I’ve Tested the iPhone 15 Pro, and Here’s the Most Overlooked Improvement
At first glance, the iPhone 15 Pro looks quite similar to the iPhone 14 Pro. But I was shocked when I picked up the iPhone 15 Pro Max and started playing with all the new features.
Yes, the new Action button opens up all kinds of options. In fact, our TikTok video demonstrating this new feature has already received over 14 million views. As you’ll see in my iPhone 15 Pro Max hands-on review, the Action button still serves as the mute switch, but it lets you map all sorts of shortcuts to it, including launching the camera, flashlight, voice recorder, and more with a long press.
My issue with the Action button is that you can only assign one shortcut to the button at a time. I’m trying to keep things simple for users – and the Action button action selection interface is neat – but I’d like more options.
Titan is a real game-changer
For my money — and we’re talking a lot of money with the $999 iPhone 15 Pro and $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max — the switch to titanium on the new Pros is the biggest deal. Especially when I picked up the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I was shocked. How can a 6.7-inch flagship be so light?
The iPhone 15 Pro series uses Grade 5 titanium as its frame, replacing the stainless steel sides on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. The result is a design that is not only more durable but also remarkably light in the hand and pocket.
For example, the iPhone 15 Pro Max weighs 7.8 ounces compared to 8.5 ounces for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. That may not seem like much, but to me, it makes a big difference in day-to-day usability. The regular iPhone 15 Pro also has a weight reduction, weighing in at 6.6 ounces versus the previous Pro’s 7.3 ounces.
It’s quite rare to see flagship phones get lighter from one generation to the next, and Apple’s use of titanium makes this possible.
Crop more than just frames
Apple claims the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have the thinnest bezels ever on an iPhone, and I personally appreciated the smaller bezels compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. With the new model, you get an immersive viewing experience.
But that’s not the only advantage. Trimming the bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro also trims the phone’s dimensions. The regular iPhone 15 Pro measures 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 inches, compared to the iPhone 14 Pro’s 5.81 x 2.81 x 0.31 inches.
The iPhone 15 Pro Max measures 6.29 x 3.02 x 0.32 inches, compared to the 6.33 x 3.05 x 0.31 inches of the 14 Pro Max. So both iPhone Pros are more compact, despite being slightly thicker. This helps with the ability to use the larger screen iPhone with one hand.
Apple leads, not follows
Apple is definitely lagging behind on USB-C adoption, but overall the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max seem to be leading the way in overall design. Unsurprisingly, Samsung is also considering using titanium for next year’s Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra. And now that small phones seem all but dead, the push for more compact and lighter flagships with big screens is welcome in my book.
