In the initial hands-on testing of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the most noticeable changes from last year’s models are the new materials and charging port. The shift to titanium for the phone’s edges, replacing stainless steel, immediately grabs your attention, promising a lighter and more durable device.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 lineup at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, marking a significant upgrade, particularly in the higher-end versions. CEO Tim Cook personally engaged with attendees, emphasizing the culmination of Apple’s innovations across design, camera, performance, and more.
However, much of the buzz centered around a seemingly mundane change: the switch from the Lightning port to USB-C. While this change may irk some consumers, it offers faster data transfer speeds, especially on the higher-end iPhones, and was mandated by the European Union (EU).
Aesthetically, the new connector has minimal impact, but its introduction felt significant to technology enthusiasts and analysts present. The sizes of the Pro and Pro Max remain unchanged, but the higher-end models feature more muted colors, allowing the titanium finish to shine.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus entry-level models offer pastel colors and use metal ions to dye color into the glass, resulting in a unique effect. However, the most significant iPhone 15 Pro features are under the hood, including the A17 chip, Apple’s fastest in-house smartphone processor, supporting ray tracing for improved graphics and color accuracy.
Pricing discussions were also prominent, with most iPhone models maintaining their price levels. Still, the Pro Max sees a $100 increase, starting with 256 gigabytes of storage compared to the previous generation’s 128.