4 iPhone 15 models under the magnifying glass: the main differences to know

Apple unveiled last night not one, not two, not three, but four new iPhones. So there is a template for each type of user, right? No, not really.

The iPhone 15 series starts at € 969 and the top of the range starts at € 1479, so I wouldn’t go so far as to say that the purchase decision for budget-conscious people can be made easily. But if you are determined to buy the new generation of Apple devices, let the decision tree below help you make the best purchase according to your needs, your use cases and your preferences. I guarantee you that one of the four iPhone 15 models will appeal to you more than the others.

Features of the 4 iPhones 15

iPhone 15

Display : 6.1-inch OLED with 60Hz
Weight : 171 grams
Processor : A16 Bionic

RAM/Storage : 4GB, RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB

Camera : 48MP Wide, 12MP Ultra-wide, Front 12MP

BONES : iOS 17

Battery : Up to 20 hours of video playback

Connectivity : 4G, 5G, Satellite eSIM

Sustainability : IP68

Colors : pink, yellow, blue, green, black

Price : from 969 €

iPhone 15 Plus

Display : 6.7-inch OLED with 60Hz

Weight : 201 grams

Processor : A16 Bionic

RAM/Storage : 4GB, RAM with 128GB/256GB/512GB

Camera : 48MP Wide, 12MP Ultra-wide, Front 12MP

BONES : iOS 17

Battery : Up to 26 hours of video playback

Connectivity : 4G, 5G, Satellite eSIM

Sustainability : IP68

Colors : pink, yellow, blue, green, black

Price : from 1119 €

iPhone 15 Pro

Display : 6.1-inch OLED with 120Hz

Weight weight: 187 grams

Processor : A17 Pro Bionic

RAM/Storage : 8 GB, RAM with 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB

Camera : 48MP Wide, 12MP Ultra-wide, 12MP 3X Telephoto, Front 12MP

BONES : iOS 17

Battery : Up to 23 hours of video playback

Connectivity : 4G, 5G, Satellite eSIM

Sustainability : IP68

Colors : Titanium, Blue, White, Black

Price : from 1229 €

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Display : 6.7-inch OLED with 120Hz

Weight : 221 grams

Processor : A17 Pro Bionic

RAM/Storage : 8 GB, RAM with 128 GB/256 GB/512 GB/1 TB

Camera : 48MP Wide, 12MP Ultra-wide, 12MP 5X Telephoto, Front 12MP

BONES : iOS 17

Battery : Up to 29 hours of video playback

Connectivity : 4G, 5G, Satellite eSIM

Sustainability : IP68

Colors : Titanium, Blue, White, Black

Price : from 1479 €

You should buy the iPhone 15 Pro Max though…

June Wan/ZDNET

1. You want to have the best camera experience on the iPhone, that’s all

This year, Apple has made its iPhone Pro Max model live up to its name better, by offering it the exclusivity of a new periscopic zoom. What is the difference with the telephoto lens of the Pro model? The periscopic lens allows the iPhone to capture distant subjects with a 5x optical zoom rather than a digital zoom, which translates into more detail and less blur.

2. You are a power user in multimedia

In addition to its great camera, the iPhone 15 Pro Max also offers the best multimedia experience of the four new models. With a large 6.8-inch AMOLED screen refreshing at 120 Hz and powerful dual-channel speakers, the Pro Max variant remains the smartphone of choice if you often watch video on your mobile device.

It is rather heavy (221 grams), but the thinner edges and the lighter Titanium material make the Pro Max more ergonomic than ever. The same cannot be said about last year’s 14 Pro Max.

You should buy the iPhone 15 Pro though…

June Wan/ZDNET

1. You want the advantages of the Pro without the size of the Pro Max

Bigger is not always better, as the iPhone Pro has proven year after year. For most people, the 6.1-inch format of the standard Pro smartphone is more than enough. Personally, I find it more pleasant to use than the Pro Max due to its combination of portability and power.

If you take away the periscopic lens and the larger proportions, the iPhone 15 Pro offers pretty much all the other features of the Pro Max, including the A17 Pro Bionic chip, the features of iOS 17 and the new action button. In fact, the Action button is even much more accessible on the smaller 15 Pro. And for photos and videos, it shares the same 48 Mpx sensor, which is the most important thing.

2. You can not justify the Max tax of €200

Apple charges €200 more between the Pro and the Pro Max. This is a large sum, which is enough to cover the price of a case, a screen protector and a USB-C charging case — if you want to update your AirPods Pro to the new Apple port standard.

You should buy the iPhone 15 Plus though…

June Wan/ZDNET

1. Do you want a large-screen iPhone at a more affordable price

If the new iPhone 15 Plus is not necessarily cheap with a starting price of € 1119, it is the most affordable option if you want a large-screen iPhone that does not cost € 300 more. Like the Pro Max, the iPhone 15 Plus has a 6.8-inch screen and a Dynamic Island interface.

The display is not as fluid with a refresh rate of 60 Hz, and the speakers are not as impactful as those of the Pro Max, but if you want an iPhone that delivers the essentials and looks good, then the 15 Plus is the right solution.

You should buy the iPhone 15 though…

June Wan/ZDNET

1. Want the latest iPhone for less

If features such as ProRes video recording, the 120 Hz touch screen and the A17 Pro Bionic chip don’t make you frown, the standard iPhone 15 may be the best option for you. It is also the most accessible of the lot, with a starting price of € 969, and most operators offer package and recovery offers.

2. One of the colors matches your style

Smartphones are undoubtedly the most personal technological object. That is why such an elementary element as color can be a decisive factor when buying. Apple tends to give non-Pro iPhones brighter and more adventurous colors, with this year bursts of pastel yellow, pink, blue, white and black. If one of these colors speaks to you, it may be that you opt for an iPhone 15 instead of an iPhone 15 Pro.

Other solutions to consider

iPhone 14

Last year’s iPhone 14 does not have a Dynamic Island, but it is almost as good as the iPhone 15 in all other respects. At € 869, it’s € 100 less, and the smartphone remains a good choice for 2023.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

I don’t always recommend an Android smartphone as an alternative to the iPhone. But if you are looking for state-of-the-art photographic performance, Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra could well give the iPhone 15 Pro Max a hard time.

Source: “ZDNet.com “