During Apple’s Wonderlust event on Tuesday, the latest lineup of iPhones was unveiled, along with updates to the Apple Watch. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have arrived, and soon you may have to decide whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Pro model.
In previous models, the distinguishing feature between the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro was the new Dynamic Island, but this feature has been dropped from the regular iPhone 15, leaving the entire iPhone 15 without it. However, there are some important differences to consider when choosing between the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro. Let’s dive into them.
More from the Apple event
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Display and Enclosure
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2,556-by-1,179 pixels. However, the Pro display features ProMotion technology, which means it has a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz. This should make videos, games, and web browsing smoother compared to the iPhone 15’s 60Hz refresh rate. The Pro model also has an always-on display and can adjust the refresh rate to save battery life.
The iPhone 15 Pro also features an always-on display that turns on and off when you’re charging it, allowing you to use StandBy mode. The regular iPhone 15 does not have this feature.
The aluminum iPhone 15 has a tinted glass back.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro are made from different materials. The iPhone 15 has an aluminum frame with a painted glass back, while the iPhone 15 Pro is made from titanium with a matte glass back. Additionally, the iPhone 15 comes in pink, soft yellow, green, pale blue, and black color options, while the iPhone 15 Pro is available in black, white, dark blue, and natural titanium colors.
The new titanium versions of the iPhone 15 Pro, from left to right: Black, white, blue, and natural.
In terms of size, the iPhone 15 is slightly larger but lighter than the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro weighs more due to its titanium construction and the presence of a third camera. The iPhone 15 weighs 6.02 ounces (171 grams), while the iPhone 15 Pro weighs 6.6 ounces (187 grams). The Pro model also has thinner bezels and is slightly slimmer than the regular iPhone 15.
Another difference between the two models is the activation button. The iPhone 15 Pro features an Action button that replaces the mute switch found on the side of the iPhone 15. The Action button can be customized to activate shortcuts such as the flashlight, voice memo recording, or opening the camera app.
Action button on iPhone 15 Pro.
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Cameras
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have dual rear cameras, but the Pro model adds a third camera. The dual cameras consist of a 48-megapixel wide lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. The iPhone 15 Pro also includes a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, allowing you to capture subjects from a greater distance. Night mode is available on both models, but only the iPhone 15 Pro enables night mode in portrait mode.
The iPhone 15 Pro features a third camera.
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Components
Internally, the iPhone 15 is equipped with an A16 Bionic chip, while the iPhone 15 Pro features an A17 Pro chip. Both processors are powerful, with the A17 Pro providing slightly better performance due to its six-core GPU compared to the A16 Bionic’s five-core GPU. The models come with storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB, while the iPhone 15 Pro also offers a 1TB option.
Check this out: iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: First look
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: USB-C Speed
The new models introduce USB-C charging, but only the iPhone 15 Pro supports 10 gigabit per second USB 3 speeds. You will need to provide your own USB-C 3 cable for the iPhone 15 Pro since Apple includes a USB 2 cable with both phones. The regular iPhone 15 only supports USB 2 speeds, which are slower at 480 megabits per second.
USB-C charging has arrived with the iPhone 15.
iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Price
Finally, the price difference between the two models. As expected, the iPhone 15 Pro costs $200 more than the iPhone 15. The starting price for the iPhone 15 is $799, £799, and AU$1,499, while the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999, £999, and AU$1,849.
Apple iPhone 15 vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro
| iPhone 15 | iPhone 15 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Display size, technology, layout, refresh rate, brightness | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels, 60Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits | 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels, 120Hz adaptive refresh rate, 1,000 nits |
| Pixel count | 460 pp | 460 pp |
| Enclosure | Aluminum with tinted glass back | Titanium with matte glass back |
| Dimensions (inches) | 2.82 x 5.81 x 0.31 in | 2.78 x 5.77 x 0.32 in |
| Dimensions (mm) | 71.6 x 147.6 x 7.8 mm | 70.6 x 146.6 x 8.25 mm |
| Weight (grams, ounces) | 171 g (6.02 oz) | 187 g (6.6 oz) |
| Operating System | iOS 17 | iOS 17 |
| Camera | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide) | 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel telephoto (3x optical zoom) |
| Front camera | 12-megapixel | 12-megapixel |
| Video recording | 4K | 4K |
| Processor | A16 Bionic | A17 Pro |
| RAM/storage | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB | 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB |
| Expandable storage | None | None |
| Battery life/charging | Unknown; Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback (16 hours of talk time) | Unknown; Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours of talk time) |
| Fingerprint sensor | None (Face ID) | None (Face ID) |
| Connector | USB-C (USB 2.0) | USB-C (USB 3.0) |
| Side/change button | Side button | Action button |
| Earpiece | None | None |
| Special features | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe (up to 15W), Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, Dynamic Island | 5G (mmw/Sub6), IP68 rating, MagSafe (up to 15W), Qi wireless charging up to 7.5W, Dynamic Island, 3x optical zoom |
| Price (US) | $799 (128GB), $899 (256GB), $1,099 (512GB) | $999 (128GB), $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB) |
| Price (UK) | £799 (128GB), £899 (256GB), £1,099 (512GB) | £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB) |
| Price (Australia) | AU$1,499 (128GB), AU$1,699 (256GB), AU$2,049 (512GB) | AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,399 (512GB), AU$2,749 (1TB) |
