Should you upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro? This is how you decide (2024)

Every new iPhone usually comes with a fair number of design, performance and camera upgrades, especially the Pro models. This is especially true when it comes to the iPhone 15 Pro, according to my colleague Patrick Hollandreviewed iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Maxat launch andkept testing themduring the following month.

This doesn't necessarily mean it's worth upgrading to the latest models. These improvements don't come cheap: the iPhone 15 Pro starts at $1,000 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199. These prices become easier to accept with trade-in offers from carriers, but such discounts often require very specific circ*mstances, such as opening a new line or trading in a relatively new phone.

Like the regular iPhone 15, the Pro model is ideal for those with an older model, such as the iPhone 12 or earlier. There is a lot that is new with the iPhone 15 Pro, such as the titanium body andnew action button, which makes the phone feel fresh and different compared to the iPhone 14 Pro. If you have a device that's several years old, you'll likely find that longer battery life and performance improvements are the driving factors behind your decision to upgrade.

Check out the comparisons below to decide if now is the right time to upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro. If you're considering the standard iPhone 15 instead, give it a tryour separate upgrade guide.

See this:One month check-in: We tested the batteries of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max

10:13

iPhone 15 Pro versus iPhone 14 Pro

The iPhone 15 Pro brings several improvements over the iPhone 14 Pro, including a lighter titanium construction, the Action button for programming shortcuts, a USB-C port for universal charging and a camera that comes standard with 24 megapixels. can take photos. Apple also claims that the new A17 Pro processor can do thatrun console games.

As with previous Pro models, the iPhone 15 Pro also includes some extras for mobile photographers and filmmakers. For example, videographers may appreciate the ability to record in the log video format, making it easier to match footage from other devices with projects shot with more than one camera. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also has one5x telezoom, allowing it to take photos closer than the 3x setting on the iPhone 14 Pro.

Because the iPhone 15 Pro features Apple's second-generation ultra-wideband chip, you can use your iPhone to more easily find another user's location in the Find My app. This feature only works with other iPhone 15 owners as it requires Apple's new hardware. Ultra-Broadband is the proximity sensing technology found in iPhone 11 and later that makes it easier to send files to other devices via AirDrop and use your phone as a digital car key.

Most of these changes further differentiate the iPhone 15 Pro from the regular iPhone 15 and make Apple's premium phone a more attractive option for those who want faster performance and a more capable camera. You don't necessarily need to upgrade if you already have an iPhone 14 Pro.

While these tools are useful, they are niche activities and may not have much of an impact on the day-to-day experience, especially if you don't use your phone for film projects. While the action button is useful, it is also a bit limiting in its current form, as it can only activate one function at a time. As mentioned in CNET's iPhone 15 Pro review, there's potential for the Action button to add more to the iPhone experience in the future, especially if Apple allows more types of shortcuts to be programmed.

Read more:iPhone 15 Pro a month later: good battery life, fast performance

The A17 Pro is another example of a new feature that will likely become more attractive over time as more games are optimized for it. The console versions of Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Death Stranding and Assassin's Creed Miragewill be available for iPhone 15 Pro, and I see the iPhone 15 Pro becoming more attractive to gamers when it supports more than a few titles.

It comes down to:Don't upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro yet. Performance and battery life are probably still in good shape, meaning there's plenty of life left in your phone. Some of the iPhone 15 Pro's most exciting new features, like the A17 Pro processor and the Action button, are likely to improve over time, meaning it's fine to wait for the next model, or even on the model after that. Unless you can get the iPhone 15 Pro essentially for free through a trade-in, it's worth the wait

iPhone 15 Pro versus iPhone 13 Pro

The iPhone 13 Pro is only 2 years old, so it probably still runs smoothly and the battery life is long enough to get you through the day without any worries. Since it has a relatively new camera and processor, photos taken with this phone look sharp and colorful enough to post to your Instagram feed, share with friends, and even print small copies to hang on your wall to hang.

The iPhone 15 Pro isn't a necessary upgrade for iPhone 13 Pro owners, but there are plenty of new features for those who decide to take the plunge. You can charge the iPhone 15 Pro with the same cable you probably use for other non-Apple products, since it has USB-C. The camera has a sensor with a higher resolution, so you can capture more details with 48 megapixel or 24 megapixelcompared to the 12 megapixel sensor on the iPhone 13 Pro. In addition, there is the new titanium design and the action button.

Don't forget, you also get everything that came with last year's iPhone 14 Pro, like Dynamic Island and Always-on Display. Together, these changes, along with the action button, could make it easier to multitask without having to jump between apps. You also get registration of car accidents and the possibility to do socontact emergency services via satelliteif you're in a remote area, as both features were already on the iPhone 14 Pro last year.

In short: The iPhone 15 Pro isn't an upgrade you need, but it might be an upgrade you want from an iPhone 13 Pro. Apple's 2-year-old iPhone still has a lot going for it, so don't upgrade yet if you're still happy with it. Investing in the iPhone 15 Pro feels like more than just an updated version of your current phone. Be sure to check if you qualify for a trade-in discount.

iPhone 15 Pro versus iPhone 12 Pro

See Also

Apple iPhone 14 Pro vs. iPhone 14: One is new, the other is not

The iPhone 12 Pro is very similar to the iPhone 13 Pro, so the same general advice applies. There are more arguments for an upgrade as the iPhone 12 Pro's processor is older, meaning it may slow down.

Battery life is also likely to get a dramatic boost considering the iPhone 12 Pro is now 3 years old. One of the biggest changes from the iPhone 13 Pro was longer battery life, and Apple has made further improvements since then. Compared to the iPhone 12 Pro's estimated 17 hours of video playback, the iPhone 15 Pro would get 23 hours.

The screen is brighter on Apple's new phone, meaning it's likely to be more visible outdoors in bright sunlight. The iPhone 12 Pro also lacks ProMotion, Apple's brand name for displays that can increase their refresh rate, which should make scrolling on the iPhone 15 Pro feel smoother.

Apple has also added a number of new photography features across generations, such as Macro Mode and Photo Styles, which let you customize a specific look based on how the camera should take photos. There's also a cinematic mode for capturing images with shallow depth of field.

These are just some of the aspects that distinguish the iPhone 12 Pro from the iPhone 13 Pro. Don't forget, you also get everything else Apple has added over the years, from the action button to the Dynamic Island, lighter titanium construction, car accident detection and emergency SOS via satellite.

It comes down to:The iPhone 15 Pro is a worthwhile upgrade over the iPhone 12 Pro, but you should only upgrade if you start to notice a slowdown in performance and battery life.

iPhone 15 Pro versus iPhone 11 Pro

The iPhone 11 Pro is now 4 years old, which means it's a good time to upgrade if you feel like your phone isn't what it used to be. Aside from the jump from a 4-year-old processor to Apple's brand new A17 Pro, almost everything else will feel new, from the screen to the camera.

Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 11 Pro doesn't support 5G, so you may miss out on faster connection speeds. Apple only added 5G compatibility to its phones when the iPhone 12 launched in 2020.

The iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max have smaller screens than the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, giving you some extra space for watching videos, reading news, and browsing email. The 11 Pro has a 5.8-inch screen, while the 11 Pro Max has a 6.5-inch screen, compared to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max's respective 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens . There is much more news about the display of the iPhone 15 Pro; size is just the beginning. You also get Dynamic Island, ProMotion, always-on mode and increased brightness.

Camera quality is another area where you're sure to see a lot of improvement. Because the iPhone 11 Pro's camera is four generations old, you get the culmination of all the photo and video improvements Apple has added over the years.

See this:I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max: was it worth it?

08:36

In addition to the new 48 megapixel sensor and previously mentioned features such as film mode and the ability to turn almost any photo into a portrait, you can also take portraits in night mode and photos in night mode with the front camera. You also get a smaller optical zoom (3x on the 15 Pro, 5x on the 15 Pro Max) compared to the iPhone 11 Pro's 2x zoom. Apple's image processing pipeline has also improved over the years, so you should see an improvement in overall image quality as well.

The iPhone 11 Pro is also missing onelidar-sensor, which isn't a dealbreaker but could be important depending on what you use your phone for. The depth-sensing capabilities of the Lidar sensor can help the camera focus faster, improve performance in augmented reality apps, and enable accessibility features like People Detection, which helps blind users see when other people are nearby.

With the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you can also use MagSafe accessories, like cases and wireless chargers that snap more easily onto the back of your phone. Don't forget all the other features Apple introduced in the last two years, like the action button, emergency satellite connection, and car accident detection.

In short: If you have an iPhone 11 Pro, it's probably worth upgrading. From 5G to an all-new processor, a larger screen, multitasking features like the Action button and Dynamic Island, and a superior camera, everything about this phone will feel new. If you bought the cheapest version of the iPhone 11 Pro at launch, you'll probably also struggle with storing photos and videos, as the entry-level model only had 64GB of storage, compared to the 128GB found on newer iPhones .

iPhone 15 Pro versus iPhone XS

The iPhone has come a long way in the past five years, and it shows when you compare the 2018 iPhone XS to the iPhone 15 Pro. The iPhone

By upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro you get all the features listed above in our iPhone 11 Pro comparison. That includes 5G support, a much sharper camera, more camera modes, MagSafe compatibility, a depth-sensing lidar sensor and a larger and brighter screen (5.8 inches versus 6.1 inches for the regular Pro, 6.5 inches versus 6 .7 inches for the ProMax).

Apple has added a handful of new features starting with the iPhone 11, which the iPhone XS family also doesn't have, making an even stronger case for an upgrade. Most notable is the camera's night mode, which means you hardly have to use your camera's flash when taking photos in dark environments. There's also the aforementioned ultra-wide camera, a sharper front camera (7 megapixels versus 12 megapixels) and the ultra-wideband chip.

This is just the beginning, as there's plenty more new in the iPhone 15 Pro, from significantly longer battery life to the Dynamic Island and 48-megapixel camera.

It comes down to:If you have an iPhone XS or XS Max, it's time to upgrade. Apple's 5-year-old phone lacks basic features like 5G, and its performance and battery life will likely decline soon, if it hasn't already. The iPhone XS is also the last generation to get new iOS version updates, meaning you'll be missing out on new features next year.