Apple iPhone 15 Pro review

Competition

An iPhone's competition most often comprises other iPhones - be they older ones, the other size from the same lineup, or one from the other lineup. In that sense, you need to have your priorities all figured out when picking the right iPhone for you.

For example, if you want the absolute best iPhone on the market, the 15 Pro isn't that. The 15 Pro Max will get you a longer-reaching telephoto camera, better battery life and more screen estate, though conversely, it will take up more room in your pocket, and it's also more expensive (€250/$200).

On the other hand, if you're looking to save some money (€300/$200), you could give up on the Pro and get the vanilla iPhone 15 - not only is it the same size as the 15 Pro, but it's tangibly lighter, which can be a priority. The 15 is nowhere as good a cameraphone as the 15 Pro - no telephoto, no AF on the UW, and less fancy main camera.

An interesting middle ground is the iPhone 14 Pro. Apple may have discontinued it, but we reckon there's ample stock at third-party retailers, and for €150 less you can have almost the same phone as the 15 Pro - minus the USB-C port, the latest intermediate zoom modes, the newest chipset (last year's is fine), and the titanium frame (which may actually be an advantage for the previous generation).

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max • Apple iPhone 15 • Apple iPhone 14 Pro

If you're OS-agnostic or just like jumping ship every now and then, or you may want something that Apple doesn't make yet, there are plenty of Android options you could entertain.

Samsung's two foldables easily come to mind - there's no bendy iPhone just yet. The Galaxy Z Fold5 is perhaps the best bet if you're after the ultimate smartphone for productivity, while the Z Flip5 is more of a fashion statement with the benefit of some form of pocketability. If that last bit is a top priority, then the Zenfone 10 just might be able to entice you, while an Xperia 1 V could appeal to the right crowd with its extensive video recording chops.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 • Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 • Asus Zenfone 10 • Sony Xperia 1 V

Verdict

The iPhone 15 Pro is a logical if not quite exciting, evolutionary step for the lineup. Small advancement in key areas go with continued refusal to improve on others, but Apple will be Apple. Perhaps that statement alone explains the fact that the new 5x telephoto only comes on the Pro Max and not the Pro, and we're bummed about it on principle, even if it's objectively not a big deal.

The high price, scant retail bundle, iOS quirks, and heavy throttling sound like cons we've listed before and will continue to do so. On the other hand, traditional strong points of the iPhone are only getting stronger - like the upmarket build and in-hand feel, spectacular display, versatile camera system and great speakers. We're more than happy to welcome the USB-C port this year on iPhone too.

Ultimately, the iPhone 15 Pro is what you'd expect it to be - the best one to date in size small. As usual, if you've already got an iPhone 14 Pro, there's no truly compelling reason to get a 15 Pro. However, if you're on an iPhone 13 Pro or older, or on one of the other branches of iPhone (like a vanilla 14 maybe), the 15 Pro will more easily make a convincing case for itself.

Pros

• Exquisite and now lighter design, water-resistant up to 6m deep.
• Outstanding OLED display - super bright, color-accurate, Dolby Vision capable.
• Superb speaker loudness, balance, sound quality.
• Top-notch performance.
• Every iPhone comes with at least five years of iOS updates.
• Upgraded connectivity across the board, UWB2 too.
• USB-C is here, and we love it.
• Class-leading video capturing and stabilization, impressive Pro modes.
• Superb daylight and nighttime photos from all cameras.

Cons

• A lot more expensive than corresponding Android alternatives.
• No charger in the box, and charging isn't particularly fast.
• Apple's iOS restrictions can be off-putting to newcomers to the ecosystem.
• The photo processing could benefit from less sharpening at times.
• Limiting the 5x telephoto to just the Max feels arbitrary (and so is the 256GB base storage).
• The rear glass is reportedly much more shatter-prone than before.