H1: The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max: Looks vs Substance
H2: Introduction
We are fast approaching some of the most important flagship smartphone launches of 2023. While I am personally much more excited for the lineup in September.
H2: Why the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max Won’t Be as Groundbreaking as We Think
Love it or hate it, Apple has the sort of clout that makes any announcement from the Cupertino company headline-worthy. Hence, even now, almost half a year before the actual launch, the news cycle is flooded with leaks concerning the iPhone 15 and, in particular, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
H3: The Naming Convention
For the sake of consistency, I will be referring to the 6.7” high-end iPhone as the iPhone 15 Pro Max, because recent rumors indicate that the Ultra rebranding will be happening at a later stage, possibly in 2024 with the iPhone 16.
H3: The New Design and Materials
New design, New materials and… a red iPhone Pro The first thing that I want to bring up is that the high-end iPhone 15 models will be adopting a new design that draws heavy inspiration from Apple’s new 14” and 16” MacBook Pros.
H4: The Brushed Finish
The curved edges coupled with the new brushed finish will set the next iteration apart from its predecessors.
H4: The Titanium Frame
The titanium frame will likely be sturdier than the stainless steel one found on the current Pro iPhones.
H4: The Rounded Corners
The rounded corners will help with ergonomics.
H4: The Slimmer Bezels
The slimmer bezels will actually contribute to a more compact footprint.
H4: The Red Color
Lastly, on a more shallow note, the new exclusive red color that will be replacing Deep Purple looks stunning.
H3: The Buttons
Not as new buttons as Apple would like Most rumors pointed to the possible implementation of solid-state buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
H4: The Solid-State Buttons
Essentially, instead of the typical mechanical ones, the buttons on the two Pro iPhones were supposed to function similarly to the MacBook’s trackpad (i.e. the pressing sensation would have been created through haptic feedback even though the hardware does not move).
H4: The Programmable Action Button
Even so, what we will be getting this year is an all-new programmable action button similar to the one found on the Apple Watch Ultra.
H3: The Internals
Internals: Specs still matter Call me old-fashioned, but I still believe a smartphone’s chipset is one of its most important features.
H4: The A17 Chip
The A17 promises to finally bring 3nm architecture to Apple’s iPhones.
H4: The Qualcomm Snapdragon SoCs
Even if it only comes down to bragging rights, based on (sometimes misleading) benchmarks, the ultimate question is whether Apple can keep its crown when it comes to performance.
H4: The Periscope Lens
Another big upgrade that warrants a mention is the potential addition of a periscope lens to the iPhone 15 Pro Max.
H3: The End of the Lightning Port
The end of the Lightning port The iPhone 15 lineup (the vanilla models included) will finally ditch the archaic Lightning port that Apple has dogmatically stuck to for so long.
H2: Conclusion
In the following paragraphs, I have given my take on why all of the flashy new additions to the high-end iPhones this year are not the real thing Apple users should be excited about.
H2: FAQs
H3: What is the release date of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max?
The release date of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max has not been officially announced yet, but it is expected to be in September 2023.
H3: Will the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have a new design?
Yes, the high-end iPhone 15 models will be adopting a new design that draws heavy inspiration from Apple’s new 14” and 16” MacBook Pros.
H3: Will the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have solid-state buttons?
No, recent leaks suggest that we will have to wait an extra year for solid-state buttons.
H3: Will the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have a periscope lens?
There are rumors that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will have a periscope lens, but nothing has been confirmed yet.
H3: Will the Lightning port be replaced with USB-C?
Yes, the iPhone 15 lineup (the vanilla models included) will finally ditch the archaic Lightning port and adopt the USB-C standard.
