone 15 models.

Apart from the iPhone 15

Apple is already hard at work on the iPhone 16 series, which will be released in 2024. Much of the most innovative updates will be targeted mostly to the iPhone 16 Pro models, much as with the iPhone 15 series. Expect bigger displays, a quicker A18 processor, Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, and a brand-new 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera.

Improved cameras, the A17 processor, and the Action Button were all available on the regular iPhone 16 versions. Across the range, new 5G processors and a “Capture Button” for spatial video are anticipated.