Some might be intrigued by the improvements made with this year's Apple's flagship line-up. What's the catch here? Is it just as mediocre as it always gets? In terms of design, several changes have been made. However, even with these considerably small changes, why does this latest iPhone 15 line-up seem to be hyped especially amongst Apple's fanbase?
One first needs to determine the reason behind the enthusiasm for the latest released models as an exhilarating shift in terms of user experience. Perhaps, the most prominent and tangible changes Apple fans could straight away feel out of their pocket through its significant weight reductions in the latest line-ups. Recalling Apple's previous Pro and Pro Max models such as iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max can be considered rather too hefty for some users, this year's Apple's flagship premium has shifted its build quality, equipping both of its 15 Pro and Pro Max models with aerospace-grade titanium frame that leads to the device's weight reduction for a better daily usage experience.
Introducing a sleek re-design for the iPhone 15 line-up, the rounded corners that replace Apple's previous predecessors' boxy and squared edges surely come in handy for those who wish for a smooth and comfy grip experience. Even with the lack of changes imposed on the display sizes for the base model, its Pro and Pro Max line-ups are designed to entertain its users with a "minimal and nearly bezel-less" makeover. For instance, the iPhone 15 Pro Max model comes with an approximately 89.8% screen-to-body ratio compared to its previous generations.
Another aesthetic transformation brought by Apple in its flagship line-up is the long-awaited debut of USB-C port to finally replace Apple's Lightning Connector, altogether heeding the EU's regulations to mandating USB-C charging on newer phone models effective in 2024. This transformation is considered a blessing by some Apple users wherein it resolved slow data transfer issues with Lightning Connectors prior to Apple's USB-C adoption.
For those who are rather photogenic and constantly relying on pocket-sized handheld devices for photography, the 48MP camera on the base model iPhone 15 connotes Apple's significant improvements to bridge the photographic gap between its Pro line-up and base model line-up. Compared to only 12 MP sensors provided in previous line-ups, the latest iPhone 15 base model line-up is adventure-ready and well-equipped with its newly-upgraded 48 MP main camera, added with loads of other extra features such as the new anti-glare lens coating for better image capture and the 2X sensor crop that provides 2x zoom image quality in tandem with a dedicated telephoto camera.
In terms of its day-to-day utility and core functionality, the base model iPhone 15 line-up is equipped with the Apple Silicon A16 Bionic chipset compared to its predecessor that runs on the older A15 Bionic - a fairly significant upgrade with the latest base model line-up outperforming iPhone 14 base model by 10 to 15 % improvement across various areas including graphics processing, power efficiency and computing performance. Having all of these upgrades made by Apple for the latest base model did not keep them out of the craze to go for something even bigger. The iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max line-ups pack a punch with the all-new A17 Pro chipset, gaining its reputation as "the industry's first 3-nanometer chip" that roughly surpasses the A16 performance by 16 % faster, thus enabling it to run AAA games with no sweat.
All in all, these latest flagship line-ups introduced by Apple in September 2023 do have their unique selling points and differences spread throughout each model. One should always consider all of the variables before making any decision to acquire any piece of tech and gadgets to power up their routines and productivity. In this matter, if you see yourselves in need a of mini powerhouse capable of multitasking, exhaustive gaming and exceptional performance in digital photography, you may want to opt for the Pro and Pro Max line-ups. Otherwise, opting for the base model as your daily drive should be more than enough.