The base iPhone model is at last receiving some significant enhancements.
Every couple of years, Apple introduces significant improvements to its hardware products. In non-upgrade years, we often see amusing memes circulating. However, in 2023, the standard iPhone models are generating excitement once more. This shift has occurred with older models like the iPhone 12, which was the first non-Pro model to feature an OLED screen. This year, the iPhone 15 has captured my attention as it finally receives substantial upgrades, providing an enticing proposition for those holding onto an iPhone 12 or older, waiting for something better.
While the new model may not appear vastly different from the last two generations, it inherits valuable additions from last year’s 14 Pro, making the iPhone 15 (and the 15 Plus) a compelling choice. Here’s the reason behind it.
Apple iPhone 15 Price in India
The iPhone 15’s starting price matches that of the iPhone 14 at Rs. 79,900 for the 128GB variant. There are options for 256GB and 512GB variants, with each tier adding Rs. 10,000 to the price. Although there are new pastel colors that look appealing, there’s no Product RED variant this time. Apple continues to sell the iPhone 14 and iPhone 13 officially, with starting prices of Rs. 69,900 and Rs. 59,900, respectively. The bundled accessories remain minimal, but this time it includes a color-matched braided USB Type-C cable in the box, as all iPhones have transitioned away from Apple’s proprietary connector this year.
Apple sent us the top-end blue variant, which is officially priced at Rs. 1,09,900. Apple’s premium pricing is customary, but chances are you won’t have to pay the full sticker price, thanks to available bank and credit card offers for online purchases.
Apple iPhone 15 Design
The iPhone 15 maintains almost the same dimensions as the 14, with a slight increase in height. It weighs 171g and offers an excellent in-hand feel. The rounded edges and the soft finish of the frame and glass back provide a comfortable grip. Coming from an iPhone 13 Pro Max, I initially found the size and weight of the 15 to be toy-like, but I quickly appreciated the smaller form factor.
The iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch OLED panel with Apple’s Dynamic Island, a feature borrowed from the 14 Pro series, giving it a modern appearance on par with Apple’s pricier models. Unfortunately, the 15 lacks ProMotion, meaning the display still operates at 60Hz rather than 120Hz. The always-on feature is also exclusive to the Pro models. The 15’s display is brighter than that of the iPhone 14, with 1,000 nits of typical brightness and up to 2,000 nits of peak brightness in outdoor, sunlight conditions.
Apple iPhone 15 Specifications and Software
The iPhone 15 inherits a ‘Pro’ feature in the form of the SoC, housing Apple’s A16 Bionic, which was previously used in the iPhone 14 Pro models. It features the same number of CPU and GPU cores as the iPhone 14 but is built on a 4nm process (compared to 5nm), incorporating a billion more transistors in a similar surface area. The iPhone 15 retains the same 6GB of RAM as the iPhone 14. Other features include stereo speakers, IP68 dust and water resistance rating, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, a second-generation Ultra Wideband (UWB) chip, and a TrueDepth camera in the display for Face ID.
The iPhone 15 comes equipped with iOS 17 and is expected to receive updates for at least the next five years. iOS 17 is also compatible with several older iPhone models, providing a similar user experience. Notable features include personalized Contact Posters for contacts in your phonebook, the ability to record and send FaceTime messages if the recipient doesn’t answer, and various other enhancements. Apple has also released sub-version updates to address overheating concerns with the 15 Pro models and recently introduced new features for AirDrop, along with general bug fixes.
Performance and Battery Life of the Apple iPhone 15
The daily performance of the iPhone 15 has been consistently impressive. Apps load swiftly, the display is vibrant, and it never feels underpowered. Notifications grouped around the Dynamic Island feature are engaging and user-friendly. While the 15 generally maintains a cool temperature, there were instances of slight heating when using wireless CarPlay. Gaming is a pleasure with excellent graphics and smooth performance, particularly with games from Apple Arcade. HDR videos, especially those shot with Dolby Vision, look impressive. The stereo speakers offer loud and enjoyable sound quality. Benchmark scores are robust, surpassing most Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Android phones. The iPhone 15 achieved 1,377,284 points in AnTuTu and 2,500 and 6,209 points in Geekbench 6’s single and multicore CPU tests, respectively.
Battery life on iPhones is typically reliable, and the iPhone 15 is no exception. Apple claims up to 20 hours of video playback, and our HD video test approached that mark, running for 16.5 hours. In normal use, a full day’s battery life is easily achievable, and sometimes even more with lighter usage. Fast charging is supported, but the charger must be purchased separately. Apple asserts that the 15 can charge up to 50% in half an hour with the optional 20W power adapter. Wireless charging is also available.
Camera Capabilities of the Apple iPhone 15
The iPhone 15 continues to lack a telephoto camera, and the ultra-wide camera cannot capture macro photos and videos, as these features remain exclusive to the Pro models. However, the main camera now boasts a 48-megapixel sensor from the 14 Pro. It retains sensor-shift stabilization, and the increased resolution allows for “optical” quality magnification at the 2X zoom level, achieved by utilizing a smaller crop of the sensor. The ultra-wide camera maintains its 12-megapixel sensor, as does the front-facing 12-megapixel camera. All cameras can record videos at up to 4K 60fps in Dolby Vision, and a new Smart HDR 5 photo processing engine enhances shadow and highlight balance.
By default, the iPhone 15 captures 24-megapixel pixel-binned photos, but you can change this to 12 megapixels in the Settings, similar to how most Android phones with 48-megapixel cameras operate. To shoot at the full 48 megapixels, you’ll need to enable a toggle in Settings, after which you’ll find a ‘JPEG Max’ option in the viewfinder. Keep in mind that shooting at the native resolution may introduce some shutter lag, affecting rapid shooting capabilities.
In daylight conditions, image quality is excellent, offering ample detail and well-balanced colors even in bright sunlight. The ultra-wide camera also performs well in good lighting, delivering decent details with minimal barrel distortion. The camera app now includes the ability to recognize animals like dogs and cats, prompting you to enable background blur within the app. The Photos app can also detect previous images of pets and suggest converting them into portrait shots.
Images captured in low light conditions with the main camera exhibit excellent quality. The camera effectively manages noise, provides ample details, and renders colors in a natural and pleasing manner. However, when zooming in beyond 2X, there is a noticeable decline in image quality. The performance of the ultra-wide camera is decent, but it doesn’t match the level of detail achieved by the main camera. The selfie camera performs well in both daylight and low-light settings.
iPhones have long maintained their reputation as the top choice for video recording. The iPhone 15 excels at capturing steady footage in good lighting conditions, with no apparent jitter and exceptional detail. In situations with artificial lighting, slight jitter might be noticeable when recording at night, particularly when walking while filming.
In conclusion
The primary drawback of the iPhone 15 lies in its pricing in the Indian market. Priced at nearly Rs. 80,000 for the base model, it stands on the expensive side. Even with the inclusion of bank offers, the cost still exceeds Rs. 70,000, considering that most users would opt for the 256GB variant. However, if you are willing to make this kind of investment, you won’t be disappointed. Unlike the iPhone 14, which didn’t deviate significantly from the iPhone 13, the iPhone 15 takes a more significant step forward by incorporating many advanced features from the 14 Pro models. Notably, a higher refresh rate and a telephoto camera are features that many users, including myself, are eagerly anticipating in the standard models, which might arrive in future generations.
Presently, if you desire some of the ‘Pro’ features from the iPhone 14 Pro but are unwilling to pay a premium, the iPhone 15 is a solid choice. Even though Apple has officially discontinued last year’s Pro models, their prices remain considerably high in the Indian market. If you have been waiting to upgrade from your iPhone 12 or an older model to something substantial, the iPhone 15 is a worthy option. Conversely, if you simply desire an iPhone and aren’t particularly interested in the new features of the 15, this is an opportune time to purchase the iPhone 13 at a significantly discounted price during festive sales.