The new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max proved to be in demand as orders commenced Friday — and their popularity is well-deserved thanks mainly to their lightweight titanium frames, immersive screens, beefed up cameras and numerous incremental improvements, reviewers said Tuesday in reviews.
Several reviewers noted how smartphone changes are always incremental nowadays, and the upgrades to Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro models are some of its best in years.
iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max reviews
Apple unveiled the much-anticipated iPhone 15 lineup on September 12 Apple at its Wonderlust event. When preorders commenced Friday for new Apple products, the popularity of iPhone 15 Pro models tanked Apple’s website for a time. And as shipping dates pushed further into the future, it became clear the iPhone 15 Pro models were big hits with buyers.
And they’re big hits with reviewers so far, too (as are iPhone 15/Plus). While some criticisms appeared, most reviewers mainly praised the new handsets.
In a nutshell, critics loved the lightweight titanium chassis, the highly capable Action button and the various camera upgrades — especially Pro Max’s 5X zoom. Criticisms tended to center on “boring colors” (except blue) and how expensive the phones are — even though only Pro Max went up in price, and only because it dropped the cheaper 128GB version.
“The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are defined by their refinements and are one of the most compelling releases from Apple in years,” CNET said. “I’ve reviewed and tested iPhones for years, but Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro Max is the first time I’ve ever been this enamored.”
Titanium body and USB-C connector
Photo: Apple
CNET and other reviewers loved the handsets’ lightweight titanium chassis and slightly rounded edges, which makes them easier to hold than recent models. Even the big Pro Max doesn’t seem so big when it’s lighter and a bit rounded.
“Most important for me, the high-end models are much lighter in weight and really make a big difference during daily use,” CNBC said. “I’d recommend them to any iPhone user who’s ready to upgrade, or anyone who has complained about how big and heavy smartphones have gotten.”
Engadget agreed, saying the Pro Max is now an option for the first time. “The iPhone 14 Pro Max felt like it would fracture my skull if it fell on my face, while the new model may only leave a bruise (or maybe a dent),” it said.
The titanium bodies are slightly smaller while having tighter bezels, allowing for the same screen size on a phone that feels more compact. And the easier removal of the back glass for lower-cost repairs also received praise.
And the other major change to the body — replacement of the Lightning connector with USB-C — got strong but somewhat mixed reviews. While everyone’s over the moon about it in general (especially Engadget), the fact that Apple only includes a regular USB-C cable in the box, not a USB 3 cable for speedy transfers, irked some people.
“You’ll get faster file transfer speeds if you have a USB 10Gbps cable, which I don’t because the one that comes in the box only supports USB 2 transfer speeds,” The Verge said. “That would be awfully nice to toss in with a $1,200 phone!”
Action button
Photo: Apple
Apple replaced the mute/unmute ringer slider on the Pro models with a new action button. Reviewers generally like it, though its one-action-at-a-time functionality could use expansion.
“It’s so much easier to use for a set of freshly painted nails than the mute switch on every Pro model before this one,” Gizmodo said. “Still, there were a couple of times I accidentally pressed it when I meant to press the Volume Up button instead. By default, you can long-press the Action Button to silence your device. But you can also swap out for another shortcut if the occasion calls for it.”
So the button still mutes the phone, but you can customize it to open the camera and take a picture, or do something else, like turn on the flashlight.
“The button only reacts to two kinds of input: a tap or a press. It can only trigger one feature at a time which seems limiting,” CNET said. “I do hope that Apple opens this up and let people program multiple presses and taps to trigger different presets.”
And CNET also wished for a Control Center button to access action button settings quicker.
Camera upgrades: 5x zoom rules
Photo: Apple
The biggest camera change came with iPhone 15 Pro Max’s new 5x optical zoom, while the regular Pro model has 3x optical zoom. Reviewers approve. In fact, CNET subtitled its review “Love at First Zoom.”
It noted that Apple’s “tetra prism” design for the 5x zoom differs from periscope lenses on some other smartphones.
“The advantage to Apple’s design is that the lens takes up much less space and allows the image sensor to sit parallel with the lens, eliminating the restriction of having a telephoto image sensor that’s limited in size by the thickness of the phone,” it said.
Reviews found improvements in night mode photography and portrait mode photography. The portrait option need not be selected before the shot, it now appears automatically with subjects like human faces and pets.
Some reviews — notably The Verge — went into great detail about the zoom options, other camera settings and how they compare to other smartphones. iPhone 15 Pro Max doesn’t always win, but it compares well in most cases.
A17 chip and gaming potential
Photo: Apple
The benefits of Apple’s new and smallest A17 chip didn’t go unnoticed by reviewers, either. Notably, its jacked up processing and graphics performance — even while maintaining solid battery life — might turn the Pro handsets into gaming powerhouses.
Both Pro handsets can support console games like Resident Evil Village, for example.
Preorder iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max now
iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. They can be preordered now on the Apple online store.