Apple iPhone 15 Price, Specs and Best Reviews: What You Should Know | Easy To Understand | Everything You Need To Know
| Launch |
| Announced | 2023, September 12 | ||
| Status | Available. Released 2023, September 22 | ||
| Pricing |
| 128 GB | 256 GB | 512 GB | 1 TB | |
| Flipkart | 64,999 | 74,999 | 94,999 | NA |
| Amazon | 69,999 | 79,900 | 99,900 | NA |
| Jio Mart | 64,990 | 79,900 | 99,900 | NA |
| Reliance Digital | 69,900 | 79,900 | 99,900 | NA |
| Vijay Sales | 68,690 | 78,990 | 96,190 | NA |
| Croma | 69,900 | 79,900 | 99,900 | NA |
| Display |
| Type | Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 2000 nits (peak) | ||
| Size | 6.1 inches, 91.3 cm2 (~86.4% screen-to-body ratio) | ||
| Resolution | 1179 x 2556 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~461 ppi density) | ||
| Protection | Ceramic Shield glass | ||
| Platform |
| OS | iOS 17, upgradable to iOS 18 | ||
| Chipset | Apple A16 Bionic (4 nm) | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core (2×3.46 GHz Everest + 4×2.02 GHz Sawtooth) | ||
| GPU | Apple GPU (5-core graphics) | ||
| Main Camera |
| Double | 48 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/1.56″, 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, sensor-shift OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 0.7µm | ||
| Features | Dual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama) | ||
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120/240fps, HDR, Dolby Vision HDR (up to 60fps), stereo sound rec. | ||
| Front Camera |
| Single | 12 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.6″, PDAF SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor) | ||
| Features | HDR, Dolby Vision HDR | ||
| Video | 4K@24/25/30/60fps, 1080p@25/30/60/120fps, gyro-EIS | ||
| Memory |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 512GB 6GB RAM NVMe | ||
| Card slot | No | ||
| Body |
| Dimensions | 147.6 x 71.6 x 7.8 mm (5.81 x 2.82 x 0.31 in) | ||
| Weight | 171 g (6.03 oz) | ||
| Build | Glass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), aluminum frame | ||
| SIM and Certifications | Nano-SIM and eSIM – International Dual eSIM with multiple numbers – USA Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) – China IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 6m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | ||
| Network |
| Technology GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G 2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM) CDMA 800 / 1900 3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 4G bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66 – A3090 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66, 71 – A2846 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 53, 66, 71 – A3089 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 – A3092 5G bands 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 – A3090 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 77, 78, 79, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave – A2846 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 53, 66, 70, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 – A3089 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 70, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 – A3092 Speed HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Sound |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | ||
| 3.5mm jack | No | ||
| Comms |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.3, A2DP, LE | ||
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS | ||
| NFC | Yes | ||
| Radio | No | ||
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, DisplayPort | ||
| Features |
| Sensors | Face ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer Ultra Wideband (UWB) support (gen2 chip) Emergency SOS, Messages and Find My via satellite | ||
| Battery |
| Type | Li-Ion 3349 mAh, non-removable | |||
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min (advertised) 15W wireless (MagSafe) 15W wireless (Qi2) – requires iOS 17.2 update 4.5W reverse wired | |||
| Misc |
| Colors | Black, Blue, Green, Yellow, Pink | ||
| Models | A3090, A2846, A3089, A3092 | ||
Detailed Review of Apple Iphone 15
Review Score out of 100
- Display: 75
- Camera: 84
- Performance: 87
- Gaming: 86
- Battery: 76
- Connectivity: 85
Display
The iPhone 15 features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 1179 x 2556 pixels and a pixel density of 460 ppi. The display supports HDR with Dolby Vision and has a max brightness of 2000 nits (1600 nits for HDR content). However, the 60Hz refresh rate is underwhelming for a flagship, especially since many competitors offer 120Hz or higher refresh rates. The display is protected by Apple’s Ceramic Shield for added durability.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High brightness of 2000 nits ensures excellent outdoor visibility. | 60Hz refresh rate feels sluggish compared to modern flagships with 120Hz or more. |
| HDR support (Dolby Vision) for vivid colors and contrast. | No adaptive refresh rate, limiting smoothness in scrolling and gaming. |
| Ceramic Shield adds durability to the screen. |
Design and Build
The iPhone 15 continues Apple’s legacy of sleek and premium design. It weighs 171 grams and is 7.8 mm thick, making it feel light and comfortable in hand. The glass back and metal frame give it a premium look, but the glass is prone to fingerprints and scratches. The device has an IP68 rating, offering protection against dust and water. However, the lack of a fingerprint scanner might be inconvenient for some users, as Face ID is the only biometric option.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightweight at 171g, making it comfortable to use one-handed. | No fingerprint scanner; relies solely on Face ID for biometric authentication. |
| Premium build with glass and metal materials. | The glass back is prone to fingerprints and scratches. |
| IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. |
Performance
The iPhone 15 is powered by the Apple A16 Bionic chipset, which is built on a 4nm process. It has a 6-core CPU (2 performance and 4 efficiency cores) and the Apple A16 GPU with 640 shading units. The performance is top-tier, handling all tasks efficiently, including multitasking, gaming, and media consumption. Benchmark scores are impressive, making it one of the most powerful phones available, though the difference from the previous generation’s A15 chip may not be noticeable for casual users.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| A16 Bionic chip provides excellent performance across all tasks. | Minimal noticeable improvement for regular users compared to the A15 chip. |
| 4nm architecture ensures power efficiency while maintaining performance. |
Benchmarks
- Geekbench 6 (Single-Core): 2599
- Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core): 6545
- AnTuTu Benchmark 10: 1,410,596
- 3DMark Wild Life Performance: 9632 (59 FPS)
- Max Surface Temperature: 44.3°C
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High scores in synthetic benchmarks showcase the device’s top-tier performance. | Device can heat up during prolonged gaming or heavy multitasking. |
| Consistent performance even during demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. |
Memory
The iPhone 15 comes with 6 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, which, combined with Apple’s iOS optimization, provides smooth multitasking and performance. However, 6 GB of RAM may seem limited when compared to Android flagships, which often come with 8 GB or more. The storage options are 128 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB, but there’s no expandable memory via a microSD card.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 6 GB RAM with iOS optimization ensures smooth performance. | 6 GB RAM might limit future-proofing, especially for heavy multitaskers. |
| Multiple storage options (128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB) to suit different needs. | No support for expandable storage via microSD card. |
Software
The iPhone 15 runs iOS 17 out of the box and is upgradeable to iOS 18. iOS 17 introduces various new features, including enhanced widgets and improved privacy settings. Apple continues to offer regular software updates and security patches, ensuring the device remains secure and up-to-date. However, compared to Android, iOS is more restrictive in terms of customization and personalization options.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Regular updates and excellent app optimization ensure a smooth and secure user experience. | Limited customization compared to Android devices, which may not appeal to all users. |
| Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. |
Battery
The 3349 mAh battery offers decent performance but falls short in heavy usage scenarios. Apple claims it can last for 25 hours of mixed use, but this may vary. The device supports 20W fast charging (58% charge in 30 minutes), but full charging takes nearly 2 hours. Wireless charging is also supported, though at a slower rate of 7.5W.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Decent battery life for general usage, lasting around 25 hours. | 20W charging is slower compared to other flagships offering faster charging speeds. |
| Wireless charging and reverse charging supported. | The 3349 mAh battery capacity is relatively small for a flagship phone. |
Main Camera
The main camera setup consists of a 48 MP standard lens and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. The 48 MP sensor captures excellent detail and color accuracy in well-lit conditions, while the ultrawide lens offers a 120° field of view. It supports 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS and 1080p at up to 240 FPS for slow-motion videos. However, there is no telephoto lens, limiting its zoom capabilities. According to DxOMark, the camera achieved a score of 147 for photos and 153 for videos, with an overall score of 145.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 48 MP main camera delivers excellent detail and color accuracy. | No telephoto lens for optical zoom, limiting zoom capabilities. |
| 4K video recording up to 60 FPS and 240 FPS slow motion at 1080p. | Low-light performance is decent but could be better, especially in ultrawide shots. |
Selfie Camera
The 12 MP front camera offers sharp selfies with good color reproduction. It supports 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS, which is impressive for a front-facing camera. The addition of phase autofocus ensures that selfies remain in focus, even in challenging lighting conditions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 12 MP front camera with autofocus provides sharp and detailed selfies. | Low-light performance for selfies can be grainy at times. |
| 4K video recording at 60 FPS from the front camera. |
Connectivity
The iPhone 15 supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and 5G connectivity, offering all the necessary modern connectivity features. The USB Type-C port, while a welcome addition, is limited to USB 2.0 speeds, which feels slow compared to USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports in other devices.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Supports 5G, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 for fast and stable connectivity. | USB Type-C port is limited to USB 2.0 speeds, making data transfers slower. |
Sound
The iPhone 15 features stereo speakers with support for Dolby Atmos, delivering rich and immersive sound. The speakers are loud enough for media consumption, but like previous models, the device lacks a headphone jack, and wireless audio is the only option.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos provide immersive sound. | No headphone jack, requiring users to rely on wireless audio or adapters. |
Conclusion
The iPhone 15 is a powerful and well-rounded smartphone, excelling in performance, design, and camera capabilities. However, some areas like the 60Hz refresh rate, limited battery life, and lack of expandable storage might deter power users. For those invested in the Apple ecosystem, it remains a solid choice, but some may feel underwhelmed by its incremental upgrades.
Apple A16 Bionic Chipset Details
CPU Architecture
The A16 Bionic has a 6-core CPU with 2 high-performance cores (Everest) and 4 efficiency cores (Sawtooth). The high-performance cores handle demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, while the efficiency cores manage lighter tasks such as background processes, providing a balance between power and performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High efficiency in light and moderate tasks | Minimal improvement over A15 Bionic in some use cases |
| Multi-threading enhances heavy task performance | Thermal throttling can occur under intense, sustained workloads |
| Excellent performance in gaming, AI, and ML workloads | Power consumption during peak performance remains high |
The A16 Bionic CPU shows improved power management but provides only marginal performance gains compared to the A15 in certain applications.
GPU
The 5-core GPU is designed to handle graphically intensive applications such as 3D games, AR, and real-time video editing. It’s optimized for high-quality rendering, supporting features like ray tracing and other advanced visual effects.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Exceptional gaming and graphics performance | No significant improvements in energy efficiency compared to the A15 |
| Handles high-end applications with ease, including AR/VR | Not the top performer in extreme gaming compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Provides smooth, high-FPS gaming | Can run hot during long gaming sessions |
The GPU is highly capable of handling demanding graphics workloads, making the A16 Bionic ideal for high-performance applications like gaming and media creation.
Neural Engine
The 16-core Neural Engine is a specialized unit that executes 17 trillion operations per second, dedicated to AI and machine learning tasks. It powers applications like facial recognition, natural language processing, and real-time enhancements for AR and VR.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Speeds up AI processing in real-time applications | Many third-party applications do not fully leverage AI processing power |
| Ideal for machine learning, AR/VR, and AI-driven photography | Limited usefulness in apps that aren’t optimized for AI/ML |
| Significant improvement in handling real-time tasks like Siri or image recognition | Not a significant change for non-AI-heavy apps |
This Neural Engine drives enhanced AI features for Apple’s ecosystem, providing real-time assistance in complex tasks like voice recognition and image processing.
ISP (Image Signal Processor)
The Image Signal Processor (ISP) in the A16 is a crucial part of Apple’s computational photography setup. It enhances image quality through AI-driven features such as Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, and improved night mode. It also enhances video recording in challenging lighting environments.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Significantly improved low-light performance | Limited hardware-based improvements over A15 |
| Enhanced real-time image processing, particularly for 4K video | Relies heavily on software optimizations |
| Advanced HDR and night mode capabilities | Software may be responsible for the majority of noticeable improvements |
This ISP is optimized for computational photography, offering enhanced image quality, particularly in challenging lighting, and real-time 4K video enhancements.
Fabrication Process
The A16 Bionic is fabricated using a 4nm process, making it one of the smallest and most efficient processors in the mobile space. The smaller transistors allow for better power efficiency and lower heat generation while maintaining a high level of performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Increased power efficiency, reducing battery drain | Higher cost of manufacturing, reflected in product pricing |
| Lower heat generation during intensive tasks | Incremental gains over the 5nm process of the A15 in real-world usage |
| More efficient thermal management for sustained workloads | Gains in energy efficiency are not always noticeable to end users |
The shift to a 4nm process provides better efficiency, allowing for better battery life, although the real-world difference between 4nm and 5nm may not be very apparent in everyday tasks.
Memory and Storage
The A16 Bionic uses a unified memory architecture, integrating components like the CPU and GPU for better data transfer speeds. Paired with 6GB of RAM in devices like the iPhone 14 Pro, it ensures faster app load times and smoother multitasking.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Seamless performance in app switching and multitasking | Still limited to 6GB of RAM, which may not be future-proof in the long run |
| Improves overall system performance and reduces latency | No support for expandable memory in Apple devices |
| Allows for faster data access and better performance in heavy applications | Limited by system constraints when compared to devices with larger RAM (e.g., Android phones with 12GB RAM) |
The unified memory architecture allows for more efficient multitasking, ensuring apps can be accessed quickly and fluidly. However, the 6GB RAM limitation could impact future-proofing as applications become more resource-intensive.
Benchmarks Overview
- AnTuTu Score: Approximately 960,000 points, ranking it among the fastest mobile chipsets.
- Geekbench 5: Single-core performance around 1870, and multi-core performance around 5450, demonstrating excellent processing power, particularly in single-threaded tasks. This places the A16 Bionic ahead of competitors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in many CPU-bound tasks.
- GFXBench 5.0: Achieves over 60 FPS in most graphics tests, underlining its superior graphical performance in mobile devices.
- 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: ~3400 points, showcasing the GPU’s ability to handle intensive 3D rendering and gaming applications.
- SPECint 2006: Consistently leads in CPU single-thread performance compared to other mobile processors.
These benchmarks demonstrate the A16 Bionic’s dominance in mobile performance, especially in single-core CPU tasks, AI/ML applications, and graphical rendering. While its gains over the A15 are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, it remains one of the fastest chipsets in the mobile industry, delivering a blend of power and efficiency suited for high-end devices like the iPhone 14 Pro series.
Also read the iphone 16 review – Click here to read the Iphone 16 Review
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