The High Speed USB-C Port of the 15 Pro and the Implications for the Future of the Inclusive X-ray Driven iPhone
One of the notable updates this year is the installation of the Universal Serial Bus-C orUSB-C. Each phone in the iPhone 15 lineup now features a USB-C port on the bottom instead of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector, which the iPhone 14 lineup is still stuck with. The switch should allow for faster charging and data transfer rates in the 15 Pro, which is among the first phones to offer 10Gbps transfer speeds. It should transfer large files more quickly because of that.
Apple did not announce an improvement in charging speeds, despite the fact that the door could have been opened for faster charging. The official charging speed is 20 watt, but on the company page it is limited to 20 watt.
Apple has been adding USB-C to many of its own devices since 2015, but it has been collecting licensing fees for the Lightning port, which may partly be why the iPhone has been the longest holdout. However, last year the European Union ruled that USB-C must be on all new phones, tablets, and cameras by the end of 2024, and so here we are.
The Dynamic Island: A Comparison of the Low-Energy iPhone 14 and 15 Models with the A15 Bionic Chips
Let us discuss the display. This year, Apple swapped out the notch found on the lower-end iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus for the Dynamic Island. Once reserved only for the premium iPhone 14 models, the feature essentially acts as a moveable pill-shaped cutout, one that displays real-time notifications, alerts, and activities.
Some of the main differences between the iPhone 14 and 15 lineup are outlined in that brief overview. In the chart below, you can see the more detailed differences. We rounded up all of the relevant specifications.
In terms of performance, the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus use the two-year-old A15 Bionic chipset, which we found fast enough in our testing. However, it’s likely less snappy than the A16 found in the entry-level iPhone 15 models and probably more noticeably so when compared to the premium phones. The new A17 Pro chip that Apple claims to be some of the fastest chip currently available runs on the new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
The 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro, meanwhile, starts at $999, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. Along with more capabilities (which we’ll dive into shortly), the Pro models offer a 1TB storage option, which the entry-level iPhone 14 and 15 models lack.
There are also some notable design differences to be aware of. The titanium body of the devices should make them both stronger and lighter. They’re also the only Apple phones to feature the Action Button, which essentially takes the place of the ringer button and can be customized to create shortcuts, launch the camera, and carry out a range of other tasks.
Both the iPhone 14 and 15 can last 20 and 20 hours, respectively, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max can be used for up to 29 hours. Both Plus models offer up to 26 hours of video playback, but strangely, the iPhone 15 Pro maxes out at 23 hours.
There are improvements when it comes to video recording. All of the phones feature a cinematic mode that can record 4K resolution at 30fps and 4K at 24fps. The 15 Pro models will be able to capture spatial video in the future, which is basically 3D videos that can be viewed with the Vision Pro headset. They will also allow you to shoot 4K60 ProRes video and, thanks to their support for USB-C, let you record video to external storage devices.
Combined with an updated GPU, Apple says the new smartphones are particularly well-suited for demanding tasks, including gaming. The iPhone 15 Pro seems to handle games well enough, at least in our brief time playing with it, but we’ll have to test it more to know for sure.
The new Apple Watch Series 9 has a second-gen ultra wideband chip, which is what the new iPhone 15 has. It’s easier to find friends and loved ones using Apple’s Find My network thanks to the updated component that enables more precise tracking. The same chip that’s further away should be more reliable when connecting to other devices.
The software of the iPhone 15 lineup is now available. So far, that seems like a minor update that brings fun little features like Live Voicemail, a new Journal app, and StandBy mode. The latter turns your screen into something akin to a smart display, one that remains visible while your phone is charging in landscape mode. If you buy the iPhone 14 or 15 Plus, you will be able to play with these features regardless of which phone you use, because you will also be able to download the new version of iOS 17 when it launches.