4 questions to answer if you're thinking of upgrading to the iPhone 15

Paul Martella
·Managing Editor
·3 min read
21

After months of speculation and mind reading, Apple put the rumors to rest at the tech giant’s Wonderlust event on Tuesday with the debut of its iPhone 15 lineup.

As expected, there are four models available: iPhone 15 ($799), iPhone 15 Plus ($899), iPhone 15 Pro ($999) and iPhone 15 Pro Max ($1,199). There are more bells and whistles with the high-end Pro models — which makes them pricier than the non-Pros.

[Related: Great deals on Apple’s iPhone 14 models]

And whether you're in the market for a new smartphone or your interest is piqued with the unveiling of every new Apple gadget, there are a few questions to ask yourself before upgrading to the iPhone 15 series.

When it comes to taking photos, Apple has upped its Portrait mode game for the iPhone 15 models. First off, you won’t have to be in Portrait mode to get portrait photos. You can simply activate it later in the Photos app, as long as you tap-to-focus or have a person, dog or cat in the image.

iPhone 15 detects when there’s a person in the frame and captures rich depth information automatically.
iPhone 15 detects when there’s a person in the frame and captures rich depth information automatically. (Apple)

Apple is also promising more detail and stronger color in Portrait mode, and the photos will look better in low lighting.

Do you tend to lose things — or people?

Hopefully not, but if you do, Apple’s got your back. The iPhone 15 lineup includes the Ultra Wideband chip, which can also be found in the Apple Watch Series 9 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. This upgraded chip allows you to locate other devices via the Find My app from up to three times farther away than the previous version.

With Precision Finding for Find My friends, iPhone 15 users can share their location and find each other, even in a crowded place.
With Precision Finding for Find My friends, iPhone 15 users can share their location and find each other, even in a crowded place. (Apple)

[Related: Save on Apple Watch Series 8 and first-generation Watch Ultra]

There’s also improved Precision Finding, which can help you find people who’ve shared their location with you. This feature guides you straight to your buddy with clear directions and distance indicators.

Apple unveiled its fastest processor, the A17 Pro chip, which is basically the brains of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. That means improved battery life and longer video playback (up to 23 hours for the Pro and 29 hours for the Pro Max).

The new 6-core GPU in A17 Pro enables next-level mobile gaming with fast, efficient performance and hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
The new 6-core GPU in A17 Pro enables next-level mobile gaming with fast, efficient performance and hardware-accelerated ray tracing. (Apple)

It also means you can play big-name console games such as Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Death Standing and Assassin’s Creed Mirage on the devices. This reveal suggests Apple’s renewed focus on gaming will continue for the foreseeable future.

Good news: All the iPhone 15 models have the brightest screen from Apple to date. The display achieves a peak high dynamic range (HDR) brightness of 1600 nits, so HDR photos and video look better. And peak outdoor brightness reaches up to 2000 nits, allowing crisp screen visibility on the sunniest of days.

Contact Posters in iOS 17 brings a completely new look to incoming calls.
Contact Posters in iOS 17 brings a completely new look to incoming calls. (Apple)

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, then take a closer look at the iPhone 15 models — one just might be right for you.

The information included within this article is AT&T-sponsored content written by a Currently Media editorial contributor. The statements in this article do not necessarily reflect the positions, strategies or opinions of AT&T.