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Short Summary
Main recommendation: If you have an iPhone 14 you don't need to upgrade, but if you're on an older phone, buy the iPhone 15 rather than last year's model. The reviewer says the phone contains little that is entirely new, but the accumulated subtle improvements make it an appreciably better phone overall, and the switch to USB-C completes the move away from Lightning.
Key Points
- The iPhone 15 reuses much of the design and hardware of prior models, and the reviewer argues that Apple's "late mover" strategy means refining things others already did.
- The new design softens the corners for better hand feel, adds a satin-finished glass back, and is among the most fingerprint-resistant iPhones in years.
- The 60Hz display is the main weak point; the reviewer argues most buyers won't notice, but criticizes Apple for keeping higher refresh rates exclusive to the Pro models to widen the gap between lines.
- The A16 Bionic chip (last year's Pro chip) is described as more than good enough, and battery life has been good, with his 15 lasting longer than his 15 Pro in his use.
- USB-C brings a single cable for charging and accessories, though the chip lacks USB 3 data speeds, which the reviewer considers unimportant for most buyers.
- The new 48MP main camera defaults to 24MP photos, and an auto-Portrait Mode detection feature captures depth data for later use; neither feature appears on last year's Pro, which the reviewer finds odd.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions: If you already own an iPhone 14, skip this upgrade; if you own a 13 or older, upgrading is reasonable. If you're upgrading from an older phone, choose the iPhone 15 over last year's iPhone to get the newer features and USB-C, rather than saving money on the older model. When using the camera, point it at a human, cat, or dog (or tap to focus) so the "F" indicator appears at the bottom corner, which means depth data is captured for Portrait Mode; later, open the photo in your gallery and convert it to Portrait Mode to edit it.
- Use Voice Isolation mode on the microphone during calls to filter background noise such as a dishwasher or HVAC, since it works in any app at the OS level.
- The iOS 17 update adds an 80% battery charge limit in settings, downloadable offline areas in Apple Maps, and interactive widgets.
- The base model's Standby mode keeps the screen off after a while on a charger, unlike the Pro, which can stay on at 1Hz, so you may need to nudge the phone to wake it.
- Apple has addressed heat and battery complaints with an iOS update, and some third-party apps such as Instagram were also said to need fixes.
- The 15 Plus is described as having the best battery life of any iPhone so far.
Bottom Line
The iPhone 15 is a solid, familiar phone that is a better buy than last year's model for anyone upgrading from an older device, even though its improvements are incremental and its 60Hz display stays a Pro-only feature.
