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IThe iPhone 15 continues the slow addition of features previously reserved for its high-end Pro phones to other models. But even with the new dynamic bezel, improved camera, faster chip, and USB-C, the standard iPhone can’t help but look a little boring.
The standard 2023 iPhone is discounted by £50 in the UK to £799 (€949, $799, AU$1,499), though other regions aren’t so lucky. That makes it around £200 cheaper than the similarly sized iPhone 15 Pro, with an extra-large version also available for around £100 more.
The 15 has the same aluminum and glass combination as iPhones in recent years. The aluminum edges have been beveled this year for a smoother feel, though only if you don’t put it in a case. The display is twice as bright as previous models, making it easier to read outdoors, but it lacks the always-on display mode and faster refresh rate for smoother scrolling of the iPhone Pro models and Android competitors at this price.
The six-year-old notch design at the top of the display that hid the selfie camera and Face ID system has been replaced by the smaller dynamic island first introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro last year. It’s useful for displaying timers and other features and is easier to ignore when not needed. The mute switch on the side remains on the 15, having been replaced by a button for the Pro models this year.
The phone also has the A16 Bionic chip from last year’s 14 Pro, which is still one of the fastest available and makes the phone feel snappy. The battery life is about the same as the iPhone 14 (up to 48 hours), which is pretty good for a relatively small smartphone in 2023. This means you’ll need to charge the iPhone 15 roughly every other day, which takes about 110 minutes from fully discharged using a 20W or higher USB-C power adapter (not included).
New this year is the USB-C port, which, like the other 2023 iPhones, means ditching the Lightning cable and any accessories you might have with it. The upside is that you can charge the iPhone 15 with almost any USB-C power adapter and cable, including those for laptops, tablets, and Android phones—not just Apple devices. You can also use a host of USB-C accessories, including game controllers, SD card readers, and display cables—though keep in mind that the iPhone 15 is limited to the same USB 2.0 speeds as previous Lightning-equipped models.
Budget
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Screen: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR (OLED) display (460 ppi)
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Processor: Apple A16 Bionic
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RAM: 6 GB
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Storage: 128, 256 or 512 GB
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Operating system: iOS 17
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Camera: 48MP + 12MP rear camera, 12MP front camera
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Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6, NFC, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C (2.0), Satellite, UWB and GNSS
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Water resistance: IP68 (6 meters for 30 minutes)
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Dimensions: 147.8 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm
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Weight: 171 grams
Sustainability
Apple says the battery It should last more than 500 full charge cycles. with at least 80% of its original capacity and can be replaced for £95Out of warranty Screen repair costs £289.
It contains recycled aluminum, cobalt, copper, gold, plastic, rare earths, tin and tungsten. The company breaks down the phone’s environmental impact in its report. Apple offers free trade-in and recycling programs, even for non-Apple products.
Improved dual camera
The iPhone 15 has a dual-camera system on the back, including an upgraded 48-megapixel main camera plus a 12MP ultra-wide camera similar to last year’s model.
The main camera takes 24MP images by default, rather than 12MP, and produces better-looking, more detailed images in a variety of lighting conditions. It can take 48MP images, which is best achieved in bright light, and has the 2x optical zoom of last year’s Pro models, which magnifies the centre of the sensor.
Perhaps more importantly, the main photography mode now automatically captures depth information when it detects people or pets, allowing you to refocus images and turn them into portrait mode shots when editing them afterwards. This also means you can use night mode at the same time for much better low-light portraits.
The lack of extended optical zoom is a stumbling block for the standard iPhone, which remains a feature exclusive to the Pro models, along with its more advanced photography and videography features. But overall, the camera captures good photos without much effort.
Price
The iPhone 15 starts at £799 (€949/$799/A$1,499) with 128GB of storage.
For comparison, the iPhone 15 Plus costs £899, the iPhone 15 Pro costs £999, the Samsung Galaxy S23 costs £849, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 costs £1,049, the Google Pixel 7 costs £599 and the Fairphone 5 costs £649.
Verdict
For those with older phones from around five years ago, the iPhone 15 marks a big step forward with a fast chip, long-lasting battery, a crisp, bright display, and the most useful USB-C port around.
The domino effect of the iPhone Pro models also adds a bit of interest. The dynamic island on the 14 Pro certainly improves on the previous notch design. The 48MP main camera captures more detail, and the auto portrait mode is a bit innovative.
But the same usual caveats from iPhones of previous years apply. It doesn’t have extended zoom, which is disappointing, it doesn’t have an always-on display or a high screen refresh rate, and the case color options are a bit too washed out and pale. None of these things are deal breakers, but they’re features found on competitors at this price point.
The iPhone 15 is a good phone, but it’s not as attractive as it should be for its price. For that, on an iPhone, you need the 15 Pro or change models and look for Android competitors.
Advantages: Fast, good camera, good display now with dynamic island, great size, USB-C, great battery life, long software support, Face ID.
Cons: No telephoto camera, slower display than the competition and the 15 Pro, no always-on display mode, dull color choices, more serviceable design restricted by software locks.