The iPhone 15 is up for preorder now — here’s who should (and shouldn’t) upgrade

It’s September, and you know what that means: Apple just revealed new iPhones that have everyone pondering if it’s time to upgrade. The new $799 iPhone 15, $899 iPhone 15 Plus, $999 iPhone 15 Pro and $1,199 iPhone 15 Pro Max all look like compelling options, and they’re all available for preorder right now. Each offers upgraded performance and cameras, and all feature a USB-C port, which replaces the Lightning port that lasted over a decade.

Naturally, these iPhone 15 models differ across the line with varying specs and features. Just like last year’s lineup, these 2023 iPhones feature big differences between the Pro and non-Pro models, as Apple gives people extra reasons to spend more on its pricier smartphones. The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max’s biggest standout features are its new camera tricks, the Action button and upgraded A17 processor.

You should upgrade to the iPhone 15 if …

You love taking portrait photos

No matter which iPhone 15 model you’re looking at, Apple’s offering better portrait mode photography this year. We’re already used to seeing portrait photos with great contrast, but Apple announced the iPhone 15 lineup will shoot portrait photos with more detail and stronger color. These shots will also look better in low-light situations.

But now you won’t actually have to tap the portrait mode button to use this feature. You can simply activate it later in the Photos app on the iPhone, iPad and Mac, as long as you tapped-to-focus, or have a person, dog or cat in the image.

You’re always trying to find things and people

If you’re the kind of person who loses stuff constantly, you’ll be happy that Apple’s baking its new second-generation Ultra Wideband chip (also found in the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2) into the new iPhone 15 lineup. Devices with this chip can locate each other via Find My from up to three times farther away than with the previous generation.

This lets you use Apple’s detailed Precision Finding (also used with the Apple AirTag) to find other people. So, no matter if you can’t find your friend in a crowded venue or you’re just trying to find where you left your iPhone with your Apple Watch, Apple’s 2023 lineup will help you track it all down quickly.

You need a brighter screen

With each year, Apple’s iPhones become easier to read in the brightest of conditions. While the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus hit a maximum brightness of 800 nits (with a peak brightness of 1,200 nits), the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus panels achieve a peak HDR brightness of 1,600 nits and a peak outdoor brightness of 2,000 nits.

If those numbers are familiar, it may be because Apple hit those same targets with the iPhone 14 Pro. This is one of those situations where today’s Pro iPhone features become tomorrow’s regular iPhone specs, a practice we’ve begun to expect.

You should upgrade to the iPhone 15 Pro if …

You want to play top-tier video games on your phone

While the iPhone 15 (and iPhone 15 Plus) get yesteryear’s A16 Bionic chip, the iPhone 15 Pro features the new A17 Pro. The biggest difference to most people will come in improved battery life, as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are rated for up to?23 and 29 hours of video playback, respectively, while the iPhone 15 (20 hours) and iPhone 15 Plus (26 hours) each get three hours less than their counterparts.

But the most surprising news came when Apple revealed that the A17 Pro’s new GPU will let you play big-name console games such as Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil 4 Remake, Death Stranding and Assassin’s Creed Mirage on the iPhone 15 Pro. Apple’s also added hardware-accelerated ray tracing for better lighting.

Mirage may not hit the iPhone until 2024 (months after its October 2023 release), but that’s a much shorter window between consoles and Apple hardware than we’ve seen before. While the iPhone doesn’t have the same kinds of games that you see on the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, this reveal suggested that Apple’s renewed focus on gaming will continue to surprise.

You’re a shutterbug

Apple’s camera tech is what truly puts the “Pro” in iPhone 15 Pro. Now the 48-megapixel main camera introduced with the iPhone 14 Pro features three new popular focal length settings: 24mm, 28mm and 35mm, which help you control how much of the scene you’re shooting.

Need the sharpest photos possible? The iPhone 15 Pro’s 48-megapixel camera can also shoot HEIF images that feature 4x greater resolution. The iPhone 15 Pro Max also introduces Apple’s longest optical zoom to date, the 5x Telephoto camera, which offers a 120mm focal length by reflecting light four times off of a tetraprism glass structure.

For those who know what all those terms mean, I can’t wait to see the photos you shoot on your new iPhone 15 Pro.

You’re a tinkerer

The iPhone 15 and 15 Pro ditch the Mute switch for the new Action button, but the move shouldn’t confuse anyone. This new toggle functions the same way by default, letting you switch between ringing and silent modes.

Those who like to poke around, though, will notice that you can use this new button to do all kinds of things. Now you can activate the camera, start recording a Voice Memo, enable a Focus mode and much more, all with a single click. The Shortcuts app will let you tie the Action button to an app of your choice, and much more.

You should skip the iPhone 15 if …

You’re happy with the Lightning port

One of the biggest pieces of news with the iPhone 15 is on its bottom edge, where Apple finally switched its proprietary Lightning port for the more universal USB-C.

This is great for folks who have been waiting for the iPhone to move to the same cable that charges its MacBooks and many of its iPads, but those who own many Lightning cables and Lightning-based accessories may be frustrated. Who wants to buy more adapters on top of buying a new phone?

You want a small phone

Apple continues to only put its latest and greatest tech into iPhones that measure 6.1 inches and up, as this year’s iPhone 15 models only come in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch form factors. So, for anyone who misses the era where smaller phones were available, Apple will point you toward the 4.7-inch third-generation iPhone SE.

You still don’t want the Dynamic Island

Once an iPhone 14 Pro exclusive, the Dynamic Island is now available on every iPhone 15 model. This software touch turns the notch into its own little display area for bite-size information, and is used by everything from AirPods to flight-tracking applications. If you don’t see this as a perk, and more of a distraction, you might want to skip a year to see what Apple does next.

Stay tuned, as we’ll have reviews of the entire iPhone 15 lineup soon!