After a few dull years in the doldrums, Apple’s mainstream iPhone lineup has made a stunning comeback with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Fresh off a wonderful review of the iPhone 15 Plus, we’re ringing in 2024 with a look at Apple’s latest 6.1-inch iPhone 15 review.
The iPhone 15 is among the greatest iPhones of recent years, thanks to several incredibly alluring improvements, just like its larger sibling. It has all of the same fantastic improvements as the iPhone 15 Plus, such as the Dynamic Island from the iPhone 14 Pro, USB-C, a redesigned design, and a 48MP camera.
Does Apple’s widely available, less expensive flagship model now represent a worthwhile upgrade for people, or has it finally found the magic formula? Or will a single flaw cause the entire thing to fail? Let’s investigate.
Also Read: iPhone 15 Price in Pakistan: PTA Approved Jan 2024 Update
iPhone 15 Review: Availability And Price
The iPhone 15, which was released in September 2023, can be purchased globally at the customary range of carriers and retailers as well as on Apple.com. The iPhone 15 starts at $799 for the 128GB version. The 256GB model is $899 and the 512GB version is $1099, making it $100 cheaper than each corresponding version of the iPhone 15 Plus. The only difference is storage, and each phone comes boxed with a USB-C to USB-C cable, no charger.
The iPhone 15 is also available at AT&T, Verizon, Target, Amazon, Best Buy, and other stores.
iPhone 15: At a Glance
48MP Camera: The enormous sensor from the iPhone 14 Pro is here to convey bigger and more detailed photographs than ever before.
USB-C: The iPhone 15 presently charges with a USB-C port and cable.
Updated Design: This update brings a wonderful frosted glass to move up to the back and rounder edges.
Brighter Display: The iPhone 15 is great for 1000 nits max brilliance, 1600 nits top (HDR), and 2000 nits peak outdoors.
Dynamic Island: The Unique Island from the iPhone 14 Pro shows up, replacing the notch.
iPhone 15 Review: Specs
| Category | iPhone 15 Plus |
| Operating System | iOS 17 |
| Display | 6.1 inches, 2556 x 1179 (460 ppi) resolution, Super Retina XDR OLED display (iPhone 15) |
| Processor | Apple A16 Bionic |
| Storage | 128 | 256 | 512GB |
| Rear Camera | 48MP, 26mm ƒ/1.6 (wide) | 12MP, ƒ/2.4 (ultra-wide) | 12MP, 52 mmƒ/1.6 (2x Telephoto) |
| Front Camera | 12MP, ƒ/1.9, Autofocus |
| Battery | Up to 20 hours (video playback) |
| Charging | USB-C wired charging, Qi wireless charging up to 15W, MagSafe |
| Water Resistance | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.80mm, 171g |
| Colors | Black | Blue | Green | Pink | Yellow |
iPhone 15 Review: DESIGN
With a gorgeous new design that is far superior to the previous two models, the iPhone 15 is sure to impress. As I highlighted in our iPhone 15 Plus review, the preceding “regular” has had a fairly lackluster design for several years. The corners were very sharp, and its horrible glossy back attracted fingerprints.
With a new “color-infused” glass back this year, Apple has given the iPhone 15 a beautiful frosted look. It feels smooth to the touch, is simple to hold, and has none of the scratches or imperfections the previous one had. I’m not kidding when I suggest that customers of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 should be persuaded to switch to the greatest model available in 2024 by this change alone.
Furthermore, the design modifications don’t end there. The iPhone 15’s edges are much softer and more rounded than those of prior models, and the camera bulge is now visible. All things considered, Apple’s design for the iPhone 15 this year has completely changed. Some parts, nevertheless, are still the same. The mute switch, a lock button, and two volume controls are still present. There isn’t an Action button on this device; if you want the configurable option that allows you to select from a variety of actions in addition to mute, you’ll need to upgrade to Pro.
In any case, the iPhone 15 games its natural aluminum skeleton and the strong Ceramic Shield on the front. This glass board is intended to be harder to break while being more inclined to scratches as a split the difference. In any case, after using it for several weeks, I’ve yet to see any of the scratches that tormented my iPhone 14 experience last year, so this is another large improvement.
Additional design specifications include IP68 water resistance, which enables a 30-minute submersion in water up to six meters deep. The device’s weight and dimensions are essentially unchanged from prior models, and Apple has made minor internal modifications to simplify and lower the cost of some repairs.
The color is the lone major disappointment in the design department. Black, blue, green, yellow, and pink are the five. Now that I’ve worked with both blue and green directly, they may both as well be off-white or gray. The hue around the frame is more evident, but the rear is so faint there might as well not be any color at all. The colors that are still the most bright are pink, yellow, and black.
iPhone 15 Review: DISPLAY
You won’t notice a difference in day-to-day use if you have an iPhone 13 or 14, as Apple hasn’t made any changes to the display in the iPhone 15. This is the identical 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a 460 ppi resolution of 2556×1179 pixels. Brightness is the main news this year, but it still supports Wide Color (PR), True Tone, and HDR as usual.
The normal max brightness has been uprated to 1,000 nits, and the outdoor brightness peak is now 2,000 nits. It makes sense that viewing the display on your iPhone will be considerably simpler in bright light or direct sunlight. You can still, control the brightness in your iOS settings, but cranked up, it is noticeably brighter than previous models.
The iPhone 15 boasts a significant visual upgrade thanks to Dynamic Island, which has replaced the notch that has been discontinued from the iPhone lineup. Resolution and color quality have remained unchanged. I’ve been using the Dynamic Island on my iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 Pro models for more than a year, and more recently, on my iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 15.
Without a doubt, it’s a brilliant technological advancement that significantly improves the iPhone experience. When you use Dynamic Island with its animated features, you forget that the pill-shaped hole is there at all. Although there aren’t many third-party Dynamic Island apps yet, Apple has made enough improvements to make the app functional. Sometimes I can’t stop smiling at your calls and timers on the island.
These are the enhancements, yet the iPhone 15’s display has one major flaw. The refresh rate remains at 60Hz. If you have never used a Mac, iPad, or iPhone with a 120Hz ProMotion display, you won’t notice the difference and this isn’t a problem. But if you do, the 60Hz iPhone 15 will seem, well, like a PowerPoint presentation.
You won’t notice the 60Hz refresh rate when using most apps or playing games, but I find that unlocking my phone and accessing menus irritates me the most. I know that the top-tier iPhone 15 Pro model can only use 120Hz, but there’s no reason we can’t get a more robust 90Hz without Always-On or variable refresh rate to make the iPhone 15 a little more responsive in daily use. It’s a major letdown in an otherwise excellent product.
iPhone 15 Review: PERFORMANCE
Similar to the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15’s lightning-fast A16 Bionic technology allows it to operate very well. It is easy to use and can run any software or game that is thrown at it; it was adapted from the iPhone 14 Pro. Specifically, it boasts two high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores, and a 5-core GPU with 50 percent higher bandwidth than the iPhone 14. This implies that there won’t be any lag, hiccups, or framerate drops while you play any game from the App Store.
It’s also crucial for the potent new camera we’ll be discussing shortly. On the standard iPhone, computational photography is more powerful than ever thanks to a 16-core neural engine. The iPhone 15 Plus will benchmark somewhat faster than the iPhone 15 due to slightly superior thermals, but this will have very little bearing on actual performance. The iPhone 15 is essentially unbreakable, and if you’re not a frequent upgrader, you’ll be covered for several years of iOS software updates, future-proofing your gadget.
Similar to the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 15’s A16 Bionic Chip reveals the 60Hz refresh rate and makes it even more unpleasant; at certain points, it’s evident the screen is unable to keep up with the phone, which causes a jittery experience on the Home Screen and in menus.
The iPhone 15 Pro receives Wi-Fi 6E for a major boost, while the iPhone 15 Plus continues to see some minor Wi-Fi enhancements.
A new second-generation ultra-wideband processor that facilitates close-range interactions is the main source of increased connectivity. In addition to being able to find items like AirPods and AirTags, Precision Finding on an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 may be used to find your iPhone. This can be used to find missing friends or family members in crowds at festivals, concerts, and other events. It also functions with different iPhone 15 models.
iPhone 15 Review: CAMERA
The primary improvement of the iPhone 15 is a new 48MP main camera that automatically produces 24MP ultra-high-resolution photos. Along with 0.5x and 1x optical zoom, the primary camera has a quad-pixel sensor, 100% Focus Pixels, and 2x Telephoto photography to create the appearance of three optical zoom levels. The iPhone 15, with its improved low-light performance, details, and colors, is the greatest mainstream iPhone to date if you enjoy taking portrait photos.
The most elegant new feature is a mode that allows you to convert any image of a person, dog, or cat—even ones that weren’t taken in portrait mode—into a portrait image. With the release of Smart HDR 5, night mode also receives an improvement. Here are some of the photos we were able to take using the iPhone 15’s camera, which is the greatest camera ever included in a standard iPhone.
Here are a few of our “out of the box” shots: 24 MP 26 mm f.16. The iPhone 15 comes with this default setting, and the 24MP format continues to surprise me.
iPhone 15 Review: BATTERY, CHARGING, AND USB-C
Apple claims that the iPhone 15 can stream or play videos for up to 16 hours with a 3,349 mAh battery. The iPhone 15 Plus, with its largest battery and least amount of features that drain power, is still the battery life king. Our pals at Tom’s Guide report that the iPhone 15 achieves an impressive 11 hours and 5 minutes in their typical battery life test. By contrast, the iPhone 15 Plus scores 14 hours and 14 minutes, and the iPhone 14 scores nine hours and 28 minutes.
The latter, as you can see, demonstrates how much the iPhone 15’s battery has improved over that of the iPhone 14 model from the previous year. An aging battery is usually a good reason to get a new phone. Additionally, it appears that the iPhone 15 range is less vulnerable to the relatively significant battery wear that affected the iPhone 14 range.
This year, USB-C is another big change. Now that I’ve gotten over the first shock of realizing all my Lightning cords were no longer functional, I’m starting to appreciate having USB-C around the house a little more than I used to. Even while I still only use a MagSafe charging stand in iOS 17’s StandBy mode to charge my iPhones, it’s comforting to know that any old USB-C cable will work when you do need some more power. But my primary complaint from my assessment of the iPhone 15 Plus remains.
The ways I can charge my iPhone have decreased, not increased, since Lightning was removed. According to our buddy Neil Cybart on Twitter, all of the household’s devices, including Macs and iPads, are connected via USB-C cables. The Lightning cable was always available because it was designated exclusively for use with the iPhone. Now that the novelty has worn off, I’m more accustomed to it and find that using the same wall outlet for both my iPad and iPhone is more practical.
That being said, file or data transfers are not improved by USB-C. It remains USB-C 2, identical to the iPhone 14. The iPhone 15 Pro, which is Apple’s greatest iPhone, is what you need if you want USB 3 speeds. Although the iPhone 15 takes 48MP images, this is a little inconvenient, but when was the last time you hooked your iPhone to a computer to transfer any kind of data?
iPhone 15 Review: IOS 17
Up until the release of iOS 18 later this year, the iPhone 15 comes pre-installed with iOS 17. Apple has upgraded FaceTime, Messages, and the Phone app this time. Some important new features are Contact Posters, StandBy, and interactive widgets. The latter is my favorite since it allows you to interact with apps right from the Home Screen of your iPhone, allowing you to do things like turn off a HomeKit light without having to launch the Home app. Five months later, I’m still persuaded that Autocorrect has regressed this year, as I mentioned in our review of the iPhone 15 Plus.
Similar to the Mac and iPad, the iPhone’s success may be attributed in part to the balance between software and hardware as well as to the way it works with Apple’s larger ecosystem. The iPhone 15 and iOS 17 are best utilized in conjunction with an iPad, Mac, AirPods, AirTags, or even an Apple TV.
Apple has added some awesome new features to iOS 17 since it was first released, one of which makes it more difficult for thieves to access your iPhone by using your passcode. It is also plausible that Apple has plans to introduce side loading and third-party app shops before WWDC 2024.
iPhone 15 Review: THE COMPETITION: iPhone 14 PRO AND BEYOND
Though it sounds cliche, other iPhones are probably your primary rivals if you’re thinking about choosing the iPhone 15. The Samsung Galaxy S23 series, the bigger Pixel 8 Pro, and the Google Pixel 8 are the iPhone 15’s primary Android-powered competitors.
I would suggest the iPhone 15 Plus as a strong competitor if you’re looking for a larger iPhone without all the features of the Pro. Its larger screen and longer battery life are noteworthy features, and the design tweaks made this year make the larger chassis much more comfortable to hold. The iPhone 15 Pro is the right choice if bells and whistles are important to you. But as I pointed out in my review of the iPhone 15 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro is a much better option than the iPhone 15. It features a 48MP camera with Dynamic Island and the same chip, but it also includes a 120Hz ProMotion display and an additional lens for taking pictures.
SHOULD YOU BUY THE iPhone 15?
If you are upgrading from an iPhone 13 or 14, get the iPhone 15.
- Switching to this is worth your money because it is a noticeable upgrade over both of its predecessors.
- The size of the iPhone 15 Plus is not what you want.
- If you feel that the iPhone 15 Plus is just too big, the iPhone 15 is a great compromise.
- You’re after the Dynamic Island and USB-C.
- This is the device for you if you’ve put off updating to USB-C and Dynamic Island on your iPhone.
Should you desire Apple’s best iPhone, don’t get the iPhone 15.
- With a stronger processor, better camera, and a battery display, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are the greatest iPhone models that Apple now sells.
- A 120Hz ProMotion display is what you need.
- Purchase a “Pro” iPhone from within the last two years if you find that refresh rate to be crucial.
- You desire the best iPhone camera available.
- The iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x Zoom, Apple ProRAW, macro mode, and other capabilities make it the greatest iPhone camera available.
iPhone 15 Review: VERDICT
The conclusion of the iPhone 15 review is a huge, much-needed boost for the standard iPhone series as well as a victorious upgrade over the iPhone 14. Upgrades will adore 48MP photography, Dynamic Island, and USB-C. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, provides a more feature-rich experience with a faster refresh rate and better cameras if you want the best that Apple has to offer.
