iPhone 15 vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Which One Should You Get?

Apple pulled back the curtain on its latest iPhones and Apple Watch updates at the Wonderlust event this Tuesday.

Now, with the arrival of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, you might find yourself in the classic dilemma of whether to splurge on the Pro model or stick with the standard one.

Last year, the distinctive Dynamic Island was a key factor setting the iPhone 14 apart from the 14 Pro. However, this feature has now made its way into the standard iPhone 15, resulting in the entire iPhone 15 lineup sporting a notchless design.

Yet, the choice between the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro still comes with significant considerations. Let's delve into the details.

iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Display and enclosure

Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro share the same 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, offering a sharp 2,556x1,179-pixel resolution.

However, the Pro model takes things up a notch with ProMotion technology, a fancy way of saying it has a dynamic refresh rate ranging from 10Hz to 120Hz. This translates to smoother visuals when watching videos, gaming, or simply scrolling through web pages, compared to the fixed 60Hz refresh rate on the standard iPhone 15.

Plus, when you're not engrossed in YouTube or gaming, the Pro cleverly dials down the refresh rate to conserve precious battery life.

One exclusive perk of the iPhone 15 Pro is its always-on display, which remains active and dimmed when charging, allowing you to make the most of StandBy mode. Unfortunately, this handy feature doesn't make its way to the standard iPhone 15.

When it comes to materials, the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro diverge in their construction. The iPhone 15 opts for an aluminum enclosure complemented by a glass back infused with vibrant colors.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 Pro takes the premium route, boasting a titanium body paired with a textured matte glass back for that extra touch of sophistication.

If you're all about colors, the iPhone 15 offers a vibrant palette, including options like pink, soft yellow, light green, pale blue, and classic black.

In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro takes a more understated approach, offering colors like black, white, dark blue, and a sophisticated natural titanium shade with a touch of beige. It's a choice between bold and classic aesthetics.

When it comes to size and weight, there are some subtle differences between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro. Despite titanium being lighter than aluminum, the iPhone 15 ends up being slightly larger but lighter than the iPhone 15 Pro.

This is mainly due to the Pro packing an extra camera. The iPhone 15 tips the scales at 6.02 ounces (171 grams), while the iPhone 15 Pro weighs in at 6.6 ounces (187 grams).

The Pro's ultrathin bezels make it a tad slimmer, trimming a millimeter off both its width and height compared to the iPhone 15, and it's just a fraction of a millimeter thinner. It's all about those fine details that can make a difference in hand feel and pocket fit.

One more notable contrast between the two enclosures is the introduction of the Action button on the iPhone 15 Pro, which takes the place of the mute switch found on the side of the iPhone 15.

By default, a long press on the Action button serves the purpose of muting and unmuting, but here's the fun part: You have the freedom to customize it. You can set it up to perform a range of handy shortcuts,

whether it's illuminating the flashlight, recording a voice memo, or swiftly opening the camera app to capture that perfect shot. It's all about personalizing your iPhone experience to suit your needs!

iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: USB-C Charging speeds

With the new models, USB-C charging is in the spotlight. However, there's a catch: only the iPhone 15 Pro is on board with the faster USB 3 speeds of 10Gbps.

Here's the kicker – to harness this speed with the 15 Pro, you'll need to provide your own USB-C 3 cable because Apple ships both phones with a USB 2 cable. As for the iPhone 15, it supports USB 2 speeds, which clock in at 480Mbps.

So, your charging experience can vary depending on your choice between these two models.

iPhone 15 vs. 15 Pro: Price Comparing

In the pricing department, it's a familiar tune from Apple. They've maintained their $200 premium for the iPhone 15 Pro over the iPhone 15, as seen in previous years.

The iPhone 15 kicks off at $799, £799, and AU$1,499, while stepping up to the iPhone 15 Pro will set you back $999, £999, and AU$1,849. The choice comes down to balancing your budget with your desire for those extra Pro features.