Here’s the full comparison of iPhone 15 vs iPhone 15 Pro. We’ll go through all the differences, including price, design, display, battery life, and, most importantly, the cameras. Since many of you are curious about cameras, we’ll get to that part soon.
iPhone 15 is $799, and iPhone 15 Pro is $999. So, is the iPhone 15 Pro worth the extra $199?
I’m not going to tell you which one to choose. Instead, I’ll give you the information so you can make an informed decision. By the time we’re done with all the differences between the two, you’ll know which one is right for you.
So, let’s get started with the comparison of the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Pro!
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Price
Price: $799 on Apple’s website (also $23 a month on Best Buy via Verizon). Here are the specs for the iPhone 15:
Storage: 128GB
RAM: 6GB
Chip: A16 Bionic
Display: 6.1 inches
Note: You can upgrade the storage, but it will cost extra. If you want 256GB of storage, it’s $900. I highly recommend the 256GB variant if you tend to store many photos and videos. The 128GB will run out of storage after about a year of use, and you’ll start getting “storage full” errors and have to delete precious media.
If you want to spend more, the iPhone 15 also comes with 512GB of storage for $1,099. But if you’re looking at that price point, you might as well upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro with 256GB of storage, which is also $1,099.
iPhone 15 Pro Price and Specs
Now, let’s talk about the iPhone 15 Pro. The price is $999 on Apple’s website (and $24.99 a month on Best Buy via Verizon), and here are the specs:
Storage: 128GB
RAM: 8GB
Chip: A17 Pro
The most expensive iPhone 15 Pro with 1TB of storage is $1,499. But if you’re willing to spend that much, you might as well upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro Max with 512GB of storage, which is $1,400 or $100 less than the 1TB Pro.
Storage
As with the iPhone 15, I recommend at least 256GB of storage if you store a lot of media. This is especially true if you take high-resolution photos, record 4K videos, or download many apps and games. Extra storage gives you peace of mind so you can capture memories without worrying about running out of space.
If you travel a lot or enjoy outdoor activities, having extra storage is key. You might want to download movies or shows for offline viewing, store music playlists, or keep important documents handy. In that case, the 256GB or 512GB options are worth it.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Design
Sia is singing “Titanium” at the top of her lungs! The iPhone 15 Pro’s biggest selling point is the titanium frame, which makes it lighter and more durable than the stainless steel of the previous model. This frame is not only stronger but also gives the phone a more premium feel in the hand.
The iPhone 15 is wrapped in an aluminum body that is still sturdy but not as durable as titanium. Womp, womp! But the iPhone 15 is slightly lighter than the Pro at 6.03 oz vs 6.6 oz of the iPhone 15 Pro. This may seem small, but for those who want a light device, it can make a big difference during long use.
Colors
I think the iPhone 15 has more fun and playful color options. It comes in 5 colors:
Pink
Yellow
Green
Blue
Black
These are for those who want to express themselves through their device, so the iPhone 15 is the more playful choice.
The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, has a more understated and sophisticated design. Its color options are more urban and minimalist:
Natural Titanium
Blue Titanium
White Titanium
Black Titanium
These colors look more mature and classic for users who prefer a timeless and elegant look.
Special Features
One of the main differences between the two phones is the Action Button on the left side of the iPhone 15 Pro’s body. This customizable button allows you to launch any app or task of your choice with a single press. For example, I have set the Action Button on my iPhone 15 Pro Max to open the Notes app as I use it often. The possibilities are endless. You can configure the Action Button to open any app you want. It’s a convenient feature for those who want quick access to their most used features.
The iPhone 15 still has the traditional mute switch, which is functional but lacks the versatility and customization of the Action Button. This shows that the iPhone 15 Pro focuses more on a tailored experience.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Display
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are the same size, 6.1 inches. If you want a bigger screen, you might want to check out the iPhone 15 Plus or the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has a 6.7-inch screen.
Both have the same resolution of 2,256 x 1,179 pixels, so images and text will look sharp and clear on the screen. However, despite their similarities, the two are different in terms of display technology and features.
Display Technology
The iPhone 15 does not have a ProMotion or Always-On display available on the Pro model.
So, what is ProMotion? It’s a feature that allows the iPhone 15 Pro to have a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz. This means the display can adjust its refresh rate based on what you’re doing. For example, when you’re just scrolling through an article, the refresh rate will slow down to conserve battery life. When you’re just scrolling through an article, the refresh rate will slow down to conserve battery life. But when you launch a fast-paced mobile game, the refresh rate will speed up for a smoother and more responsive experience.
The iPhone 15 has a fixed 60Hz refresh rate. This is good enough for most tasks but may feel slower if you’ve used a device with 90Hz or higher refresh rate. For those unfamiliar with the concept, an Always-On display lets you see information like time, widgets, and notifications at a glance as the screen stays on at low brightness. Unfortunately, this feature is not available on the iPhone 15.
Shared Features
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro have Dynamic Island at the top of the screen, a new way to interact with notifications and activities. This feature makes the user experience more seamless and allows quick access to important information.
According to Apple, both models can reach up to 2,000 units. This high brightness makes the screen visible even in bright sunlight, so you can view content outdoors.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Camera
Cameras are one of the main selling points of smartphones, and as you might have guessed, the iPhone 15 Pro has an advantage over the iPhone 15 here. Here are the camera specs for both:
iPhone 15 Camera Specs
Wide Camera: 48MP
Ultrawide Camera: 12MP
Selfie Camera: 12MP
Telephoto: None
iPhone 15 Pro Camera Specs
Wide Camera: 48MP
Ultrawide Camera: 12MP
Selfie Camera: 12MP
Telephoto: 3X optical zoom
Key Differences
One of the main differences is that the iPhone 15 Pro has a telephoto lens with 3X optical zoom so that you can take high-quality zoomed-in shots. The iPhone 15 does not have a telephoto lens so that zoomed-in shots will be of lower quality. This can be frustrating for users who like to capture distant subjects or want a more professional look in their photography.
The iPhone 15 Pro also has an ultrawide lens with a slightly wider aperture to perform better in low light. When shooting in dimly lit environments, the iPhone 15 Pro will produce clearer and more detailed images than the iPhone 15.
Photography Features
The iPhone 15 also lacks some of the advanced photography features available on the iPhone 15 Pro. For example, the iPhone 15 Pro has macro photography, which allows you to take close-up shots with incredible detail. This is useful for small subjects like flowers or intricate textures.
The iPhone 15 Pro also has Apple ProRAW, which allows photographers to have more control over their images by capturing them in raw format. This is for those who want to edit their images heavily without losing quality.
The iPhone 15 has Night Mode but doesn’t have Night Mode portraits, which are available on the iPhone 15 Pro. Night Mode portraits allow you to take beautifully lit portrait shots in low light conditions and overall nighttime photography.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Performance
When it comes to performance, the iPhone 15 Pro is clearly better than the iPhone 15 thanks to its A17 Pro Bionic chip. This new chip is designed for speed and efficiency, so the iPhone 15 Pro is a beast for demanding tasks and apps. The iPhone 15 has the A16 Bionic chip, the same chip used on the iPhone 14 Pro models.
A16 Bionic vs. A17 Pro Bionic
The A16 Bionic is still a great and capable chip for everyday mobile tasks, but the A17 Pro has taken it to a whole new level. The A16 Bionic is enough for most users, but the A17 Pro has the latest and greatest capabilities, especially in AI computations and graphics processing.
This means the iPhone 15 Pro can handle high-fidelity games that require a lot of processing power. Games like Resident Evil Village and Death Stranding are available on the iPhone 15 Pro, and you can play console-quality games on a mobile device. Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be released on June 6 for the iPhone 15 Pro, so it’s clear it can handle gaming.
RAM and Multitasking
Another critical aspect of performance is RAM. The iPhone 15 has 6GB of RAM, while the iPhone 15 Pro has 8GB of RAM. This extra memory allows the iPhone 15 Pro to perform better in multitasking scenarios. Switching between multiple apps or running demanding apps at the same time will be smoother and faster on the iPhone 15 Pro. Users who switch between multiple tasks will appreciate extra responsiveness and efficiency.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Battery Life
When it comes to battery life, both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro are great, but there are some differences.
Battery Life
Apple did a video playback test to measure the battery life of both models. The iPhone 15 lasted 20 hours on a single charge on this test. That’s more than enough for most users to watch movies, shows, or videos without having to recharge often.
The iPhone 15 Pro did better than its counterpart, lasting 23 hours on the same video playback test. This extra battery life is great for power users who use their devices for longer periods, whether for streaming, gaming, or other demanding tasks.
Real World Usage
While these test results are a good indication of battery life, real-world usage will vary depending on screen brightness, app usage, and connectivity settings. Users who use resource-heavy apps like gaming or video editing will find their battery life will differ from the test results.
But both are designed to be power efficient, so you can use your device all day without worrying about running out of battery.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Apple Intelligence
At WWDC 2024, Apple announced its foray into artificial intelligence with a set of features called “Apple Intelligence.” These features will be available with iOS 18, but not all iPhone models will support them.
Apple Intelligence Compatibility
The iPhone 15 will not have Apple Intelligence, so users of this model will not get the advanced AI features. The iPhone 15 Pro models (iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max) will have full Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence Features
iPhone 15 Pro users will get:
Genmoji: This will allow users to create their own custom emojis for messaging and social media.
ChatGPT Integration: Users can use ChatGPT for conversational experiences, to find information, get recommendations, or have interactive conversations.
New-and-Improved Siri: Siri will receive major upgrades to become more intuitive and handle complex queries and tasks better.
AI-Powered Summarization Features: Users can summarize long articles, emails, or documents in seconds to save time and be more productive.
iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Which One Should You Buy?
In summary, the iPhone 15 Pro has some advantages that are worth the extra cost. The Action Button is underrated and something the iPhone 15 doesn’t have. This customizable button gives you quick access to your most used apps and features.
Also, the iPhone 15 Pro has a better camera system. If you need high-quality zoomed-in shots, the Pro model’s 3X optical zoom and low-light capabilities are worth the extra $200. Being able to take professional-quality photos will elevate your photography experience.
For gamers, the iPhone 15 Pro is the better choice as it has the A17 Pro chipset, which gives a GPU boost for better graphics and performance. If you play high-fidelity games or want a device that can handle demanding apps, the iPhone 15 Pro will give you a smoother and more responsive gaming experience.
Finally, if you like the AI features introduced with Apple Intelligence, you will need to get the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone 15 does not support these features, which are Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and new-and-improved Siri.
Conclusion
But if none of these tick your boxes, then the iPhone 15 will do. It’s still a good performer; it has a great camera and a nice display. Your choice depends on your needs and how much you value the extra features of the iPhone 15 Pro. If you want advanced features and performance, then go for the Pro. But if you just want a solid smartphone without the extras, the iPhone 15 is enough.