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The Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max (pictured) will draw power users with its new 5X zoom camera. The top-of-the-line model, and other iPhone 15s, come with Apple’s newest operating system, IOS 17, and, in a big change, USB-C charging ports instead of Lightning. Photo: Ben Sin
LifestyleGadgets

Apple iPhone 15 series first impressions, from USB-C charging to zoom camera upgrade on Pro Max model that rivals best Android handsets

  • The titanium-framed iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are powered by the 3nm Apple A17 Pro chip, and the Pro Max gets a 5X zoom camera to match the best Android phones
  • Both they and the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus run on new iOS 17 with improved Airdrop. The biggest change is swapping Lightning for USB-C charging ports
Smartphones
Ben Sin
Ben Sin
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Apple introduced four new iPhones on Wednesday, featuring new cameras, chips and, for the first time in over a decade, a new charging solution.

While Apple fans are going to find plenty to like with any of the four new models, a pickier phone enthusiast will be more drawn to the largest Pro Max model, as that is the device that saw the most upgrades.

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have screens that are the same size as last year’s models (6.1 inches and 6.7 inches respectively), but each device is 19g lighter than its direct predecessor as the new models have a titanium frame instead of a stainless steel one.

Apple says titanium, though lighter than stainless steel, produces stronger frames. Apple also subtly rounded the edges where the frame meets the front and back glass panels, making for a more comfortable in-hand feel.

The Apple iPhone 15 series phones have subtle rounding of the edges where the frame meets the glass display and rear panels. Photo: Ben Sin
The new iPhone Pro models also get the newest Apple A17 Pro chip built on cutting-edge 3nm architecture – the first of its kind. The chip features a six-core CPU with a 16-core neural engine, and should outpace competing chips from Qualcomm.

The most exciting addition is the 5X zoom lens in the iPhone 15 Pro Max; the 15 Pro recycles the same 3X telephoto lens from the previous generation.

A notable addition to the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max is its 5X zoom lens. Photo: Ben Sin

The new 5X lens uses a new “tetra prism” design that sees light waves bounce four times in a zigzag pattern before reaching the image sensor.

This is a variation of the “periscope” zoom lens technology pioneered by Huawei phones but best seen in Samsung phones and, from my brief testing, the 5X photos captured by the iPhone 15 Pro Max look sharp and rival Samsung’s best zoom cameras.

Both iPhone 15 Pro phones also have a larger main camera image sensor, which combines with a new image processing technique to shoot at three different focal lengths – 24mm, 28mm and 35mm – while using the main image sensor.

We test the 5X zoom on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max, which looks to be a match for the best Android phones. Photo: Ben Sin
The 15 Pro Max cameras are the most versatile ever in an iPhone by some distance, and have perhaps lifted Apple’s to the level of the best Android smartphone cameras – known for their wide range of focal lengths.

There is also a new “action button” in the iPhone Pros that lets users quickly map an action and trigger it with a press. This could, in theory, jump to a specific camera shooting mode or start a recording with one touch, without needing to unlock the phone first.

The non-Pro iPhones are not as exciting, but should be considered good value for casual iPhone users upgrading from a years-old iPhone. The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus also come in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes, and both phones gain the “Dynamic Island” feature that was exclusive to the Pro models last year.

The new action button on the Apple iPhone 15 Pro. Photo: Ben Sin

The non-Pro iPhones do not get the brand new A17 Pro chip, running instead on the A16 Bionic – which powered the iPhone 14 Pro phones. It is still more than powerful enough.

The frames of these two lower-tier iPhone 15s are made of aluminium but their backs, including the camera module, are made of a single sheet of glass for a more seamless feel. The softer edges can also be found here.

All four iPhone 15s have also replaced the proprietary Lightning charging port in favour of USB-C, the ubiquitous port that powers everything from Android phones to wireless earbuds, to most laptops – including Apple’s.
A pink model of the Apple iPhone 15. Photo: Ben Sin
The titanium frame of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. Photo: Ben Sin

It is not just about the hardware – the new iPhones are also the first Apple devices to ship with the new version of its iOS operating system. The iPhone 15 ships with iOS 17, which brings exciting changes such as interactive widgets and a vastly improved Airdrop that no longer requires the two devices to remain in proximity for the duration of a transfer.

So, while the non-Pro iPhone 15s are a bit boring in terms of hardware upgrades, they will still feel like a fresh device for most consumers, especially those who are jumping from the iPhone 13 series or older.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro users complain that device can get too hot

For power users, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is clearly the star of the show, and I cannot wait to put that new zoom camera to the test. The iPhone 15 series phones are available for pre-order now and will go on sale on September 22.

As for pricing, the iPhone 15 starts at US$799/HK$6,899, the iPhone 15 Plus starts at US$899/HK$7,699, the iPhone 15 Pro starts at US$999/HK$8,599, the Pro Max starts at US$1,199/HK$10,199.

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