Other Disappointed after looking at the 15/15 Pro in person

[ghanwani]

This is purely an aesthetics assessment.

The pros looked like they had been put together poorly, didn’t have a premium feel at all. Wasn’t impressed with any of the colors, not even natural titanium. The photos make it look better than it does in person.

The shades on the non pro line up were really bad. There’s barely any color which is probably a good thing because the shades were just bad.

Probably the best looking phone of this year is the 15 in pink. To be clear, it’s the “cleanest dirty shirt”, not one that I would look forward to owning but the one I would buy if I were forced to pick one.

Apple should have just used aluminum for the pros as well. Many reviewers have already cautioned that the PVD coating scratches easily.

BTW, is there an engineering reason for the criss cross camera setup? That’s just too ugly.

The only positive design improvement is the rounding of the edges.

What a colossal disappointment.

 

[tonywalker23]

Am I just a grouchy old middle aged man, or am I remembering right that when I bought Apple products 15-20 years ago they were pretty much perfect build wise?

 

[Lobwedgephil]

Am I just a grouchy old middle aged man, or am I remembering right that when I bought Apple products 15-20 years ago they were pretty much perfect build wise?

Most have no build issues, but the scale of apple products compared to years ago is huge difference. They still have best quality control there is for mass produced products, but there will be small issues with so many devices. Though OP is talking about not liking the looks of the phone, which is very minimal changes for years. Nothing wrong with an opinion.

 

[Surfsalot]

Probably the best looking phone of this year is the 15 in pink.

would have to be free lol

 

[Knockoutjosie]

Am I just a grouchy old middle aged man, or am I remembering right that when I bought Apple products 15-20 years ago they were pretty much perfect build wise?

The 4s I will never forget first holding that phone. Premium feel

 

[Macalway]

The illusion of lack of substance do to it being lighter.

 

[Nordman 52]

And titanium make them look and feel really cheap. I had the same thoughts after visiting an Apple Store.

 

[ghanwani]

The illusion of lack of substance do to it being lighter.

No, actually the buttons looked misaligned. To me, lighter is better and aluminum is lighter than titanium. The only reason to use titanium is strength.

 

[ghanwani]

And titanium make them look and feel really cheap. I had the same thoughts after visiting an Apple Store.

Correct. It’s ironical that the 15 now looks more premium than the 15 pro!

 

[Infinitewisdom]

Weird. I have the opposite impression. The Pros look and feel amazing to me.

 

[adam1080]

Kind of a weird take…

Build quality of my 15 PM is great. (Having had 10 phones starting with 3g, I have had LOTS of build quality issues on the older phones. 4 suffered from yellow glue in the screen. Had damaged bands, stuff under the screen. The later phones have been more reliable)

11 Pro was peak comfort and hand feel, but the 15 is a step back in the right direction vs my 13 and 14 pro’s. Despite them looking nice, hated how it was to hold them.

The 15 pro looks great paired with my new AW U 2. To each their own, but the phone does not feel cheap…

 

[ChoiMinji]

Apple should have just used aluminum for the pros as well.

I 100% agree with you, I much prefer aluminum. Other than that I’m completely satisfied with the 15p

 

[UltimateSyn]

My 15 Pro Max arrived yesterday - happiest I’ve been with the look and feel of my phone since the 11 Pro Max.

 

[Lakersfan74]

Standard black looks good. All the others are pastel ugh. The Pro's actually have bold colors not washed out. I wish they would do more than 4 though on the Pro line at the start.

 

[mectojic]

This is purely an aesthetics assessment.

The pros looked like they had been put together poorly, didn’t have a premium feel at all. Wasn’t impressed with any of the colors, not even natural titanium. The photos make it look better than it does in person.

The shades on the non pro line up were really bad. There’s barely any color which is probably a good thing because the shades were just bad.

Probably the best looking phone of this year is the 15 in pink. To be clear, it’s the “cleanest dirty shirt”, not one that I would look forward to owning but the one I would buy if I were forced to pick one.

Apple should have just used aluminum for the pros as well. Many reviewers have already cautioned that the PVD coating scratches easily.

BTW, is there an engineering reason for the criss cross camera setup? That’s just too ugly.

The only positive design improvement is the rounding of the edges.

What a colossal disappointment.

Completely, completely 100% agree with you.
Going to the Apple store (twice now) confirmed this was not just an initial response, but a conviction.

Of all the iPhone 15 models, only the Pink (and maybe Green) were alright, but not nice enough for me to want them. Just... alright.
All the Titanium iPhones are very boring and lousy colours (and the darker ones have terrible fingerprinting).

 

[aries81]

Am I just a grouchy old middle aged man, or am I remembering right that when I bought Apple products 15-20 years ago they were pretty much perfect build wise?

*cough*antennagate*cough*

 

[Lotuskid]

BTW, is there an engineering reason for the criss cross camera setup? That’s just too ugly.

I remember reading that arranging the cameras in a close cluster helps when transitioning between lenses while zooming. They’re more closely arranged so when zooming in or out there is less of a harsh jump in field of view as opposed to if the lenses were lined up vertically or horizontally in a row.

That, and it’s a distinctive iPhone look which helps with brand recognition.

 

[Sami13496]

Be careful. Someone might ask you why you felt need to post this. You are on MR.

 

[shr631]

I 100% agree with you, I much prefer aluminum. Other than that I’m completely satisfied with the 15p

How are you finding the battery so far on the Pro?

 

[dagored]

No, actually the buttons looked misaligned. To me, lighter is better and aluminum is lighter than titanium. The only reason to use titanium is strength.

Then, don’t buy it!!

 

[tymaster50]

Okay

 

[Adelphos33]

My 15 Pro Max arrived yesterday - happiest I’ve been with the look and feel of my phone since the 11 Pro Max.

Kind of a weird take…

Build quality of my 15 PM is great. (Having had 10 phones starting with 3g, I have had LOTS of build quality issues on the older phones. 4 suffered from yellow glue in the screen. Had damaged bands, stuff under the screen. The later phones have been more reliable)

11 Pro was peak comfort and hand feel, but the 15 is a step back in the right direction vs my 13 and 14 pro’s. Despite them looking nice, hated how it was to hold them.

The 15 pro looks great paired with my new AW U 2. To each their own, but the phone does not feel cheap…

I think the issue is that in a vacuum, the 15 Pro Max is easier to hold than the 14 Pro Max / 13 Pro Max given the rounded edges of the phone and the slightly lower weight... But the when you look at the entire phone line in context, the 15 Pro Max does not feel easier to hold or more "premium" than the 15/15 Plus line. The 15/15 Plus also have the rounded edges and the frosted glass back, and they are even lighter than the 15 Pro/Pro Max. Plus, aluminum and titanium feel similar in the hand. As a result, the phones all feel the same this year. In prior years, the regular line had aluminum and the "sticky" glass back, both of which felt less premium than the steel and the frosted glass back of the pro line.

I would be in the market for a 15/15 Plus this year - the issue is that those phones lack key features, mainly Pro Motion and Always On display. Coming from a 14PM, I would miss the always on display the most. Plus, as the OP mentioned, the 15/15 Plus colors are weak with the exception of Pink, which is by a meaningful amount the best looking iPhone apple released this generation.

I am assuming Apple will keep the general design for a couple of years... which means that maybe the regular iPhone 16 or 17 will be the phones to get, especially if those phones get better colors and always on display.

 

[mikethebigo]

Am I just a grouchy old middle aged man, or am I remembering right that when I bought Apple products 15-20 years ago they were pretty much perfect build wise?

Definitely the former. I used to do a lot more exchanges/returns to get the "perfect" device, with the right screen color tone, build quality, no wiggling buttons, no dirt under display, etc etc. They are built a lot more consistently nowadays IMO.

 

[PegasusTenma]

I see a ton of these complaints but no one mentions that titanium is exponentially more expensive than aluminium, this is a lot more “luxurious”. Especially if is the grade 5 titanium Apple says it uses in these devices.

 

[ghanwani]

I see a ton of these complaints but no one mentions that titanium is exponentially more expensive than aluminium, this is a lot more “luxurious”. Especially if is the grade 5 titanium Apple says it uses in these devices.

The material is expensive but it is also harder to work with and Apple doesn’t seem to have done a good job with that. I can take expensive fabric and make a crappy suit.