There are years in which the iPhone changes little, adding a handful of minor functions, and there are years in which it changes a lot, even if its external design is still reminiscent of past editions. The iPhone 15 is one of the latter. The switch to USB-C, the new processor, the dynamic island and the camera result in a "basic" iPhone that comes to be, except for some omissions, the same phone as last year's Pro model with a more attractive design.

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Analysis.

We tested the iPhone 15 Pro: a camera disguised as an iPhone

  • Writing: ÁNGEL JIMÉNEZ DE LUIS

We tested the iPhone 15 Pro: a camera disguised as an iPhone

In Pixel we have been able to test it during the last five days and for the vast majority of iPhone users, who do not change phones every year, this will be a good time to update. It has even fallen in price, thanks to the change of the dollar.

BRIGHTER

The iPhone 15 is available in two screen sizes, 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches. In both cases it is a brighter screen, up to 2,000 nits outdoors and that loses the notch or eyebrow to make way for the 'dynamic island', a part of the screen that camouflages the front camera and the FaceID biometric sensor on a surface that can change dimensions to show contextual information.

Apple iPhone 15 screen.

It is useful for controlling specific events, such as timers, and also for showing, for example, sports scores or the time left for the Uber to arrive to pick us up.

Behind the screen is the same A16 processor that last year used the iPhone Pro, and that is very powerful. Although it has been dethroned by the A17 Pro that this year carry the most advanced iPhone, it is difficult to find processors in mobile telephony capable of achieving similar performance in games or complex applications.

BEST CAMERA

The other feature that has copied from the iPhone Pro is the camera with 48 megapixel sensor, which also allows to offer a 2x telephoto lens thanks to the sensor crop.

The results are very good and it benefits from some of the improvements in the processing steps that come with this new generation of iPhone.

The iPhone 15, for example, can now automatically detect if there is a person or pet in the photo and save the depth information of the image to apply portrait mode after shooting. That is, you no longer have to select the portrait mode in the camera menu.

It works very well although in some scenes it may take time to jump (a small symbol in the lower corner of the application indicates that it has detected a person or animal) and the result is the same as if the function had been selected manually.

This year's iPhone saves images at 24 megapixels resolution by default, although if the light conditions are bad, it lowers the quality to 12 megapixels. When this cut happens is a bit of a lottery, really. You can, however, force the sensor to take photos at 48 megapixels, although in HEIF format and with some delay in capture. ProRAW mode is only available on Pro models.

In general, with each passing year, the photos that an iPhone takes are better but at the cost of giving up part of the control that the user has over the taking of the image. Photos taken with the iPhone 15 look fantastic, even with the ultra-wide, which has a somewhat more limited sensor. In part it is due to the new HDR, which achieves a good dynamic range even in difficult scenes, with front light or low light.

Another piece of good news: Night mode is now sharper and the lens is less likely to show reflections. They are still there, but not as obviously as in previous years.

USB-C

The design of the iPhone 15 is a great success. It is available in five paste tonesthanks to the slightly tinted glass that covers the back. They are very beautiful and it is a pity that the Pro models, in comparison, are so gray this year.

The iPhone 15 has somewhat more rounded edges and a texture in the glass that prevents it from slipping. It is comfortable in the hand and pocket.

USB-C connection of the Apple iPhone 15.

The big change, in any case, is the USB-C port, which replaces the Lightning connection. We must thank the European Union, which has forced the hand of Apple, but what it means is that, finally, a single cable will serve to charge most accessories and that you can charge the iPhone in an emergency using the same cable used by most Android phones.

What are its limitations? Basically two. The first is that the screen still has a refresh rate of 60 hertz, very low with what phones from other brands offer in this price range.

The second is that, by inheriting the A16 processor, although the connection has become USB-C, the standard on which it transmits data is USB 2, limited to 480 Mbps. It is not a huge problem since for most users the only function of the cable is to charge the phone, not transfer data.

In five days it is difficult to get a clear idea of the autonomy but in our tests the battery is comparable to that of the iPhone 14, about 20 hours of video playback or about 11 hours of active screen with mixed use. The Plus model offers a little more autonomy. The fast charge allows you to charge the mobile to 50% in about 30 minutes.

Finally, an important detail: Apple will activate in a few weeks the satellite emergency service in Spain, which is included in these new iPhone. It allows you to launch emergency messages or share the exact location with friends and family when there is no phone coverage.

The iPhone 15 will go on sale next Friday 22 at a price that starts at 959 euros for the model with 128 GB. The iPhone 15 Plus, with 6.7-inch screen starts at 1,109 euros.

  • iPhone
  • Apple Inc.