Buy iPhone 15 Online
iPhone 15 Quite continuous in terms of design, evolutionary in what was expected with the hardware and two sizes to choose from so there are no fights. Do you want a smartphone with limited dimensions and weight? The iPhone 15 is a great choice. More screen? The iPhone 15 Plus. Both offer a similar experience beyond what multimedia playback implies ; with notable differences in comfort of use and manageability. Let’s see what they offer.
Design: the most continuous Apple is evident
There’s not much to say in terms of design, as both models retain the essence of the previous generations. From the outside, it’s very difficult to recognize an iPhone 15 from an iPhone 14, at least if you don’t compare the design of the rear camera with the Dynamic Island on the front . There is an evolution here.
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus stick to the strategy of inheriting some of the key elements of the previous Pro models. And finally we have the Dynamic Island in the new models, an option that, in my opinion, refreshes their design and gives them certain advantages in terms of usability . Although the pill-shaped cutout does not add much more useful surface area compared to the notch, the fact that iOS 17 uses the capabilities of Dynamic Island to enhance control of what happens on the iPhone is positive.
Apple has kept the solid aluminium body, the straight edges and noticeably softened the edges: both the iPhone 15 and the iPhone 15 Plus gain comfort in the hand , especially the larger model. The sensation offered is of the highest quality, they appear to be resistant and, although the double-sided glass does not eliminate slipping, the set does not disregard the grip either: the hold is adequate.
IP68 resistance to protect both models from dust and water, they maintain the classic button assignment on the iPhone (power on the right side and volume on the left), Apple leaves out the revision of the silent switch, keeping the typical switch (personally I prefer it), the nano SIM tray remains on the left side (the iPhone 15 offers dual SIM in Spain with an eSIM apart from the physical card) and at the bottom is another of the big changes of 2023: the USB C; perfectly centered and flanked by the holes for the external speaker and the microphone. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus maintain the double stereo speaker with the secondary one placed in the earpiece area.
The excellent design of the terminals is rounded off by the back panel made of hardened glass and tinted in a colour that matches the metal body . The pink seemed much nicer in person than I expected, and the green also suits it perfectly (or the white, although it is more classic). And with the photo module protruding in the upper left area: as usual, both models are “lame” when placed on a flat surface.
Comparing the two models in terms of design makes it clear that their main difference is comfort in handling: the iPhone 15 Plus is very large. After my experience analyzing giant mobiles, and several years using a Pro Max, my decision is clear: unless you value multimedia consumption and really need a larger screen, the iPhone 15 more than meets most needs . It is true that its autonomy is reduced compared to the Plus, a small inconvenience to assume in pursuit of greater comfort. The decision is in your hands, never better said.
Display: 60Hz is the only stumbling block
Both models feature an OLED panel that is excellent in all lighting conditions, as the Dynamic Island boasts. The iPhone 15 is the first non-Pro model to get this cutout, and it’s also the first to take advantage of the control options that iOS 17 gives to the front camera area. It lets you control playback, iPhones show whether Internet sharing is active, and many more options. In return, the front camera often gets dirty with finger grease – it’s always a good idea to clean it a bit before taking a selfie.
Beyond the Dynamic Island, which is nothing more than a small patch to take advantage of a useless area of the screen, the panels mounted by Apple in the iPhone 15 offer excellent quality. Perfectly well calibrated in color temperature and saturation, very high contrast, without noticeable variations in hue when forcing the viewing angles, the maximum brightness rises to 2,000 nits peak outdoors allowing you to see the content even in direct sunlight (Apple increases it from the 1,200 nits of the iPhone 14) and, in general, both phones make multimedia playback one of their greatest assets. Especially the iPhone 15 Plus, if only because of its larger usable surface area.
There are few drawbacks to the panels mounted by Apple in its lowest range of iPhone 15 apart from those chosen, precisely, to differentiate these ranges. This is where the incomprehensible lack of ProMotion comes in: the maximum refresh rate of the screen is 60 Hz . In my opinion, and when dealing with mobiles that are in the 1,000 euro range, having such a low refresh rate makes the visual experience with system animations, scrolling and running games at the level of the mid-range. The jumps when opening apps or scrolling are noticeable, a detail that disrupts the great work of the panels.
Touch response is no problem, the screen frames remain generous and symmetrical, Apple still does not offer an always-on display or AOD (Always On Display) on the base models , sharpness and detail are very high, TrueTone adapts the color temperature to ambient lighting conditions, Night Shift allows for more comfortable reading at night, and the minimum brightness in complete darkness does not dazzle the eyes. The iPhone 15s have proven to be very comfortable at night.
The iPhone 15 screen is protected by Ceramic Shield hardened glass, which is in principle resistant to scratches and small impacts . During my analysis, none of the models were damaged (fortunately). And, based on my own experience using the iPhone 14 Pro without a screen protector, Ceramic Shield should provide enough guarantee for the iPhone 15 screen surface to remain in good condition for quite some time.
Sound: USB C adds more versatility to audio
One of the big changes introduced by Apple in the new iPhone 15 is the USB C, that was already clear to all of us even before starting this analysis. With the disappearance of the Lightning port, it is much easier to charge phones outside the home, since it is easier to locate someone with a USB C charger and cable than with a Lightning one. And this carries over to the audio .
In terms of wired sound, both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro offer the high-quality audio we’re used to from Apple. The phones have a digital output via the USB C port, not analogue: to plug in headphones it is essential that they have an external DAC (both in the headphones themselves and in the adapter cable). Beyond this drawback, which the iPhone 15 shares with most premium Android ranges, the sound provided by the protagonists of this analysis is clear, punchy, balanced and always dependent on the listening hardware; both the external DAC and the headphones.
Bluetooth audio holds up to the expected standard, especially with Apple’s own devices: I used both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus with my AirPods Pro without noticing the slightest drop in quality. Supporting both AAC and SBC codecs, both phones support the use of virtually all wireless headphones . However, to stream lossless audio from apps like Apple Music, you’ll need compatible headphones connected via the USB-C port.
In addition to sound, the new iPhones also output video via USB C: just connect the phone to a compatible monitor or TV and the smartphone image is transferred to the big screen. This is very useful for presentations, multimedia playback or games, for example: with a connected Bluetooth controller, the iPhone 15 becomes a desktop console . The power of the Apple A16 Bionic supports this personality of the phones.
Let’s move on to the external speakers. The iPhone 15 offers dual stereo speakers: one at the bottom of the phone and another in the headphone area (top of the screen). The sound produced by the pair is very loud, not too loud at maximum volume and not booming in the bass. There is a certain preference for highs. And with a maximum sound pressure of 88 dB (measured with an external app and mobile).
Power: the performance of the iPhone 14 Pro compared to the “basic” iPhone 15
That the iPhone 15 has the Apple A16 Bionic processor is a guarantee of quality and performance; not in vain is it a SoC that has been offering very high performance in the iPhone 14 Pro. At a general level, the pair of mobiles in question behaved just as well as my iPhone 14 Pro: fast in multitasking, with very high quality in high-resolution games , I have not noticed exaggerated heating even with more than an hour running Genshin Impact at maximum quality and, as a drawback, the one I mentioned in the screen section. Yes, the 60 Hz supports the perception that the iPhone 15 is capable of everything.
In practice, they have proven to be really fast, even when it came to running the performance tests: both smartphones are on a par with the iPhone 14 Pro, their raw numbers are remarkable. Of course, we already know that benchmarks do not determine the final experience with the smartphone .
Below is the comparative table of benchmarks run on the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
iPhone 15 / iPhone 15 Plus |
iphone 14 |
iPhone 14 Pro |
Xiaomi 13 Ultra |
Honor Magic5 Pro |
SAMSUNG GALAXY S23+ |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PROCESSOR |
Apple A16 Bionic |
Apple A15 Bionic |
Apple A16 Bionic |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for Galaxy) |
RAM |
6 GB |
6 GB |
6 GB |
16 GB |
12 GB |
8 GB |
GEEKBENCH 5/6 (SINGLE/MULTI) |
2.587 / 6.423 (6) |
1.728 / 4.469 (5) |
2.508 / 6.306 (6) |
1,982 / 5,492 (6) |
1.914 / 5.049 (6) |
2.019 / 5.308 (6) |
3D MARK Wild Life Unlimited |
11.807 |
11.283 |
12.463 |
13.978 |
13.741 |
14.250 |
3D MARK Wild Life Stress Unlimited |
11,646 / 8,280 |
11.409 / 8.458 |
12.463 / 8.195 |
13.926 / 12.788 |
13,765 / 9,226 |
14.018 / 13.968 |
PCMARK WORK |
– |
– |
– |
15.048 |
14.897 |
15.823 |
They have no problem chewing through any task quickly, reliably, and without overheating, even during demanding processes. During long gaming sessions, I found both phones to be warm, but not uncomfortable to hold. When trying to drain the battery on one occasion, the temperature was a bit more noticeable: after 15 minutes of continuous 4K video recording, the temperature rose to the point of almost hitting the heat warning . Curiously, though, I only got this warning during the 30W fast charge of the iPhone 15 Plus: the iPhone 15 didn’t exceed the limits.
Even though the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are making headlines at this early stage for abnormally hot conditions during use, neither the iPhone 15 nor the iPhone 15 Plus gave me any such issues – temperatures are within the usual ranges . As I said, the heat warning did go off, although only on the iPhone 15 Plus during fast charging.
In terms of connections, there is nothing I missed: calls were clear from both my side and the other person’s , fast on WiFi and without transmission interruptions, 5G performed equally well, both allow geolocation even without battery thanks to the inclusion of Ultra Wideband (UWB), the Spanish models offer a physical nano SIM, space for a second SIM in electronic format and geolocation is at the highest level.
Battery: a leap forward that extends the time between charges
The evolution of Lightning to USB-C not only makes it easier to find a charging cable, we’ve already seen that it also expands the use of wired headphones: it’s easier and cheaper to find good USB-C adapters and headphones with a built-in DAC. And it has another advantage, one that iPhone users have been asking for for a long time: reversible charging through the physical port .
The iPhone 15 can charge other phones just by bridging it with USB C, which is a huge plus. Plus, we have to welcome the ability to recharge accessories directly from the smartphone . Who hasn’t had their watch or headphones run out of battery and been left unusable just because they didn’t have an external battery? Straight to the iPhone 15 and that’s it. Now all that’s left is for Apple to enable reverse wireless charging .
The advantages of USB C are obvious, and Android users know this well. It’s a shame that we have to say goodbye to receiving a charger with a new iPhone forever: the box still only comes with the USB C cable. Braided and of higher quality than previous models , at least in appearance. And in white, the colors of the cable do not match the color of the iPhone .
Let’s move on to the battery life data. Obviously, the iPhone 15 Plus lasts longer between charges than the iPhone 15; as long as the usage is similar. I was taking both phones out of the house using them under 5G on social media, I made intensive use of the camera, performance tests, browsing, I wasted many hours of streaming (basically under WiFi) and I also played games; both casual and graphic-intensive shooters.
The results are clear: a day of autonomy is common for both, generally a day and a half with moderate use and more than six/seven hours of screen time . On the iPhone 15 Plus, the figure can extend to up to three days using it with restraint and under WiFi. During a Sunday away from home, I went out in the morning with a charged battery and returned in the evening, after an intense day of photography in Barcelona, with 53% charge. During “hardcore” gaming sessions, the battery drain on both usually drops to around 9% discharge every fifteen minutes . According to data provided by 3D Mark, the iPhone 15 has a 3,349 mAh battery and the iPhone 15 Plus a 4,383 mAh battery.
Now it’s time to calculate the charging times. For the tests I used the MacBook Pro’s 61W USB C fast charger and the braided cable that comes standard with the phones:
- 5 minutes of charging : 8% battery on iPhone 15 and 9% on iPhone 15 Plus.
- 10 minutes of charging : 20% battery on iPhone 15 and 21% on iPhone 15 Plus.
- 15 minutes of charging : 31% battery on iPhone 15 and 32% on iPhone 15 Plus.
- 20 minutes of charging : 42% battery on iPhone 15 and 42% on iPhone 15 Plus.
- 25 minutes of charging : 52% battery on iPhone 15 and 51% on iPhone 15 Plus.
- 30 minutes of charging : 61% battery on iPhone 15 and 60% on iPhone 15 Plus.
How strange that the charging times are the same between two phones with such different capacities, right? I thought the same. And I analyzed the charging power during all the sections: the iPhone 15 Plus recharges at about 5 W more power than the iPhone 15 (reading taken at the smart plug). In the initial half of the process, the power negotiated by the iPhone 15 is a maximum of 25W; with 30 W for the iPhone 15 Plus.
At about 50% charge it drops to 20 and 25 W respectively. And when it reaches 80% the recharging stops, whether or not the battery protection mode is active: the last section can take up to an hour . Especially since with the fast charger it is common for iPhones to show the warning that an excess temperature has been recorded. With a lower power charger it has not happened to me (like the one for my iPad Pro at 20 W), although the charging times are longer.
Photography: the lack of telephoto is better covered than it seems
The strategy of subtracting potential from the most basic models is once again materialized in the iPhone 15, and that is despite the fact that Apple finally increases the megapixels of its main sensor: from the 12 latent megapixels in the iPhone 14 we go to the 48 megapixels of the iPhone 15, the same number as last year’s iPhone 14 Pro (and the same as this year’s Pro).
Of course, the fact that the resolution corresponds does not imply that the main sensor of the iPhone 15 is the same as that of the Pro: it is smaller ; which on paper reduces the capacity to capture light and detail. On paper, in practice things change.
The photography section of the two models I was analyzing is identical: you will get the same quality in the images and videos taken regardless of whether you get an iPhone 15 or an iPhone 15 Plus . These have the usual double rear camera placed diagonally and protruding noticeably from the body. Its photographic characteristics are summarized as:
- Main camera . 48-megapixel sensor, optics with f/1.6 aperture value, focal length equivalent to 26 mm and optical stabilization by sensor shift. Allows automatic image saving in 24 megapixels or 12; with shooting at the maximum capacity of the sensor, 48 megapixels. Always with the image and video processed.
- Ultra-wide-angle camera . 12-megapixel sensor, optics with f/2.4 aperture value, focal length equivalent to 13 mm and 120-degree field of view. Images are always saved at 12 megapixels and processed.
- Front camera . 12-megapixel sensor, optics with f/1.9 aperture value, focal length equivalent to 23 mm, Deep Fusion and TrueDepth.
The photography experience with both phones was at a very high level, both for the results and for the native possibilities of the shooting app. Apple still does not offer completely manual settings, although you can always supplement the lack with applications such as Halide, one of my favorites (paying, something common in the iOS ecosystem).
There are no major differences in the interface with respect to previous versions apart from assigning focal lengths to the lenses, the welcome automatic portrait mode in the default shooting or the inclusion of an electronic level to know when the shot is parallel to the horizon. Small details that complement the hidden part of greater importance: the improvement in image and video processing.
The jump in resolution from 12 megapixels on the iPhone 14 to 48 megapixels on the iPhone 15 means that shooting with the main camera can cover most requirements. And that’s a good thing, since this camera is a true all-rounder: the results in most situations are impressive, even at night . This versatility and capacity makes recommending a non-Pro iPhone even more appropriate: neither video nor image shooting is far behind in general terms.
The iPhone 15 only takes photos in compressed format: either heic or jpg, with ProRAW being reserved for higher-end models (other apps can save in RAW). The iOS app lets you choose whether to save at 12 or 24 megapixels by default: the choice will depend on whether you want to save some space or are interested in getting the best possible quality automatically .
In addition, there is the option to save at the maximum sensor resolution, 48 megapixels; always in compressed format (either heic or jpg, with the “Heif max” mode). Most of the shots I took for this review were taken at 48 manually with 24 chosen by default. The former usually do not weigh more than 10 MB, the latter tend to stay below 6 MB.
During the day, the main camera of both phones shines with muscle in the two key aspects: both hardware and software. The new sensor of the iPhone 15 takes shots with very high sharpness, even in background details: each element is still perceived quite clearly after enlarging the image to the maximum . This is more noticeable in the “Heif Max” shots; without the automatic ones losing quality, always better at 24 megapixels by default.
The colors of the scene are exactly the same as the originals, the dynamic range is very high, the focus is really fast and the subject detection helps people to always be in focus automatically . As a personal wish, I would like to see Apple implement autofocus with user-defined tracking, just like the Google Pixel does: tap on the screen and the camera will constantly keep the chosen point in focus. For shots with animals and children, it would be really good.
Despite the obvious difficulties due to the high light contrast, the iPhone 15 camera managed to deliver a good quality image while maintaining a very high level of detail, even in dark areas. The automatic HDR was not too aggressive, the colour temperature and white balance are correct, and all with a weight of 5.5 MB in 48 megapixels. It’s a shame that the main camera app does not save in ProRAW.
The HDR takes a bit more of a risk in this shot, but it comes out on top: the sky is exactly the same as in reality, and the textures of the stone are perfectly perceived even in the dark areas. At 48 megapixels in Heif Max.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus do not have a camera equipped with a telephoto lens, but they manage quite well by applying the crop trick on the 48 effective megapixels of the main sensor. All these photos are saved compressed into 12 megapixels: as long as you apply some zoom to the capture, use the wide angle, night mode or portrait mode, the camera will save at a maximum of 12 megapixels . In terms of quality, the 2x zoom can be used without problem, even the 5x; always at the risk of seeing some pixelation in the image. Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus reach a maximum of 10x hybrid: image cropping and digital zoom.
At night, the results are very good, although there are always exceptions. If the scene is evenly lit, the iPhone 15 can pull off great photos, even without activating night mode. They maintain the white balance nailed and even preserve great detail in the background, such as text. Watercolors usually appear zoomed in, which is unavoidable.
When the light is not uniform, the camera has many more problems. The night mode kicks in, trying to expand the dynamic range at the cost of some sharpening and watercoloring of dark areas. With the night mode activated, all images are saved at 12 megapixels with a large loss of information along the way.
Portrait mode on iPhones maintains the usual cropping and blurring quality, being effective not only with people, but also with animals and certain objects. It does introduce a new feature that is really useful: once selected in the camera settings, the sensor will save the depth information whenever it detects a person in the foreground ; offering the option of adjusting the focus point from the Photos app. With iOS 17, it is no longer necessary to use external applications such as Focos to choose the amount of blur or the area that will remain out of focus.
The front camera is no different from previous models, so there are no major changes in quality: self-portraits are natural, with good contouring, accurate colors and tones, and great treatment of light and detail. The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro include the option to illuminate the face with the screen flash, and the front camera can record video in up to 4K and 60 fps.
To know the quality of the photos, there is nothing like passing them through the magnifying glass in their original size and without editing: I leave in this link to Google Photos all the images I took with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus.
When it comes to video recording, both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus behave like premium models in terms of quality, image stabilization, resolution, and sharpness. Based on my tests, they have nothing to envy the Pros, at least as long as you use the main camera: it allows up to 4K and 60 fps. The results with the wide angle are much more timid, so it is generally better to refrain from using this sensor.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, Xataka’s opinion
Choosing a new iPhone means evaluating whether or not such an upgrade is worth it, it is the classic doubt whenever September comes around. In my opinion, and after what was discovered in the analysis, if you have an iPhone 13 onwards (even iPhone 12 ) it is not worth jumping to the iPhone 15. Yes, of course there are improvements that make the experience more positive , but it is not as if the evolutionary leap is gigantic.
Despite the minimal evolution, I wouldn’t say that the jump between the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 15 is a mere formality, since there are improvements that can justify the acquisition of the new models. There is the USB C and everything that it implies; from the always welcome reverse charging to finally having a more or less universal port .
The greater brightness of the screen is another notable improvement, as is the inclusion of the Dynamic Island. And, for me, betting on the 48-megapixel sensor as the main camera is what ends up tipping the balance: they have notably surprised me in photography. To the point that, saving the logical distances and always taking into account generic scenes, it is not that the results between the base iPhone 15 and the Pro differ excessively.
While the main camera is superb, and ends up surprising with its all-terrain capacity that reaches up to the usable zoom in a range of 2-5x, the wide angle continues to be very weak . There are few times that I have wanted to shoot with the secondary camera: the lack of sharpness is noticeable almost to the naked eye, also the optical deformation at the ends greatly spoils the shots.
I missed the automatic macro mode of the Pro (it is based on the telephoto, a camera that is not found in the base iPhones) and the saving in ProRAW and ProRES of the iOS 17 camera. I did find the automatic recording of depth values when the sensor detects a subject in the scene very positive. Editing the focus from the Photos app is a joy.
Both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are premium phones by all accounts, even though Apple artificially lowers the category to fit them into its price catalog . The fact that the panel refreshes at a maximum of 60 Hz spoils the visual experience, and I also don’t understand why the iPhone 15 includes USB 2.0 and the Pro goes up to 3.2 (even though it’s not really noticeable with normal use).
Small pitfalls that don’t hide the reality: both the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are the smartest choice if you’re looking for Apple’s latest phone and want to save a pinch on your budget.
I found them very comfortable in my hand, the battery life is sufficient and the power is up to par: you don’t need an Apple A17 Pro to enjoy great performance. If I had to choose, I would stick with the iPhone 15: you don’t need anything else.
Buy iPhone 15 Online: The Ultimate Guide
Are you considering upgrading to the latest iPhone 15 but not sure where to buy it online? Look no further! In this article, we will guide you through the process of purchasing the iPhone 15 online, ensuring a seamless and hassle-free experience.
Why Choose iPhone15?
The iPhone 15 is the latest offering from Apple, packed with cutting-edge features and an impressive design. With its advanced camera capabilities, enhanced processing power, and stunning display, the iPhone 15 is a must-have for tech enthusiasts and Apple fans alike. Whether you are upgrading from an older model or looking to experience the iOS ecosystem for the first time, the iPhone 15 promises to deliver an unparalleled user experience.
Where to Buy iPhone 15 Online?
When it comes to purchasing the iPhone 15 online, there are several reputable retailers and online stores that offer the latest Apple products. Some of the top online platforms to buy the iPhone 15 include:
- kwsmartphones: The official Apple website is the best place to purchase the iPhone 15, ensuring authenticity and warranty coverage for your device.
- Amazon: Amazon offers a wide selection of iPhone 15 models, including various storage capacities and color options. Plus, you can take advantage of fast shipping and secure payment options.
- Best Buy: Best Buy is another trusted retailer that carries the iPhone 15, with the option to purchase online or in-store for added convenience.
- Carrier Websites: If you are looking to buy the iPhone 15 with a carrier plan, check out the websites of major carriers such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.
Tips for Buying iPhone15 Online
Before making your purchase, here are some essential tips to ensure a smooth buying experience:
- Compare Prices: Compare prices across different online retailers to find the best deal on the iPhone 15.
- Read Reviews: Take the time to read customer reviews and ratings to make an informed decision about the product.
- Check Warranty: Verify the warranty coverage and return policy offered by the retailer before making your purchase.
- Secure Payment: Use secure payment options such as credit card or PayPal to protect your financial information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I buy the iPhone 15 unlocked?
A: Yes, you can purchase the iPhone 15 unlocked directly from the Apple Online Store, allowing you to use it with any carrier of your choice.
Q: Does the iPhone 15 come with a charger?
A: The iPhone 15 may not come with a charger in the box, as Apple has started to reduce packaging waste. However, you can purchase a charger separately if needed.
In Conclusion
Buying the iPhone 15 online is a convenient and efficient way to get your hands on the latest Apple flagship device. By following the tips and recommendations outlined in this guide, you can confidently purchase the iPhone 15 from a trusted online retailer, ensuring a seamless shopping experience and enjoying all the benefits of this cutting-edge smartphone. Get ready to elevate your tech game with the iPhone 15!
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