It’s inevitable. Each new iPhone launch always sparks immense interest. Apple’s annual iPhone refresh (typically every September) has become one of the most anticipated tech events in the year. This year was no exception. At a time when smartphones seem to have hit a saturation point, the iPhone 15 quartet — particularly, the top-of-the-line iPhone 15 Pro devices come with a slew of new features. According to Bloomberg, Apple launched India-built iPhone 15 units for purchase in India and other regions on the first day of sales. This is the first time India-made iPhones arrived on the same day as iPhones manufactured in China.
One of the most welcome changes is USB-C charging. Apple finally has done away with its trademark Lighting cable and opted for a more universal USB-C charging. This was widely expected given new EU regulations on charging standards. This doesn’t just make it more convenient — no need to carry multiple chargers on a short business trip, but also bumps up data transfer speeds (20x according to Apple) with support for USB 3. But this is not a feature unique to the iPhone. We list out 9 new features that are being introduced for the first time on the iPhone 15 series that has hit retail shelves in India along with key global markets.
Titanium build
First, it was the Apple Watch Ultra in 2022. The new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max feature a lightweight yet strong titanium design. Titanium is used in spacecraft and has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios of any metal. The new Pro twins are 10 per cent lighter than their predecessors and feel much nicer in your hand.
Go green
The Lightweight titanium design encases a new substructure that’s made with 100 per cent recycled aluminium. It’s one of many moves that Apple has adopted to meet its carbon neutrality goals by 2030. This year we also saw the debut of Apple’s first carbon-neutral product — the Apple Watch Series 9. The iPhone 15 devices feature a battery with 100 per cent recycled cobalt. Apple has also ditched it’s leather back cases for a new woven fabric case made with 68 per cent post-consumer recycled content that has significantly lower carbon emissions compared to leather.
Action button
We’ve seen smartphones with a dedicated camera key, Apple takes it further with an Action Button. It was one of our favourite features on the 2022 Apple Watch Ultra and now replaces the mute switch on the iPhone 15 Pro versions. This is a handy hot key that can be configured as a shortcut for functions that you use on a regular basis. We think it works best as a camera quick launch key.
Qi2 wireless charging
While the new iPhones aren’t officially Qi2-certified yet, they become the first phones to ship with the new Qi2 wireless charging standard. This new update adds an additional ring of magnets to ensure proper alignment of charging coils. It could also mean faster wireless charging speeds for the new iPhones. We’ve already seen a slew of new Qi2 chargers debut from brands like Belkin this month.
The A17 Pro Chip
Apple calls this the industry’s first 3-nanometer chip that speeds up device performance. The A17 Pro is at the heart of the iPhone 15 Pro/ Pro Max and is the biggest GPU redesign in Apple’s history. The pro-class GPU is up to 20 percent faster and unlocks entirely new experiences, featuring a new 6-core design that increases peak performance and energy efficiency.
Console gaming on your smartphone
Apple showed off the capabilities of the new processor and hardware-accelerated ray tracing (which is 4x faster than software-based ray tracing) at its Wonderlust event where the 2023 iPhones were first unveiled. The iPhone 15 Pro twins will see the debut of console titles (like Resident Evil Village and Assassin’s Creed Mirage) for the first time on a smartphone.
4K 60 FPS Waw video recording
Some of the biggest updates on the iPhone 15 devices are around the camera. Apple has increased the base storage variant of the Pro Max (it’s now 256GB). You’ll need that extra storage if you want to shoot Raw videos on 4K 60 FPS. It gives you greater control if you’re a pro videographer.
24MP super-high-resolution default
Apple finds the balance between image quality and a practical file size (for storing and sharing) with a new 24MP super-high-resolution default size, that’s an industry first. The 48MP main camera is backed with the power of computational photography and shoots terrific images at a high resolution. We also like the new feature where you can snap portrait images without having to switch to Portrait Mode. If there’s a person (or even a dog or cat in the frame), you can turn these photos into portraits with a tap to focus option.
Tetraprism design
Zoom photography has become one of the new battlegrounds for flagship smartphones. The 12MP telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro Max features a 5x zoom at 120 mm that’s great for wildlife images and also catching sporting action from a distance. The telephoto camera features a tetraprism design (that bends the light path four times before it hits the sensor) with a combined OIS (Optical Image stabilisation) and autofocus 3D sensor-shift module.
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