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iPhone 15 review: I spent a month with Apple's base model and found it more 'Pro' than ever
Sleek, matte-frosted design for a superb hand feel
Dynamic Island replaces the aging notch
Pro-grade A16 Bionic chip
USB-C, finally!
Reliable camera system
A month of testing proved that Apple's standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus bear more "Pro" features than ever before, including a Dynamic Island for more seamless multitasking, a 48MP camera system that -- when paired with the A16 Bionic chip -- consistently produces eye-catching imagery, and a new satin-finished design that left me with no envy for the more expensive iPhone models.
If you don't see yourself shooting videos in ProRAW, requiring the extra Action button, or drooling over the 5X zoom camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max , you'll be plenty comfortable with the $799 iPhone 15 and $899 iPhone 15 Plus. Between the two, buy the former if you want one of the most compact (yet capable) handsets on the market, and buy the latter if you want a more affordable big-screen iPhone and the best battery life of all the models this year.
Specifications
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
Display
6.1-inch OLED with 60Hz
6.7-inch OLED with 60Hz
Weight
6.02 oz (171 grams)
7.09 oz (201 grams)
Processor
A16 Bionic
A16 Bionic
RAM/Storage
4GB RAM with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
4GB RAM with 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB
Camera
48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP front
48MP wide, 12MP ultra-wide, 12MP front
Battery
Up to 20 hours of video playback
Up to 26 hours of video playback
Connectivity
USB-C, 4G LTE, 5G, eSIM, Satellite
USB-C, 4G LTE, 5G, eSIM, Satellite
Price
Starting at $799
Starting at $899
How I tested the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
I typically spend at least two weeks testing phones before writing the full review, so I had my Mint Mobile eSIM installed on the smaller iPhone 15 for the first half of October and then transferred to the iPhone 15 Plus during the second half. I spent a good chunk of my time evaluating cellular connectivity, day-to-day performance, and camera output as I hustled through the product launch season in the concrete jungle that is New York City.The difference between the two iPhone handsets this year mainly boils down to display size and battery life; Unlike the Pro models, there's no camera hardware discrepancy, which means the general user experience of the two is pleasantly similar. That made my life as a phone reviewer this past month a little easier -- and makes the below list all the more applicable to both iPhone models.
What are the iPhone 15's best features?
Thinner, lighter form factor-- Without question, the most important aspect of a phone is how it feels in the hand -- we carry these things around 24/7! -- and with the new iPhone, it's baffling how much more premium it feels compared to previous generations. Whether you're coming from an iPhone XR or an iPhone 14, the glossy, sharp-cornered form factor of old pales in comparison to Apple's new design language, which flaunts contoured edges and a color-infused, satin backing. Apple has always kept the matte finish exclusive to its Pro line, so I'm all for the iPhone 15 being a little more disruptive.
Less is more here, and Apple's slimming down of the base-level iPhone has made it so comfortable in the hand that I didn't -- and still don't -- envy the Pro model's titanium material one bit. The iPhone 15 also comes in more charming colors than the Pro line, with pastel -- and emphasis on "pastel" -- hues of green, yellow, pink, blue, and black. For me, matte black is king, easily matching my favorite (though flawed )iPhone finishof all time.
Dynamic Island-- The most notable display upgrade with the iPhone 15 is the Dynamic Island, carried over from last year's iPhone 14 Pro. (The brighter 2,000-nit display comes in a close second.) It's a feature that everyone can appreciate -- whether you end up using it or not -- because, unlike the notch that's replaced, the Dynamic Island turns that chunk of previously unused real estate into a glanceable status indicator system.
You don'thaveto interact with the Spotify music player or Uber Eats tracker that magically morphs into the pill-shaped cutout to appreciate its functionality. But if you do, you'll be glad you no longer have to open an app just to skip a track or know how much further away your game-day pizzas are. I've enjoyed using theLumyapp, which displays a timer for when golden hour ends, so I know exactly how much longer I have left to take those warm and dreamy photos before sunset.
USB-Cport-- This one should be more straightforward than it seems, but a crisscrossing ofcharging standardsand data transfer speeds by Apple means that it's not. While the iPhone 15 now supports the universal USB-C port, meaning I no longer have to wrestle through my car's center console for a Lightning cable orUSB cabledepending on what phone I'm using, it's not as powerful and fast as the one on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The result is a slower charging rate (up to 18W) and data transfer speed (up to 480Mbps), which I haven't found to be deal breakers. Part of the reason is because the iPhone 15 Plus, in particular, has been an absolute beast, lasting me well into a second endurance workday before needing to be charged. It even beats the iPhone 15 Pro Max's battery life, as reported by numerous testers.
cons
Slower charging and data transfer speeds than Pro models
