Review of the Apple iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max: Love at First Zoom

I’ve examined and tested iPhones for years, but I’ve never been this taken with one until Apple’s new iPhone 15 Pro Max. (The Apple iPhone 12 Mini comes in second.) Both phones, as well as the new Apple Watches, iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, are now sold in stores.

I spent five days testing the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, but it wasn’t until I was taking pictures of Kit Kat, a bodega cat, that I understood how many upgrades these phones offer. They’re overflowing. I discovered the ability to take Kit Kat’s photograph in portrait mode after taking his picture. Nearly any shot can now be a portrait photo, which is a small but important element. And even so, this isn’t the largest improvement.

Apple updated its Pro models with a lighter frame, a new shortcut button, and the tiniest processor ever. All of this was accomplished while still maintaining the iconic iPhone design. During my time testing both phones, I took footage of swimming penguins, played Resident Evil Village on the 15 Pro, tested the new zoom lens on the 15 Pro Max while riding a Ferris wheel in San Francisco, and accidentally tried to plug a Lightning cable into the new USB-C connector. Is that right, old habits?

The improvements of the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are what make them unique. One of Apple’s more intriguing product introductions in recent years is this pair of phones.

But all of this has a price. The entry price for the 15 Pro Max is $100 higher than it was the previous year, despite the fact that the 15 Pro costs $999 (£999, AU$1,849), the same as the 2017 iPhone X. Apple eliminated the model with the smallest amount of storage, leaving the $1,199 model with 256GB as the new standard. And that pricing is exactly the same as the Galaxy S23 Ultra from Samsung.

Check out CNET Senior Editor Lisa Eadicicco’s assessment of the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus if you’re interested in learning more about the other phones Apple is releasing.

Pricing and storage comparison

iPhone 15 Pro design embraces titanium and USB-C

The new titanium body’s attractive, light weight, and ergonomic design are made possible by its gently rounded edges. Compared to the 12, 13, and 14 series with straight edges, it feels less substantial. In fact, it appears as though Apple combined the blocky sides of recent years with the curved sides of the X, XS, and 11 generations to create a Goldilocks-style middle ground with the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. However, most users will probably put a case on their phone and not even notice these modifications.

The body goes through two more significant modifications. The first is the absence of the Lightning port present on earlier models in favor of a USB-C port. Even though the decision was widely reported even before Apple made it official, it is hardly a fundamental shift. I’ve switched to using the USB-C cable that came with the phone in place of the Lighting cable. However, using the “one ring to rule them all” of charging cables is practical.

Goodbye mute switch, hello action button

A button for taking action has taken the position of the mute (or silence) switch. It allows you to mute your iPhone by default, but you can configure it to do other things like switch on the flashlight, record a voice note, and open the camera. I particularly enjoyed how it opened the camera. The action button functions as a physical shutter button to take a picture once the app is open. However, the mere ability to activate a shortcut with the button expands its potential.

Only a tap or a press can cause the button to respond. It looks restricted that it can only activate one feature at once. I really hope Apple opens this up and enables the programming of numerous pushes and taps to activate various presets. For instance, perhaps pressing the phone once silences it and pressing it again twice launches a shortcut. The action button can only currently be changed in the Settings app by scrolling down to it and making the necessary changes. Additionally, I would like the possibility to add a Control Center button that would speed up my access to this action button menu.

The interior of the 15 Pros has been totally rebuilt to make it easier to repair, just like the 14 and 14 Plus from last year. It should be easier and less expensive to replace the back glass if it is broken. The cost of replacing the back glass on the new phone and earlier Pro iPhone models is contrasted below.

Back glass replacement cost

iPhone 15 Pro Max’s 5x zoom

Just let’s get this over with. In contrast to the huge Pro Max, the tiny Pro has a different zoom lens. Like earlier generations, the 15 Pro sports a tried-and-true 3x telephoto camera. The 15 Pro Max, however, sports a brand-new 5x telephoto camera that was created using numerous prisms and some ingenious engineering.

The 10x zoom on the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is an example of an Android phone with periscope-style telephoto lenses that use a single prism to bounce light to the sensor. The benefit of Apple’s design is that the lens occupies far less space, allowing the image sensor to be positioned parallel to the lens and removing the need for a telephoto image sensor that is constrained by the phone’s thickness.

Additionally, the main camera on both Pro phones has a bigger 48-megapixel sensor, which enhances performance in low light. After sunset, I found that the iPhone 15 Pro Max didn’t need to switch into night mode as frequently as the iPhone 14 Pro Max did. Additionally, Apple’s fancy-pants nomenclature for photo processing, the photonic engine, appears to assist with highlights more.

View a few of my favorite pictures I captured using the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.

iPhone 15 Pro Max cameras vs. Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra

I made the decision to conduct a studio photo session with my CNET coworker, award-winning writer and tea party enthusiast Abrar Al-Heeti, in order to evaluate the adaptability of these cameras. I used the Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 to take pictures of Abrar. For each phone, I tried my best to frame her in the same way.

My least favorite of the five pictures is the one taken with the S23 Ultra’s 10x magnification. Abrar’s background was turned dark by the Pixel’s photograph, which also smoothed down the textures and faults in the paper. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max rendered her skin with the most detail while warming up her complexion.

The 3x optical zoom image from the Samsung looks fantastic but has a lot of skin smoothing, which some people prefer. And the Pixel was the best at catching the color and detail of Abrar’s skin. Again, these are all excellent pictures. My favorites, though, are the 15 Pro Max and Pixel pictures.

I also made the decision to ride the Golden Gate Park Ferris wheel in San Francisco with the 15 Pro Max, Pixel, and S23 Ultra. It was cloudy and foggy (oh, San Francisco summers! ), which presented difficulties for all three phones. However, the Galaxy S23 Ultra was considerably worse off.

In order to match the 5x optical zoom on the Pixel 7 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, I set the S23 Ultra to 5x digital zoom, but the results weren’t spectacular, as you can see below. Although the Pixel performed better than the iPhone, the detail in the trees seemed murky. Although none of these images are really good, the iPhone’s snap is the most effective.

But wait, Samsung has a 10x optical zoom, which the other phones do not. It draws considerably nearer. Although the clarity isn’t excellent, it appears superior to the 10x digital zoom on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The fog is fighting back in the Galaxy S23 Ultra shot, and the contrast is harsh.

If, like me, you’re curious about the identity of that structure, it is the University of San Francisco. But I didn’t know at the time. So, to find out, I used the Visual Lookup feature on my iPhone. The iPhone recognized it as a landmark, but it was unable to tell me what it was. In fact, it posted a picture of Iran’s Sa’at Tower. I then jumped on my Pixel and used Google Lens to confirm that it was the university, which makes sense given that I’m from San Francisco and not Iran.

iPhone 15 Pro portraits are a no brainer

Then there are portraits in photo mode, which allow you to snap a conventional shot of a specific topic (people, dogs, or cats) and then turn it to a portrait mode photo afterwards. Here is a picture of Kit Kat the bodega cat that I took using the camera. Do you recall him from the start? I can activate portrait mode, change the aperture to maintain sharp focus on his whiskers, and even apply portrait lighting effects.

I can, however, alter my emphasis after the fact. Check out the pics of myself and my friend Beacham in ’90s grunge bands. After I take the picture, I can switch the emphasis from me to him. This will be a game-changing feature for parents.

I’m also delighted to report that the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max’s new lens coating reduces light source reflections. In general, any reflection or lens flare is modest at best and typically limited to a single point.

When utilizing the 5x telephoto camera on the 15 Pro Max with string lights and a bulb inside a bar, I did experience some unusual light streaking when the camera was in night mode. I wonder whether the prisms that were utilized to make the lens have anything to do with it. To be clear, though, only three of the hundreds of pictures I’ve taken had these streaks.

Videos are well-produced. The ability to record in log format, which results in flat, desaturated video, excites me. Instead of baking the color into the video file, recording in log allows you more flexibility to make iPhone films match the color with footage from other cameras you use. I can see employing Apple log footage in movies with many cameras from various manufacturers or in social media videos like the one we created for this review.

The iPhone 15 Pro is the next gaming console

The new A17 Pro chip is the driving force behind everything on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. Video games are the finest medium for showcasing its processor and graphics capability. I’m not referring to Candy Crush either.

Full console games like Resident Evil Village, which I got to try at least in part, are supported by the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. On the screen of the 15 Pro Max, Resident Evil Village looks amazing, especially in terms of lighting and shading. I was amazed at the time and from the perspective of a casual gamer. The fact that such games are available for the iPhone says volumes.

I haven’t even had the new iPhones for a week, so I still need to conduct all of CNET’s battery depletion and charging tests. However, I can describe the battery’s performance thus far. The battery of the 15 Pro Max typically ended the day with 20 to 25% remaining after a full day of operation (from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.). The 15 Pro Max started out with a full charge in the morning and had 7% remaining by the end of the day, which was probably the busiest day I had with the phone (shooting photos, filming movies, and using the screen at maximum brightness).

With the 15 Pro and Pro Max, I did conduct a wired charging test. I charged my device using a Twelve South 20-watt wall charger and the USB-C connection that was provided in the box. The 15 Pro’s battery charged from 4% to 66% during the course of 30 minutes, and the 15 Pro Max recharged from 7% to 56%. Both phones have cable charging capabilities of up to 27 watts, which I want to test and report back on in this review.

Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max enable Qi2 or MagSafe 15-watt wireless charging. On a Belkin BoostCharge Pro stand, I examined both devices. The 15 Pro increased from 30% to 52% during the course of 30 minutes, while the 15 Pro Max increased from 7% to 28%.

The iPhone 15 Pro is home for iOS 17

The soul of the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is iOS 17, if the A17 Pro chip is its brain. Numerous tiny quality of life enhancements are spread out throughout the new OS. I’ve become a fan of StandBy mode. I adore having the option to have my lock screen display the time in numbers the size of an alarm clock, app widgets, or pictures while it charges. The iPhone gets a fresh lease on life because to the sleek, modern interface.

I really enjoy creating unique stickers in Messages using photographs and live photos. Communication with friends and family becomes even more expressive as a result. The keyboard’s autocorrect feature is fantastic for me. Normally, I’m terrible at typing on the phone, but this new autocorrect has me. And I don’t even swear that frequently.

In the end, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max have impressed me. Anyone coming from a 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, or older should consider both, in my opinion. The 5x telephoto on the 15 Pro Max is intriguing if you’re trying to decide between it and the 15 Pro. But it might be advisable to go with the smaller Pro size if you don’t frequently shoot shots at a close distance. Furthermore, there are a variety of trade-in discounts you should take into account if you’re thinking about purchasing either phone.

iPhone 15 Pro specs vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 7 Pro, Galaxy S23 Ultra

 

How we test phones

The CNET reviews team used each phone they examined in actual-world situations. We play games, take pictures, and test a phone’s functions. We check the display to determine if it is clear, brilliant, and bright. In order to determine how well it will stand up and whether it has an IP rating for water resistance, we assess the design and build. Using both industry-standard benchmarking programs like GeekBench and 3DMark and our own anecdotal observations while utilizing the interface, making high-resolution video recordings, and playing graphically demanding games at high refresh rates, we push the processor’s performance to the limit.

All the cameras are put to the test in a range of environments, from direct sunshine to dimly lit interior settings. We test out unique features like night mode and portrait mode and contrast our results with those of comparable smartphones that are similarly priced. Along with regular use and a number of battery drain tests, we also examine the battery life.

We also consider extra features that may be useful, such as 5G compatibility, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, quick charging times, and folding screens. Naturally, we compare all of this to the cost in order to determine whether the phone, at whatever cost, genuinely offers good value. We perform follow-up and long-term testing in the majority of cases, even if these tests may not always be taken into account in CNET’s original evaluation.