Apple iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max Reviews

The time has arrived: Apple unveiled the new iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max on September 12, 2023, to much excitement and anticipation. Although its features and elements are immensely different, the iPhone 15 Pro is reminiscent of older iPhone designs while making some notable changes and exquisite refinements. 

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max possess a lighter body than previous iPhones, with the addition of a titanium outer frame that is beautifully contoured. Additionally, the phones boast a competent processor for gaming and next-level performance. The USB-C port is something many have debated, but the compatibility and USB 3.0 speeds are a welcomed addition for most. 

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Review

This iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max review takes a closer look at the specs of the 15 Pros and provides essential insights for those looking to sell their old iPhones and upgrade. 

Design and Colors 

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max find a glamorous midground between the curved and blocky sides of previous iPhones. The titanium body with its contoured edges is wonderfully light and easy to hold, especially compared to the straighter edges of previous iPhones, including the iPhone 14 series. 

You'll appreciate the noticeable weight difference between the iPhone 14 Pro and 15 Pro series. The iPhone 15 Pro is down 0.67 ounces from the 7.27 ounce iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max is down 0.66 ounces from the 8.47 ounce iPhone 14 Pro Max — an approximate weight reduction of 9%.

As for the iPhone 15 pro colors, the selection is less vibrant than the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus. Instead, the iPhone 15 Pro colors are sleek, elegant and refined with a textured matte glass back and titanium finishes, including:

• Black titanium 
• White titanium
• Blue titanium 
• Natural titanium

Display

The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are limited to a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, making the display less fluid than one may want, especially for gaming. The Pro models come equipped with ProMotion technology that offers a variable and adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz. 

Screen brightness is measured in nits, and both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max offer premium phone-level brightness with a typical maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. For high dynamic range (HDR) highlights, the devices provide a peak brightness of 1,600 nits and for sunny outdoor settings, up to 2,000 nits. This makes it a breeze to look at your screen regardless of the lighting conditions.

The iPhone 15 Pro has a 6.1-inch OLED display, making it the smaller of two with a 2556 x 1179 pixels resolution, while the iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 6.7-inch OLED display and 2796 x 1290 pixels resolution.

Camera System

One of the iPhone 15 Pro issues is the difference between the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max camera capabilities. This is apparent in the zoom lens of the smaller 15 Pro, which has the same tried and tested 3x telephoto camera seen on previous iPhone models. In contrast, the 15 Pro Max includes a new 5x telephoto camera equipped with Apple's tetraprism design and engineering ingenuity to offer the same benefits seen in some high-end phones.

Both camera systems receive a larger 48-megapixel (MP) sensor for the primary camera, which improves performance in low-light situations. Moreover, it supports super high-resolution photos and Apple's Photonic Engine, first seen in the iPhone 14. It is responsible for photo processing, meaning improved highlights and better pictures overall. 

Both iPhones offer many other features, such as the 12MP ultra-wide lens and the ability to use the phones' Cinematic mode to shoot up to 4k HDR at 30 frames-per-second (fps). 

Software and Connectivity  

The 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max feature the  new iOS 17, which promises to make your device increasingly intuitive and personalized. Some of the top new features include NameDrop for easy contact sharing, Live Voicemail for real-time voicemail transcription and the Standby mode, which pairs with the Always-On display to allow users to view glanceable information even from a distance, such as when the iPhone is charging. 

Other fantastic upgrades are the improvements to the autocorrect and dictation and the new Siri voice recognition model. Including a USB-C port made headlines before its release, but in reality, the switch from the Lightning port is perhaps more of an issue of a perceived loss of exclusivity. However, the USB-C is more convenient and even provides faster data transfer. 

Performance and Battery 

A noticeable change is the addition of the  A17 Pro chip, which is the first of its kind. The nanochip offers improved performance and ensures battery conservation. For the typical iPhone user, the slight CPU speed increases might be less noticeable compared to the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Still, you'll appreciate the new addition if you use your phone heavily for demanding tasks. 

Even with the improved chip, battery life is similar to the previous iPhone series. Apple claims that the iPhone 15 Pro should provide up to 23 hours of video playback, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max will last up to 29 hours during video playback. 

Pricing and Storage

Depending on your storage needs and budget, you have some options. Both the Pro versions feature 8GB of RAM, a step up from the iPhone 14 and the standard iPhone 15. 

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 for 128GB of storage. 

The iPhone 15 pro max starts at $1,199 for 256GB of storage. 

iPhone 15 Pro vs. Pro Max

The Apple iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max certainly make great cases for themselves as the pinnacle of iPhone evolution. Also, including the USB-C may tempt Android users to finally switch. However, that is not to say there are no iPhone 15 Pro issues worth addressing. That is why highlighting and considering some of the most noticeable pros and cons is an excellent idea. 

iPhone 15 Pro Review: Upsides and Downsides

Most users will notice the following overarching pros and cons when using the iPhone 15 Pro.

Consider the upsides of the iPhone 15 Pro: 

• Durable and lightweight titanium design
• Fast transfer and convenience of the USB-C
• High-performing A17 Pro chip
• Convenient and versatile Action button
• Excellent camera with exceptional improvements
• Effective focus function in Portrait photos
• Expected battery life of 23 hours of video playback 

The downsides of the iPhone 15 Pro include the following:

• Limited color options
• Lesser optical zoom than the Pro Max
• Unimproved charging speeds

iPhone 15 Pro Max Review: Upsides and Downsides

Users may discover the following pros and cons when using the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Here are some upsides of the iPhone 15 Pro Max: 

• Longer optical zoom than the 15 Pro
• Meaningful camera upgrades
• Strong and lightweight elegant titanium design
• Fast transfer and convenience of the USB-C
• Premium A17 Pro chip 
• Effective focus function in Portrait photos
• Flexible Action button
• Satisfying battery life

Consider these downsides of the iPhone 15 Pro Max:

• The starting price is $100 higher than the 14 Pro Max
• Slower charging than desired
• Restricted color palette

Need Cash to Upgrade? Sell Your Old iPhone to Mac Me an Offer

Once you know which iPhone 15 Pro version offers the best combination of improvements, storage space, physical size and pricing, consider selling your old iPhone to a trusted buyer like Mac Me an Offer. Mac Me an Offer has been in business since 1995 and continues to provide fair and trusted services to the Apple community, having completed tens of thousands of transactions. 

With your iPhone ready to sell, you can use our estimator tool to get an instant quote on your pre-owned iPhone and follow the easy steps. If you have any questions about how the Estimator tool works or for any other queries, please get in touch with us via our online form!