The MacRumors Show: iPhone 15 Features We're Excited About and Should You Upgrade?

[MacRumors]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's new FineWoven accessories, some of our favorite iPhone 15 features, and who should consider upgrading.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos​

Apple's FineWoven material replaces leather across iPhone cases, AirTag accessories, and Apple Watch bands. Many early reviews of the FineWoven items have been negative, criticizing the material's feel, quality, and durability, so we talk over our early thoughts on the new accessories. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro introduce over 30 new capabilities and improvements, including USB-C and Dynamic Island across the lineup, as well as a new titanium design and Action button on the high-end models. We dive into some of our favorite standout features and weigh up who should consider upgrading to the latest devices.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, take a look back at our discussion with iJustine where we talk through our immediate reactions to the announcement of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Kevin Nether, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: iPhone 15 Features We're Excited About and Should You Upgrade?

 

[Menneisyys2]

For me, no compelling reason to upgrade from the 14PM. For example, the (apart from the 5x lens) SINGLE other alleged "improvement" on the 15P(M)'s cameras, the new lens coating, did NOT get rid of the major orbing problem. I bet the extent of the orb problem is the same as previously, in the 14P/M.

Basically, there are only software improvements camera tech-wise, nothing in hardware. The most underwhelming update for years. Prolly the 5s -> 6 upgrade was almost equally bad/underwhelming...

(And of course the vast majority of the new software features, except for writing ProRes videos right to an external SSD or other similar stolid-state memory, could be backported to the 14P(M). Of course it won't happen - except for the 48 Mpixel HEIFs, which are as badly oversharpened as the 12 Mpixel ones so they're pretty useless for anyone wanting natural-looking, quality images.)

 

[vegetassj4]

Should You Upgrade?
Indeed



This poster uses a Samsung, is in no way affiliated with Apple, does not hold any AAPL whatsoever, or has even ever heard of Steve Jobs.

Subject to certain terms and conditions

 

[Realityck]

Perhaps the slight weight reduction on the pro models matters to consumers, but as they said the thin titanium bezel dents, not scratches. The color choices are weird this year. They are only Natural Titanium, Blue Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium colors. So I'll wait for the next models as there are no battery improvements mentioned. What made the previous model attractive, was Emergency SoS, colors, and major camera improvements.

 

[Menneisyys2]

What made the previous model attractive ... and major camera improvements.

Yup, the switch to 48 Mpixels, along with being a quite large sensor, has resulted in a quantum leap in photo resolution and also a sizeable improvement in video SNR. I just love my 14PM's cameras, except for the well-known orbing problem.

Too bad the 15P(M) has absolutely no hardware improvements / changes - again, except for the 15PM's 5x tele and the alleged new coating. Too bad the latter didn't seemingly lessen the extent of the orb problem...

 

[RUQRU]

I cannot help mysef...iPhone 15 Pro Max coming today.

 

[mcfrazieriv]

What a joke.

There is nothing to be excited about. Not until the iPhone morphs into a car that charges my entire USB-C house.

A car that Tim Cook pulls out of his denim coin pocket.

"GOOD MORRNAAAANG. I could not be more excited to introduce this next vision of Apple. Something we are so deeply proud of. We call it the... iCar PRO NANO XDR."

 

[russweb72]

I was planning to purchase Airpods pro gen2, glad i was able to pickup the usb-c at $199.

 

[Tagbert]

For me, no compelling reason to upgrade from the 14PM. For example, the (apart from the 5x lens) SINGLE other alleged "improvement" on the 15P(M)'s cameras, the new lens coating, did NOT get rid of the major orbing problem. I bet the extent of the orb problem is the same as previously, in the 14P/M.

Basically, there are only software improvements camera tech-wise, nothing in hardware. The most underwhelming update for years. Prolly the 5s -> 6 upgrade was almost equally bad/underwhelming...

(And of course the vast majority of the new software features, except for writing ProRes videos right to an external SSD or other similar stolid-state memory, could be backported to the 14P(M). Of course it won't happen - except for the 48 Mpixel HEIFs, which are as badly oversharpened as the 12 Mpixel ones so they're pretty useless for anyone wanting natural-looking, quality images.)

Most people upgrading to a 15 would be coming from older phones. My spouse just upgraded from an XR. It rarely has much impact if you are upgrading from a one year old phone. The year over year improvements aren't that large anymore as most of the hardware limitations of the early phones have been resolved. If you wait for 2-3 years then the cumulative improvements do feel like a significant jump.

 

[Nordman 52]

My wife woke up early this morning and ordered an iPhone 15 Pro, and she received it the same day (lucky, I know). I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max white 512go, and she has an iPhone 14 Pro white 246go (and now a 15 Pro white 256 to compare). Our conclusions are the same: the improvements are welcome but really minor. However, she decided to keep the 15 Pro. The reason? We both HATE the battery life of the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. I want to upgrade mainly for this reason.

We are both passionate about photography. I have a Sony A1 with all the best GM lenses, and she has a Fuji X-T5 with all the best Fuji lenses (including the 200mm f2 and new LM R lenses). We like to use our phones for quick editing and taking photos as well. The ultra-wide lens on the 14 Pro has replaced my 16-35mm GM lens, and my bag is lighter now.

I was hoping for major camera improvements in terms of software, such as manual controls, and I wanted a longer zoom. The 5X zoom feels inadequate.

Another point to note is that the titanium material gives a very cheap feeling to such a premium device. Fortunately, we both use covers, so this won't bother us much.

My wife loved the slight weight difference, and although it's minor, we don't recommend getting the iPhone 14 if you're thinking of buying one secondhand. It's better to stick with the model you have, wait for the iPhone 16, or consider getting the 15 Pro Max if you don't want to wait. All in all, it's a better phone than the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but it's not a revolution. These are minor incremental changes that are welcome, but you almost forget they were added after using the device for a few hours.

I'll definitely try to get a 15PM (Black)

Regarding the new iPhone colors: The new natural titanium color appears somewhat cheap. It's as if Apple skimped on the paint quality. The white variant resembles the 14P series, while the black one stands out as the most attractive this time. As for the blue option, it seems somewhat reminiscent of previous releases. It's a bit uninspiring, to say the least.

 

[klasma]

Should You Upgrade?
Indeed

I think Teal’c would want a Titanium Gold color option.

 

[kkee]

If you have 14, maybe.
if you have 13, yes you want to.
if you have less than 13? What are you waiting for? iPhone will not suddenly change into iCar.

 

[wozmatic]

I still use an iPhone 7 (not kidding)
And I'm still unsure if I need to upgrade...

 

[4odomi]

On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's new FineWoven accessories, some of our favorite iPhone 15 features, and who should consider upgrading.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos​

Apple's FineWoven material replaces leather across iPhone cases, AirTag accessories, and Apple Watch bands. Many early reviews of the FineWoven items have been negative, criticizing the material's feel, quality, and durability, so we talk over our early thoughts on the new accessories. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro introduce over 30 new capabilities and improvements, including USB-C and Dynamic Island across the lineup, as well as a new titanium design and Action button on the high-end models. We dive into some of our favorite standout features and weigh up who should consider upgrading to the latest devices.

Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.

​

If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, take a look back at our discussion with iJustine where we talk through our immediate reactions to the announcement of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, Apple Watch Series 9, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Kevin Nether, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison,... Click here to read rest of article

Article Link: The MacRumors Show: iPhone 15 Features We're Excited About and Should You Upgrade?

For the second year running I'm very underwhelmed, it's all optics, very little substance, battery even more suspect than on the 14 Pro's & heat dissipation looks an even bigger problem, photo's hit & miss, as before and flares not eliminated, although the pro photographers, film makers & content creators will be happy with the USB 3 transfer speeds.
For the rest of us, once you get past the hype, it's not a very good upgrade 😏

 

[4odomi]

My wife woke up early this morning and ordered an iPhone 15 Pro, and she received it the same day (lucky, I know). I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max white 512go, and she has an iPhone 14 Pro white 246go (and now a 15 Pro white 256 to compare). Our conclusions are the same: the improvements are welcome but really minor. However, she decided to keep the 15 Pro. The reason? We both HATE the battery life of the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. I want to upgrade mainly for this reason.

We are both passionate about photography. I have a Sony A1 with all the best GM lenses, and she has a Fuji X-T5 with all the best Fuji lenses (including the 200mm f2 and new LM R lenses). We like to use our phones for quick editing and taking photos as well. The ultra-wide lens on the 14 Pro has replaced my 16-35mm GM lens, and my bag is lighter now.

I was hoping for major camera improvements in terms of software, such as manual controls, and I wanted a longer zoom. The 5X zoom feels inadequate.

Another point to note is that the titanium material gives a very cheap feeling to such a premium device. Fortunately, we both use covers, so this won't bother us much.

My wife loved the slight weight difference, and although it's minor, we don't recommend getting the iPhone 14 if you're thinking of buying one secondhand. It's better to stick with the model you have, wait for the iPhone 16, or consider getting the 15 Pro Max if you don't want to wait. All in all, it's a better phone than the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, but it's not a revolution. These are minor incremental changes that are welcome, but you almost forget they were added after using the device for a few hours.

I'll definitely try to get a 15PM (Black)

Regarding the new iPhone colors: The new natural titanium color appears somewhat cheap. It's as if Apple skimped on the paint quality. The white variant resembles the 14P series, while the black one stands out as the most attractive this time. As for the blue option, it seems somewhat reminiscent of previous releases. It's a bit uninspiring, to say the least.

I think you'll be very disappointed if you're upgrading for better battery life, in fact some early tests indicate, you could be very,very disappointed 😏

 

[4odomi]

If you have 14, maybe.
if you have 13, yes you want to.
if you have less than 13? What are you waiting for? iPhone will not suddenly change into iCar.

I have a 13 Pro & my a Partner a 12 Pro, neither of us see any compelling reasons to upgrade, especially after seeing the early reviews.....
I'm extremely underwhelmed by what Apple is coming out with in the last 2 years 😡

 

[Randel.D]

Gonna wait from now on for all new features to actually be available before upgrading. Like, I get this new watch and - “oh cool I’m gonna be double tapping all over this town!”… ah wait never mind, guess I have the hardware for it but won’t get to enjoy it until later this year. I REALLLLLY hope they stop showing off features that aren’t available until way after release day.

 

[Nordman 52]

I think you'll be very disappointed if you're upgrading for better battery life, in fact some early tests indicate, you could be very,very disappointed 😏

Actually I’m not looking for “better” but “less worse” 🥷

 

[arw]

@Hartley, some days ago, there was a first comparison of the 3x zoom you were talking about.
iPhone 15 Pro with 77mm (3x) optical vs. iPhone 15 Pro Max with '77mm' (3x) crop of the 24mm 48MP prime lens.
So if this holds true, in the 3x zoom discipline your iPhone prevails so much in regard of details, any 'flattering distortion' aspect probably becomes of secondary importance anyhow.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/why-so-many-media-spread-false-information-about-the-iphone-cameras.2402992/post-32509331

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I hope in a future episode you talk about the software updates that came out this week. I can understand why the Iphone release would take precedence, and it was a very good discussion (Even though I was working on my new Iphone throughout the episode) but it did overshadow all the cool stuff that came out on Monday.

 

[svish]

Did not watch the show yet. Buy eagerly waiting for my Pro Max to be delivered

 

[Menneisyys2]

Most people upgrading to a 15 would be coming from older phones. My spouse just upgraded from an XR. It rarely has much impact if you are upgrading from a one year old phone. The year over year improvements aren't that large anymore as most of the hardware limitations of the early phones have been resolved. If you wait for 2-3 years then the cumulative improvements do feel like a significant jump.

Well, I certainly would have upgraded from the 14PM if the 15P had proper 8k video. I shoot video a LOT and the additional flexibility (and future-proofness) of 8k would be more than welcome. And IMHO the 12 -> 48 Mpixel jump in the 13-14 switch was also worth the upgrade alone, let alone the other camera improvements in the 14P/14PM.

Too bad this year practically nothing has happened.

 

[Skyscraperfan]

If the back really breaks that easily, it is a downgrade.

 

[gimarbazat]

The biggest feature this year is USB C😅

 

[gimarbazat]

If you have a solid working phone no need to upgrade until notch/pill is gone.