iPhone 13 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 50+ Differences Compared

[henrikhelmers]

I think the upgrade would have been more significant if the action button had been actively framed as a shutter button. Also the process *node change got little attention, shouldn't it provide a significant improvement in battery life?

 

[switz]

I would wager that turning off the "always on" screen will suddenly give the user all day battery. By the time I pick up my iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB and get it to my face, the screen is on. I use way less than 50% battery and my daily "STAND" usually shows 17 to 19 hours of me moving around.

I never turned on the "always on" feature on any of my Apple watches and always had lots of power left every day. My Ultra usually has 70% power left at the end of the day.

So low battery at the end of the day is the user's choice, not an Apple design issue. We do not leave the headlights on bright mode when not driving with the engine off as the battery will be drained. Same principal.

 

[CalMin]

This is actually a very helpful comparison. Much more so than a 14 to 15 comparison, because Apple doesn't really expect users to upgrade each year. I'm sure they would like you to, but it's not realistic to expect it and that's not really who they are selling to.

I do, however, disagree with the article's conclusion that the upgrade is meaningful. I appreciate the honesty of those who have posted in this thread about their experience of doing this exact upgrade.

Now, as I sit here, using my 13 Pro and hovering over the 'buy' button for a 15 Pro, I wonder if after a few days I will even notice the upgrade. The 13 Pro photos are 'good enough' and all the other features will disappear into the background after the burst of dopamine from the purchase fades away.

Ultimately, for the second year in a row, I don't feel excited about the new phone and I suppose that's my answer right there. The new gimmicks aren't exciting to me, so why spend the money...? I just need to stay away from Apple stores for a bit. 🤪

 

[RickDEGH]

Mine wasnt. I hit 80%health in April but I have AppleCare+ so I just needed to wait for 79% and they'll replace it. No big deal. But iOS17 raised it to 82% health and now Applecare expired.

So they’re also using software to prevent you from using AppleCare?

 

[decafjava]

I did. Where's the significant upgrade?

Photos are very marginally better.

Screen was already great. iPhone 13 remains very fast.

Why aren't I able to dock my iPhone for a monitor, mouse and keyboard experience yet? It's certainly fast enough. That's a significant upgrade.

Why isn't Siri a serious AI assistant yet? The technology exists. That's a significant upgrade.

I think we need to hold Apple to a higher standard than these tiny incremental changes they make every year.

Still happy with my 13 Pro Max. Not planning to upgrade but all my respect to those who do...now I am glad Apple have moved to USB C but that's for my future phone.

 

[Expos of 1969]

This is actually a very helpful comparison. Much more so than a 14 to 15 comparison, because Apple doesn't really expect users to upgrade each year. I'm sure they would like you to, but it's not realistic to expect it and that's not really who they are selling to.

I do, however, disagree with the article's conclusion that the upgrade is meaningful. I appreciate the honesty of those who have posted in this thread about their experience of doing this exact upgrade.

Now, as I sit here, using my 13 Pro and hovering over the 'buy' button for a 15 Pro, I wonder if after a few days I will even notice the upgrade. The 13 Pro photos are 'good enough' and all the other features will disappear into the background after the burst of dopamine from the purchase fades away.

Ultimately, for the second year in a row, I don't feel excited about the new phone and I suppose that's my answer right there. The new gimmicks aren't exciting to me, so why spend the money...? I just need to stay away from Apple stores for a bit. 🤪

Step away from the BUY button. Save your cash. No need to upgrade.

 

[cocky jeremy]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

It's way more than just that.. lol.

 

[BigDO]

Sad to say but I’ve cancelled my order. Not interested in the Pro Max, and none of the benefits outweigh a drop in battery life.

Maybe next year.

 

[Expos of 1969]

Sad to say but I’ve cancelled my order. Not interested in the Pro Max, and none of the benefits outweigh a drop in battery life.

Maybe next year.

Do not be sad. You should be smiling as you look at your finances.

 

[cheesygrin]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

Also, just because you’ve got a new phone doesn’t mean your old phone is worthless. An iPhone 13 Pro still has decent resale value - when you knock that off, it brings the upgrade cost down.

The upgrade price also includes new battery and upgraded chip that will be usable for two years longer than the 13 would be.

 

[Reeneman]

I made the jump from the 13 Pro to the 15 pro mainly because the trade in value for the „older“ phone was pretty good.

What I really like:
- Have the AoD back (last time was with a Samsung galaxy S7 edge)
- The camera especially in low light, amazed by the results so far. Even in difficult situations using the ultra-wide or zoom lens, the pictures are very good. Much better compared to the 13 pro
- USB C: nice to be back to only one cable for all my recent devices
- got the option to convert regular pictures with persons, dogs and cats to a portrait picture afterwards

More marketing and forum talk and not so important for me
- titanium
- action button
- better gaming capabilities
- less weight (nice but really not such a big deal)

 

[terminator-jq]

A lot of the 15 Pro upgrades are really aimed at content creators. USB-C opens up a lot of doors. Being able to charge everything with one cable is just the tip of the iceberg. I think the ability to shoot in 4K with flat color straight to a USB drive (or SD) is an even bigger feature. The Pro max gives you 5x zoom which mimics one of the most commonly used camera lenses.

It’s not a big upgrade by any means for anyone who has a 13 pro or 14 pro. Even the 12 pro can still hang in there for most people. However for those making content who use their phone as their main camera, the 15 Pro brings some nice features.

That being said, smartphones have definitely reached a peak. The jumps from 4S to iPhone 5 and 5S to iPhone 6 were pretty big jumps. The last big jump we got was the iPhone X… Since then, everything has been very incremental.

 

[topmounter]

"Overall, the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌iPhone 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the USB-C port and Action button that change the methods of interaction with the device."

Are people really paying over a $1,000 for USB-C and an Action button? Is this what qualifies as a significant upgrade?

I can understand those into professional video getting this because there are real changes in video, but I haven't seen any remotely significant upgrade for the average user since the iPhone 11 Pro.

Journalists are supposed to inform the users, not drink the kool aid.

The definition of 'significant' is clearly nebulous in our post J-School world.

As the owner of an iPhone 13 Pro Max (purchased with cash as an upgrade to an XS Max that was also purchased with cash), I just see a list of justifications for an otherwise unnecessary transaction. Financial security, Save the Planet, Reduce E-Waste, blah, blah, blah.. OMG (incrementally) NEW iPHONE!!!

 

[dlopan]

I'm keeping my 13 pro for the time being. It just works. No problems, no blow ups, no battery problems. I may have to buy another case at some point but thats about it. Not buying another dslr (d-750), not buying another laptop (2015 macbookair), Not upgrading my studio (1st gen). I don't like the finish on 15's (titanium? really?) usbc would be nice but not to upgrade to.

 

[DrWojtek]

One of the main reasons I left Android was the iPhone’s mute switch. I don’t know what they were thinking when they removed it.

I dont want to have to make any action to know whether I’m muted or not except look at the phone. I do this maybe ten times a day. Why they would force me to press a button each time to do this is idiotic.

 

[nylon]

Anyone gone from the non Max version of the 13 Pro to the non Max version of the 15 Pro? How's the battery life?

 

[marinersaptcomplex]

I just cannot justify paying the ~1600CAD to buy a (basemodel 15 Pro) phone only marginally different from my 13 Pro (I think of my phones as "sunk costs" and always pay for them upfront). Maybe if Apple had the "iPhone Upgrade Plan" in Canada, or we had really competitive carrier deals for upgrading, but as it currently stands, I'd much rather put that money towards something that's actually a "quality of life" upgrade (like a second monitor, or a weekend trip out of town)

 

[yoak]

Log files would be a nice upgrade from my 13pro, but I would miss the mute button. It’s nice to check that my phone is on mute on set by just touching the phone in my pocket.
ProRes was a big reason to get the 13 pro back then. Thinking I would supplement my GoPros on set with my phone quite a bit. Turned out I’ve almost never used my phone for professional shooting in the 2 years I’ve had it.
So I figure the Log files won’t be of much use to me either😅

 

[btrach144]

Please do a iPhone (2007) vs iPhone 15 Pro Max article!

 

[wegster]

To be fair to MR, the article included this...

This article focuses on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, but to understand the differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro, see our other buyer's guide:

• iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 15 Pro Buyer's Guide: 30+ Upgrades Compared

Lol, where there as well it's 'a fairly significant upgrade' -> Hurry, everyone buy again and again and again...

 

[wegster]

I would wager that turning off the "always on" screen will suddenly give the user all day battery. By the time I pick up my iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB and get it to my face, the screen is on. I use way less than 50% battery and my daily "STAND" usually shows 17 to 19 hours of me moving around.

I never turned on the "always on" feature on any of my Apple watches and always had lots of power left every day. My Ultra usually has 70% power left at the end of the day.

So low battery at the end of the day is the user's choice, not an Apple design issue. We do not leave the headlights on bright mode when not driving with the engine off as the battery will be drained. Same principal.

Yep. When they introduced 'always on' for the watch which already had swimmingly poor batter life, my first thought was simply - I hope this can be disabled (which it can, and remains so on my watch and wife's). Soooo 'thrilled' they brought this non-feature to iPhone. Eh, at least it should be able to be ignored and disabled.

 

[nylon]

I just cannot justify paying the ~1600CAD to buy a (basemodel 15 Pro) phone only marginally different from my 13 Pro (I think of my phones as "sunk costs" and always pay for them upfront). Maybe if Apple had the "iPhone Upgrade Plan" in Canada, or we had really competitive carrier deals for upgrading, but as it currently stands, I'd much rather put that money towards something that's actually a "quality of life" upgrade (like a second monitor, or a weekend trip out of town)

Canadian pricing on iPhones has always been annoying given sales taxes and given 80% of the Canadian pop lives pretty close to the US border. Personally I've always tried to avoid purchasing my iPhones in Canada. I have some family in New Hampshire (0% sales tax state) and every few years when I visit for thanksgiving I decide whether to do a trade-in/upgrade. Saves hundreds versus buying domestically in Canada given US prices are already cheaper when you factor the f/x rate.

I did a calculation. The cost to do an trade-in in Canada from a base 13 Pro to a base 15 Pro with Apple Trade in is C$1057 including tax.

In New Hampshire it's US$519 or about C$700. That's a C$357 price differential. Not insignificant.

 

[digitalfx]

I did. Where's the significant upgrade?

up to 2000 nits vs 1200
A15 to A17
6GB RAM to 8GB
12mp to 48mp main camera + lots of other improvements
improved HDR
Dynamic Island
USB-C
Ability to attach USB-C hard drive or thumb drive and easily move large files
Lighter weight
Improved ProRes
LOG video recording
WiFi6 to 6E
updated Ultra Wideband chip
BT 5.3
Emergency SOS via satellite
new action button
Qi 2 wireless charging
always on display

Yes, this counts as a significant upgrade for most. YMMV...if it doesnt do it for you, then wait. No-one is forcing you to upgrade. For me its a significant, and Im very happy with the upgrades.

 

[Reeneman]

I'm keeping my 13 pro for the time being. It just works. No problems, no blow ups, no battery problems. I may have to buy another case at some point but thats about it. Not buying another dslr (d-750), not buying another laptop (2015 macbookair), Not upgrading my studio (1st gen). I don't like the finish on 15's (titanium? really?) usbc would be nice but not to upgrade to.

The 13 Pro is still a very very good phone. In the current versions of iOS 17 I felt that the keyboard input is also more fluid on the 13 Pro compared to the new one.
Further updates are going to bring improvements for sure.

 

[Reeneman]

up to 2000 nits vs 1200
A15 to A17
6GB RAM to 8GB
12mp to 48mp main camera + lots of other improvements
improved HDR
Dynamic Island
USB-C
Ability to attach USB-C hard drive or thumb drive and easily move large files
Lighter weight
Improved ProRes
LOG video recording
WiFi6 to 6E
updated Ultra Wideband chip
BT 5.3
Emergency SOS via satellite
new action button
Qi 2 wireless charging
always on display

Yes, this counts as a significant upgrade for most. YMMV...if it doesnt do it for you, then wait. No-one is forcing you to upgrade. For me its a significant, and Im very happy with the upgrades.

But we have:
Titangate
Heatgate
FineWovenGate

…all this year