iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Should You Get The iPhone 15 Series?

It’s that time of the year again.

iPhone 15 is finally out and iPhone 15 Pro Max is already sold out in some countries with shipment delayed for almost a month.

Although I’m an Apple user and almost completing my Apple ecosystem, I can’t help but wonder if the price tag is worth the upgrade or not.

Mind you, the iPhone 15 pro starts from $1,649 (128GB) and it costs a whopping $2,449 for 1TB of storage.

What are the changes, is it worth it?

TL;DR: Is The Apple iPhone 15 Series Worth It?

iPhone 15 is sold out almost completely and you will have to wait to get your hands on it.

Click here to jump:

• Specification differences with iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max
• Price
• Availability
• Should you change to iPhone 15?

Differences Between the Apple iPhone 14 And Apple iPhone 15 Series

For the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with the Apple iPhone, the main differences between the Apple iPhone 14 series and iPhone 15 series lie in five areas.

Apple Bionic Chip

For those unfamiliar with tech terms such as bionic chips, we should first talk about the Apple silicon.

When you purchase a personal computer or laptop, you will undoubtedly be introduced to terms such as processors, and if you’re a Windows user, Intel Core processors.

Both the Apple Silicon and Intel Core are architectures used in computing devices and for Apple Silicon, it is a series of system-on-chip (SoC) and system in a package (SIP) that are developed by Apple, the foundation that makes your phone work.

The “A” series is a family of SoCs used in the iPhone, certain iPad models, and the Apple TV, while the “M” series is what’s used on MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.

Apple first introduced the A11 bionic on the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus in 2017, and since then, there have been new upgrades on a yearly basis.

The iPhone 15 base model uses the A16 Bionic chip, which has been used on the iPhone 14 Pro, while the 15 Pro Series uses the A17 Bionic chip, which is the most advanced version till date.

When we look at the GeekBench scores, a type of processor benchmarking programme that runs a series of tests and times how long the processor takes to complete tasks, the numbers on iPhone 15 are higher. The faster the CPU completes the test, the higher the GeekBench score, thus the more efficient the device.

But when you’re using the device in real life, you might only notice slight differences in the refresh rate and loading time.

Some reviewers have also said that the difference is in milliseconds, and noticeable only when you’re comparing both devices side-by-side. So honestly, the iPhone 14 Pro is still great.

Naysayers would say that iPhones aren’t built for gaming, but one key difference for this year’s iPhone 15 is that it’s built for games due to the A17 bionic chip used.

If you need high-level graphics and frame rates for your games, the Pro series could probably do a good job.

iPhone 15 Series Display

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 have 6.1-inch OLED displays with HDR support and roughly the same resolution.

Size-wise, it’s the same.

The biggest difference in display between the two comes down to peak brightness: iPhone 14 had a peak brightness of 1200 nits, while the iPhone 15 has a peak brightness of 1600 nits and a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits.

But, you would probably only notice this difference when you’re out and under the sun. Other reviews have said that the panels used on both phones are slightly different, with the iPhone 14 having a warmer tone than the 15.

iPhone 15 Series Cameras

For those who are familiar with iPhones, you would notice that the camera functions of the preceding Pro model are always used on the new series Base model.

You guessed it, the iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras are used on the iPhone 15 base model as an upgrade, but this time, the upgrade is technically, huge.

Because the standard iPhone now has a 48-megapixel sensor compared to the 12-megapixel sensor that has been tweaked every year until last year’s iPhone 14 base model.

This means you would notice a difference in focus, sharpness, and depth on your cameras and an overall improvement in the quality of your photos.

You can also crop in two times for a telephoto using the 15, compared to the 14 which only has two ranges (0.5 to 1).

But do note that the standard iPhone 15 does not have a zoom lens even though it has the 48MP camera system and sensor that simulates a 2x zoom, but it doesn’t actually use a zoom lens, unlike the Pro Series that has 3x and 5x optical zoom.

Having an actual zoom lens in a camera system offers several advantages over digital zoom, where the camera zooms in without the use of a physical lens.

These are the main differences:

iPhone 15 Series Charging Ports

This is probably one of the biggest takeaways in the series.

Apple has finally, standardised the USB-C charging ports. For avid Apple users, you would know that Apple products such as the MacBook, wireless chargers, etc. are already USB-C enabled, but not the iPhone.

Before the iPhone 15, a lightning charging port was used for all previous models. And if you have other Apple devices that have USB-C charging ports, you have to carry two different cables everywhere you go, especially when you’re travelling.

But again, this means that the new feature allows you to charge other USB-C-enabled devices, including Android devices.

This change is probably Apple’s first step to standardise charging ports and will pave the way for them to do so for all its accessories going forward.

There is also a stark difference between the USB-C connector used in the iPhone 15 base model and the Pro model – the former supports USB-C 2 while the latter supports USB-C 3.

The difference lies in the standard of transfer speeds.

Using the industry standard, the USB-C connector on the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus is a universal standard USB-C 2, which has data rates of 480 Mbps, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max USB-C connector is a USB-C 3, which is 20 times faster than the USB-C 2, and offers a transfer speed of up to 10 gigabits per second.

Do note that the phone does not come with a USB3 cable…

iPhone 15 Series Colours

Personally, I sway toward the iPhone 15 as the colour selection is wider and for the first time, they are in pastel colours!

Just take a look at the colours below, what’s not to like about them?

But if you prefer sleek (and monotonous) colours, the Pro series is right up your alley.

Prices of iPhone 15 Line-up

For the uninitiated, these are the prices of the iPhone 14 series and iPhone 15 series during the launch:

As with any new launches, prices of the previous launches would drop.

This is a good chance for those who are looking at the price tag as the standard iPhone 14 now starts at $1,149 ($150 cheaper than in 2022), and the Plus edition is available starting from $1,299.

If you’re planning on getting your hands on the iPhone 14 Pro, Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14 Pro in September 2023 following the introduction of the iPhone 15 lineup.

So, to get your hands on it, you need to head over to an authorised reseller to get it instead.

Is The iPhone 15 Series Available in Singapore Now?

The Pro Max is sold out in the United States, Canada, and China, and reports have indicated that shipment will be delayed till November 2023.

If you want to pick it up immediately from Apple stores after purchasing it online, it’s not available in all Apple stores. The earliest you can get your hands on is between 6 Oct and 11 Oct, via delivery for the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.

As for the Pro Series, based on the colour you choose, the earliest you might get the phone will be between 25 Oct and 1 Nov 2023. Some colours such as the Blue Titanium is currently available in-store.

So, Is The iPhone 15 Series Worth it Or Not?

If you already have the iPhone 14, I personally don’t think it’s worth the upgrade unless you are super gung-ho about the camera.

After all, if you’re watching a concert soon, you will want to be able to capture your favourite artists as clearly as possible.

Similarly, for those who want to refresh their phone after three to four years (regardless of whether you’re currently an Apple user), you’ll need to consider that the main iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models include some of the notable features from the iPhone 14 Pro, such as the powerful A16 processor, a 48MP main camera, and the Dynamic Display.

This year’s iPhone 15 lineup offers significantly better value compared to last year’s iPhone 14 models.

If you are getting a new iPhone, it makes more sense to opt for the iPhone 15 instead of the iPhone 14 for a superior overall experience and better value.

What about the iPhone 15 Pro?

We can tell that the iPhone 15 is enhanced largely (and mainly, improving from the iPhone 14 Pro), but besides the camera, they are quite similar, rendering it an enticing choice in comparison to the iPhone 15 Pro.

With a starting price of only $1,299, it presents a notably more affordable option, with only trade-offs such as the absence of ProMotion and a 5x telephoto camera system.

Are You Getting iPhone 15?

Remember to use a credit card for online purchases when you are pre-ordering your iPhone online.

And if you’re planning to purchase on installment, remember to bring your physical card along!

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