Apple’s new iPhone 15 series goes on sale in stores today.
While customers are eager to get their hands on the new flagship phones, tech experts have already identified some great, and not so great things about the iPhone 15.
As it turns out, there’s a lot more to the EU’s favorite charging port than we were expecting.
In Apple’s move to make the iPhone easier and cheaper to repair, the matte glass back is now removable and replaceable independently of the rest of the phone. While the features and changes in the iPhone 15 turned out to be exactly what RepairDesk had predicted, the USB-C port remains the main highlight.
This blog covers everything you need to know about the iPhone 15, including the hidden potential of the USB-C port.
How to Identify an iPhone 15 as a Repair Technician
For starters, let’s cover one of the challenges faced by repair technicians – identifying an original iPhone when they receive a repair order. Officially, the iPhone 15 can be identified by one of the following model numbers. The printing is on the inside back of the USB-C port and you can see it when you put the phone screen-side down.
- A2846
- A3089
- A3090
- A3092
Apart from the printing, you can also check the model number from the UI in the Settings app. Tapping on General > About takes you to a number listed in the Model Number Section. It will be shown in a similar format as the numbers mentioned above. Moreover, customers can identify their devices through Apple’s quick online tool: Identify your iPhone model.
The Much Awaited Shift to USB-C
The iPhone 15, 15 Plus, 15 Pro, and 15 Pro Max are the first phones to change the charging port since Apple switched from their 30-pin connector to Lightning port in 2012. While Android users have had the USB-C for quite some time, Apple chose to stick with the Lightning port. Naturally, we are getting mixed reviews as Apple users finally get the USB-C connector.
Apple was forced to switch the connector as new EU rules require all smartphones to have the USB-C charging port by autumn 2024. On the surface, we just see a port that has been here for quite some time. But if we dig deeper, there is more to it than we think.
To begin with, you can use the iPhone 15’s USB-C connector to convert the smartphone into a power bank. “Basically what we found is if you plug into your friend’s Android phone who has more battery than you, and that phone has USB PD, it will actually act like a battery bank,” explains Marques Brownlee, a renowned tech head and YouTuber.
“But if the phone doesn’t have the USB PD, which is a bunch actually right now, it’s pretty inconsistent and you could end up charging it or it could end up charging you.” he continues.
Some also believe that the introduction of USB-C will bring together Apple and Android users. While all that sounds nice, there are still some drawbacks. The non-Pro 15 and 15 Plus models only support USB 2 speeds—the same as outgoing Lightning. So it is safe to say that Apple has continued the trend of introducing very minor changes in the non-pro phones.
The Pro Phones Take the Trophy
It’s not just the charging speeds that are slower on the non-pro models. This year, the iPhone 15 gets the dynamic island, matte back glass, and aluminum side rails instead of stainless steel. But the Pro models take the game to a whole new level. The Pro phones support faster transfer speeds through USB 3, which means they are capable of 10 Gbps, or 20x faster than last year’s 14 series. Given the higher quality and size of the photos and videos you are going to take using the new phones, you will definitely need that boost.
Matching M2 Macbook Performance
According to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max benchmarks, the GPU performance has improved on both of the new flagship models. The new A17 Pro chip, which is based on a 3nm pattern, is equipped with 6 GPU cores that are up to 20 percent faster than its predecessor and offers improved efficiency.
In comparison with the iPhone 15 Plus with its A16 Bionic chip, the iPhone 15 Pro renders a larger number of frames with the Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen test. The 15 Pro models can render about 8 more frames per second than the iPhone 15 Plus in the benchmark test, as per the report. During the Normal Tier Offscreen test, the Pro model reportedly rendered 10 more frames per second than the iPhone 14 Pro that was launched last year.
Camera
While the individual improvements in cameras do not sound like a major change, the camera system as a whole does. Apple has introduced its biggest camera improvement with a 48-megapixel (MP) sensor to its standard smartphone lineup. That means enhanced light-gathering capabilities and 24MP output from the terrific main sensor.
Moreover, the camera will now have a proper 2x zoom that uses the central sensor for 12 MP photos. But again, the iPhone 15 lacks the longer telephoto lens that Apple has introduced in the Pros. Even though its the least-used lens on the Pro models, this is still a notable difference.
Drawbacks of the iPhone 15 Series
To put it simply, users and tech geeks are disappointed with the following few characteristics of the iPhone 15 line up:
- No faster charging
- Boring colors
- No free home screen grid
- Lack of multiple triggers for the action button
- Higher starting price on the Pro Max
In a Nutshell
Apple’s USB-C introduction may be the right decision in terms of usability and compliance with the rules, but we have yet to discover the true benefits of the universal charging port. Users looking for Android-like fast charging simply cannot get it with the iPhone 15, as it still charges at 20W. To get somewhat closer, you can buy the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
