iPhone 15 assessment: Easy excellence

At a look

Skilled’s Ranking

Professionals

• Good digicam setup
• Quick processor
• Intelligent Dynamic Island function

Cons

• Processor lacks future-proofing of A17

Our Verdict

The iPhone 15 isn’t an thrilling product, due to its old style design and similarity to final technology’s iPhone 14. However it’s a very stable smartphone with a powerful function set at (by Apple’s requirements) an reasonably priced worth.

Worth When Reviewed

From $799

Greatest Costs In the present day: Apple iPhone 15

$829

$829.99

Each fall Apple releases 4 iPhones, however this extra of selection appears much less intimidating when you understand that there are actually simply two telephones sporting totally different clothes. The iPhone 15 Professional Max is basically an even bigger model of the iPhone 15 Professional–identical processor, identical digicam setup, identical options–whereas the iPhone 15 mentioned on this article is a shrunk-down model of the 15 Plus which we beforehand reviewed final yr.

On this article, I’ll be specializing in the areas the place the iPhone 15 differs from the 15 Plus: specifically portability, the display, and battery efficiency. I’ll sum up our findings within the different departments as effectively, however for a fuller rundown learn my in-depth assessment of the bigger mannequin.

Design & construct

• Old school however enticing design
• Suits neatly within the hand or pocket

If you need the newest look to emerge from Cupertino’s design studios, head on over to the Professional vary, with its mild titanium body and Motion Button. The iPhone 15 is extra of a basic design, just about sticking to the iPhone 14’s aesthetic playbook however switching from Lightning to a USB-C port on the underside edge.

It has flat edges and squared-off corners within the fashion Apple introduced again in 2020 with the iPhone 12 (and which was itself a nod to the iPhone 5 from 2012). The dual digicam lenses on the rear mission outwards a few millimeters from the module, which itself is raised from the rear floor of the cellphone; so when you attempt to place the cellphone screen-up on a desk, it received’t sit flat. If that issues to you, I’d strongly advocate the use of a case.

David Worth / Foundry

Having used the iPhone 15 Plus as my major cellphone for 4 months or so earlier than starting this assessment, I used to be struck by how rather more comfortably the usual 15 sits within the hand. I’ve most likely medium to massive palms for an grownup male–I can fortunately play a ninth on the piano–however the Plus will be awkward to make use of with one hand, with the pinky finger instinctively drifting to a supportive place beneath. That doesn’t typically occur with the 15, which is definitely supported by the meat of your palm on one facet and some fingers on the opposite.

It weighs roughly 15 p.c lower than the 15 Plus and matches extra simply in a pocket. (The 15 Plus does slide right into a denims pocket pretty simply, however it’s a must to be extra conscious of placing it in and taking it out on the right angle.) It’s simply typically, and clearly, a extra moveable gadget than its bigger sibling, however there are downsides to this reminiscent of a lower-capacity battery and a smaller and fewer immersive display.

Display screen high quality

• Sharp, colourful 6.1-inch display
• However could really feel small to some
• No ProMotion or always-on

That display measures 6.1 inches from nook to nook, which is a good measurement by most measures (and positively compared to the sub-5-inch screens Apple turned out for years) however feels small subsequent to the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Plus and 15 Professional Max. To not point out the big-screen Android handsets pushing or often even exceeding the 7-inch mark.

The scale of display you need is a private selection and nothing I say is prone to push you larger or smaller than you’re snug with. However I might advocate experimenting often with borrowed handsets or in-store samples; I’m a long-time fan of Apple’s standard-size Professional telephones, however since final fall have been rising to like the 15 Plus and its 6.7-inch display. These used to bigger screens, in flip, may discover in the event that they method issues with an open thoughts that they discover the usual 15’s superior pocketability greater than makes up for its slight discount in actual property.

Dimension apart, the display’s a great one, with wonderful brightness (boosted from final yr for higher efficiency outdoor), sharpness, and shade replica. It doesn’t get the ProMotion adaptive refresh price and always-on options that stay Professional exclusives, nevertheless it does the straightforward stuff–making photographs, movies, and app interfaces look nice–very effectively certainly.

Cameras

• 48MP f/1.6 and 12MP f/2.4 rear cameras
• 12MP f/1.9 entrance digicam

As with most of the components mentioned on this assessment, the 15’s digicam setup is similar as that of the 15 Plus. It has twin (48MP f/1.6 essential and 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Broad) rear-facing digicam lenses, and a single (12MP f/1.9) front-facing digicam for selfies.

David Worth / Foundry

Nonetheless no triple cameras for the non-Professional fashions, then, however this can be a huge step ahead from 2022’s iPhone 14, whose essential digicam lens was specced at simply 12MP. It’s such an enormous enhance, certainly, that it successfully acts as an alternative choice to the telephoto lens that non-Professional iPhones miss out on, as a result of the iPhone 15 can crop into a picture with out dropping beneath the extent of element we’re used to. This is the reason the 15 will get a 2x optical zoom, and it’s a really welcome addition: you might discover, as I do, that 2x merely is sensible as your default choice. The 15 Professional goes as much as 3x optical zoom, and 15 Professional Max all the way in which as much as 5x, however these are options you’re seemingly to make use of much less usually than dependable outdated 2x.

Aside from this helpful improve, the 15’s photographic chops are exactly what we’ve come to anticipate from Apple in recent times: sharp, crisp, colourful photographs with lots of element, together with a startling capability (due to Sensible HDR 5) to deal with troublesome lighting situations. It’s additionally distinctive at grabbing high-quality video, whilst you can take spectacular Portrait-mode selfies with the entrance digicam despite the fact that it doesn’t have a second lens.

Battery life & charging

• 3,349mAh capability
• Stable battery life
• Comfortably lasts a full day

The iPhone 15 incorporates a 3,349mAh battery, in comparison with 4,383mAh on the bigger Plus mannequin, and longevity away from a cost is accordingly decrease: Apple charges the iPhone 15 for as much as 20 hours of video playback, whereas the 15 Plus will get an estimated 26 hours and the 15 Professional 23 hours.

In observe, in fact, the principle criterion for achievement is having the ability to get from one charging session to the subsequent with out working out of juice. Since most of us cost in a single day, or not less than on some kind of each day schedule (charging for a few hours every morning could also be higher for long-term battery well being, though the 80% Battery Cost function is a good preservative), the principle factor is that the cellphone can get by a full day’s cycle with out dying. And the iPhone 15 can, with ease. Certainly, lighter customers could discover that even after forgetting to cost in a single day, they are going to make it by a good chunk of a second day too.

However that is all subjective since a cellphone’s battery efficiency in ‘regular’ use is massively depending on what you do with it. For a extra scientific method, we use the battery check within the Geekbench 4 benchmarking suite, the place the iPhone 15 scored 6390 or a time of 10 hours and 39 minutes.

Earlier than you panic, this isn’t a measure of the life it’s best to anticipate in actual use. Geekbench is working a intentionally strenuous battery check so we will evaluate totally different units beneath laboratory situations: it’s for comparisons, not predictions. Right here’s how another iPhones bought on in the identical check:

All of those units could be anticipated to final considerably longer than this on the whole use, except you’re the kind of one who spends all day working cellphone benchmarks.

On the charging entrance, the iPhone 15 incorporates a USB-C port like all of its late 2023 siblings, which implies older Lightning-based cables and docks received’t be of a lot use any longer. (Notice additionally that whilst you get a USB-C-to-USB-C cable within the field, you don’t get an influence adapter to go on the top of it.) The 15 is able to quick charging supplied you pair it with a 20W or greater adapter. Below such circumstances, Apple says it may cost from 0 to 50% p.c in half-hour. In testing, our check unit really managed 54 p.c.

Efficiency

• A16 Bionic is quick and highly effective… for now
• Much less future-proofed than A17-equipped Professional fashions

The iPhone 15 is provided with the identical A16 Bionic processor and 6GB of RAM) because the 15 Plus. This can be a chip that first graced an iPhone again in fall 2022, and is a technology behind the A17 Professional within the newest Professional fashions.

That doesn’t imply it’s sluggish: removed from it, the truth is. Within the multi-core element of the Geekbench 6 pace check, it scored a creditable 6,551 factors, far surpassing main Android units such because the Google Pixel 8 (2,842), Samsung Galaxy S23 (4,994), and the OnePlus 11 (5,209). Certainly, it wasn’t all that far behind the A17-equipped iPhone 15 Professional, which scored 7,431. Right here’s the way it compares to different latest iPhones:

Graphically, the 15 ought to be capable of comfortably deal with something that any of the video games on the App Retailer can throw at it. Within the 3DMark testing suite it constantly (with one exception) returned scores barely decrease than these of the 15 Plus, however each have 5-core GPUs in order that’s most likely simply experimental variation. This can be a highly effective gaming cellphone that received’t allow you to down now or within the subsequent few years… however that older chip means it is going to begin to really feel sluggish round a yr sooner than the iPhone 15 Professional.

Worth & availability

The iPhone 15 was launched in September 2023, and begins at $799 / £799.

• 128GB: $799 / £799 / AU$1,499
• 256GB: $899 / £899 / AU$1,699
• 512GB: $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$2,049

You should buy direct from Apple, or browse our roundup of the greatest iPhone 15-series offers.

Verdict: Must you purchase the iPhone 15?

The iPhone 15 isn’t an thrilling product, due to its old style design and similarity to the earlier technology. Nor would we, on steadiness, advocate making the improve when you presently personal even an iPhone 13 from 2021. For $799 ($829 unlocked), there merely aren’t sufficient enhancements to justify the price.

For everybody else, nonetheless, the iPhone 15 is a really stable smartphone with a powerful function set at (by Apple’s requirements) an reasonably priced worth. The display is sharp, the digicam setup is great, battery life is first rate, and the processor is quick. Chuck in 5G assist and the intelligent Dynamic Island, and also you’ve bought one other instance of Apple’s simple excellence.

David Worth / Foundry

Tech specs

• A16 Bionic processor (6-core CPU, 5-core GPU)
• 6.1-inch 2556×1179 460ppi Tremendous Retina XDR show
• Twin-lens rear digicam: 48MP f/1.6 Major, 12MP f/2.4 Extremely Broad; as much as 2x optical zoom
• 12MP f/1.9 entrance digicam
• Sensible HDR 5
• 128/256/512GB storage
• Estimated battery life: As much as 20 hours video playback
• Quick cost: As much as 50% cost in half-hour with 20W adapter
• Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, 5G
• USB-C charging/information connection
• IP68 mud and water resistance (most depth 6m as much as half-hour)
• 5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 inches (147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8mm)
• 6.02 ounces (171 grams)