iPhone 15 Pro Why upgrade from 15 Pro?

[BeatCrazy]

You know you can pinch to 3x, right?

That's a digital crop or zoom. The 3X lens on a 15 Pro is a 77mm equivalent focal length, and provides a different FOV vs. a 'pinch to zoom'.

 

[FatLouie]

At the first of this year, I went from a 7 Plus to a 15 Plus, and did so only due to iOS 15 would no longer support some of the apps I was using, or wanted. I chose the 15 Plus as it will not qualify for AI. I see nothing compelling in the 16 or 17 series that would drive me to upgrade.

Of course, I am completely hosed on the iPad Pro M4 and I will have to disable AI on it, as I did on my Studio. It is what it is.

 

[NewOldStock]

This is a good question..ha ha.

 

[max2]

you aren't.
iPhone 15 pro is great.
The only way they can make it better in any tangible way is the battery life.

I think 5 years is a good upgrade cycle these days. I went from an 8 Plus to a 14, and I don’t intend to upgrade until the 19, when I might consider a Pro Max, should the product lineup not change too drastically, and if I can afford one.

If your 15 Pro has no faults, there’s no reason to even start considering upgrades, unless something launches with some killer features that you must have.

The better battery life is what is needed but 2 days doubtful and definitely a week will never happen because I want this kind of battery life when using the phone in great demand. Like mobile gaming or whatever is most demanding. It is not important that I do not use my phone for that. It just helps everyone if it can get that kind of battery life even in demanding tests! So that would mean even better battery life with people who keep brightness all the way up or very close to it. Plus even if you do not mobile game no big deal. Not sure if there anything else more demanding maybe.

 

[Dr McKay]

If you're happy with it, stick with it. The only reason I upgraded from my 13 Pro Max was to the 15 Pro was it having USB C.

 

[FatLouie]

If you're happy with it, stick with it. The only reason I upgraded from my 13 Pro Max was to the 15 Pro was it having USB C.

As I recall, the USB-C was the reason I opted for the 15+ over the less expensive 14.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Reviewing posts on the iPhone 16 models and the forthcoming 17 models, I can't but think that the 15 Pro has its all, including capabilities in iOS 26 and AI - but what am I missing?

Camera. If you do not perceive the camera differences [some of us do] then perhaps the 15 Pro will remain just fine for you. But I would also state that none of us have held a 17 Pro yet, so wait and actually test out a 17 Pro.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Agreed.

Not only am I not looking to upgrade, my take is that this 15 Pro has set the bar.

It represented a significant upgrade on my 12 Pro which served me well. As stated, nothing in the 16 series nor the leaked info on the upcoming 17 series comes across as anything as meaningful.


Many thanks for other feedback, including that from @1rottenapple [sic] that I should rely on ChatGBT rather than engage here.

BTW, ChatGBT replied with

"You're absolutely right to ask this now—iPhone 15 Pro is a high-performing phone, and iOS 18 (formerly referred to as iOS 26 in some speculative circles or naming confusion) adds a serious boost with Apple Intelligence."

& advised:

Upgrade to 16 Pro if:

• You want the best possible Apple Intelligence performance. [not fussed]
• You plan to use Vision Pro extensively (especially spatial video). [not applicable]
• You value battery gains, display size, and ergonomic upgrades like the Capture button. [am content with present]

Wait for iPhone 17 if:

• You care about long-term value and possibly a true design revamp with more AI-focused architecture. [possibly, but]

"If you're on the 15 Pro, you’re not missing much—yet. But Apple is clearly betting big on AI as the next frontier, and that’s where the newer models will increasingly shine."

IMO it is very telling that you list all those things and do not mention the elephant in the room the camera.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

My upgrade from a mini 13 to 16 was great. The satellite SOS is huge for my adventures hiking. Other than commands are better I guess ie reminders lol. Seriously it’s pretty mundane. USB c is nice. Camera button is eh inconvenient placement.

The camera button is Apple's UI attempt to lead users to better camera technique. As a photog I find it often very useful, using it on about half of my captures. However basic iPhone users seem intent on continuing with poor photographic technique.

 

[StrollerEd]

I really enjoy taking photographs with my iPhone, the always with me camera, so thank you @Allen_Wentz for the prompt to look again at the difference in camera capability between the 15 Pro and the 16 Pro.

On the technology side, there is a difference,

which some can perceive in performance, as per

iPhone 16 Pro vs 15 Pro: Subtle But Real Differences

Is the iPhone 16 Pro worth the upgrade from the 15 Pro? We compare photo, video, skin tones, and more—plus free project files to try yourself.

www.thefilmalliance.com

But do you judge that to be a significant difference?

The zoom perhaps, although if I'm after shots requiring a zoom, that might be when a proper camera comes into its own.

btw, I already use the side button on the 15 Pro to get me straight to the camera when the prospect of a good shot suddenly occurs.

 

[jz0309]

I really enjoy taking photographs with my iPhone, the always with me camera, so thank you @Allen_Wentz for the prompt to look again at the difference in camera capability between the 15 Pro and the 16 Pro.

On the technology side, there is a difference,

View attachment 2534122

which some can perceive in performance, as per

iPhone 16 Pro vs 15 Pro: Subtle But Real Differences

Is the iPhone 16 Pro worth the upgrade from the 15 Pro? We compare photo, video, skin tones, and more—plus free project files to try yourself.

www.thefilmalliance.com

But do you judge that to be a significant difference?

The zoom perhaps, although if I'm after shots requiring a zoom, that might be when a proper camera comes into its own.

btw, I already use the side button on the 15 Pro to get me straight to the camera when the prospect of a good shot suddenly occurs.

Wasn't your original question about the 17?
The rumors are about a significantly (to me) tele lens with up to 8x optical zoom...

 

[Allen_Wentz]

I really enjoy taking photographs with my iPhone, the always with me camera, so thank you @Allen_Wentz for the prompt to look again at the difference in camera capability between the 15 Pro and the 16 Pro.

On the technology side, there is a difference,

View attachment 2534122

which some can perceive in performance, as per

iPhone 16 Pro vs 15 Pro: Subtle But Real Differences

Is the iPhone 16 Pro worth the upgrade from the 15 Pro? We compare photo, video, skin tones, and more—plus free project files to try yourself.

www.thefilmalliance.com

But do you judge that to be a significant difference?

The zoom perhaps, although if I'm after shots requiring a zoom, that might be when a proper camera comes into its own.

btw, I already use the side button on the 15 Pro to get me straight to the camera when the prospect of a good shot suddenly occurs.

The side button on the 15 is a good way to go straight to the camera but is does nothing for improving photo technique. The Camera Control button on the 16 Pro and presumably also on the 17 Pro, in addition to facilitating quick camera access, quickly positions the photog into proper hand position for a landscape orientation capture (the UI posture non-phone cameras evolved to over 100 years). Personally I use the Camera Control button on about half of my captures, and I wish the button was a little bit more tactile.

Smartphone cameras are complex beasts: inseparable lenses, UI and computational photography. IMO any kind of specifications analysis comparing one year to some coming generation is therefore largely useless. We need to test each complete camera system.

We do not know how such complex camera systems will perform until we actually see them perform. Which is why I say we need to simply to wait and see the 17 Pros before making any kind of definitive comparison.

The good news is that every year Apple has improved the iPhones Pros' (non-Pro versions, Airs, foldables, etc. are different beasts) cameras. So we can reasonably expect to again see improvements next month. Each user will need to check out the improvements after new iPhone Pros are released and see if an upgrade suits them.