Looking to upgrade your iPhone but can’t decide between the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro? Though both phones have the same size and aesthetic design, they differ considerably in terms of material, performance capacity, camera setup, screen technology, and user experience overall.
Build and finish
The iPhone 15 features an aluminium frame and a colour-infused glass at the back. It is offered in a variety of colourfully vibrant finishes, i.e., pink, yellow, green, blue, and black, and thus is visually different and light. In comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro employs Grade 5 titanium, which makes it stronger in addition to lowering overall weight. It flaunts a matte finish with muted colours like natural titanium and blue titanium, resulting in a more elegant and understated appearance.
Processor and performance
Apple has given the iPhone 15 the A16 Bionic chip, which is also present in the iPhone 14 Pro. It is still very powerful for everyday use, such as multitasking, camera work, and gaming. The iPhone 15 Pro runs on the more recent A17 Pro chip. This provides enhanced CPU and GPU performance so the phone can manage demanding workloads, AAA game titles, and productivity apps better.Â
Display experience
Although both phones have a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED screen, the iPhone 15 Pro has ProMotion technology. This enables the refresh rate to go up to 120Hz, providing smooth animations, improved responsiveness, and an Always-On Display feature. The base iPhone 15 still has a 60Hz refresh rate, which is still sufficient for normal day-to-day activities such as video streaming, browsing, and casual gaming.
Camera setup
The iPhone 15 has a 48MP primary camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens. The phone has 2x sensor crop zoom and provides high-quality outputs in any lighting condition. The iPhone 15 Pro includes an additional third telephoto lens of 12MP, providing 3x optical zoom. It also provides features like Apple ProRAW for photos and ProRes for video capture. These features are particularly helpful for content developers or professionals who want more control and flexibility from their devices.
Storage options
Both iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have an internal memory starting at 128GB. The iPhone 15 has an option to go up to 512GB, which is largely adequate for average users, holding photos, videos, and a large set of apps among others. However, the iPhone 15 Pro serves more intensive storage requirements, with options going up to 1TB. It is thus a reliable option for those who shoot in ProRAW or 4K ProRes, load heavy games, or utilise their iPhone as a primary work tool.
Gaming and pro features
While both devices can handle mobile gaming well, the iPhone 15 Pro is the better option for gamers and power users. The A17 Pro chip enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing, resulting in more realistic lighting and reflections in supported games. Although the iPhone 15 offers solid gaming performance without issue, it doesn’t include the advanced graphics support or thermal efficiency found in the Pro series.Â
While the iPhone 15 offers a solid feature set suitable for everyday users, particularly those who are attracted to its colourful design and performance, the iPhone 15 Pro is more appropriate for individuals who require more sophisticated features. With its strong construction, better graphics processing, and additional creative features, the Pro version appeals to individuals who demand more from their phone, whether for gaming, photography, or work.
