Time for titanium – new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max raise the bar

The new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are now in stores and reviewers are already impressed – especially with the top-of-the-line Pro Max, which takes camera phone photography and smartphones to a new level.

At The Techout we wanted to give you the rundown on these new additions to the Apple range – plus in store we stock a range of screen protectors and cases to keep your new iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max in pristine condition.

In case you’re new to iPhones, the Pro models are essentially the ‘executive’ version of the standard iPhone 15, whereas the Pro Max is the larger Plus version on steroids!

You can read more about the new iPhone 15 range in general and the standard iPhone 15 model as well as the larger iPhone 15 Plus in our recent post, but this article will highlight the new (and impressive) additions to the flagship end of the range.

See below for a breakdown on the Pro and Pro Max and the particularly impressive Pro Max photography, but first we’ll look at what both have in common.

Design: The new iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are both given titanium casing for Apple’s newest generation, replacing the former steel cases and – Apple says – made from the same stuff as the NASA Mars rover.

This means it’s tough, durable, lighter and corrosion proof. Both the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are a little lighter than previous models as a result.

There are some subtle changes to the design, with a new and more rounded casing style, available in four colours - black titanium, white titanium, blue titanium and natural titanium.

Performance: Both models have Apple’s brand new super-fast A17 Pro chip, which will cope with anything you want to throw at it, from video streaming and high tech video editing to console standard gaming (albeit on a smaller screen). Reviewers are suggesting it may be one of the fastest smartphones money can buy right now.

Dynamic Island: Both new models also have the Dynamic Island, a new screen within a screen that replaces the trademark ‘notch’ that’s been on iPhone screens since time began. It contains information, notifications and is interactive, so you get more info by tapping on it.

This feature was in the former iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max so it’s not new to the top of the line, but is now standard across the iPhone 15 range.

Action button: This new button sits where the old ‘ringer off’ switch used to be and while that is still on the standard iPhone 15 and Plus models, the Pro and Pro Max have a completely new function.

The button is a default ring/silence control but it does much, much more and is programmable to offer you a range of functions at the touch of a button.

These include a preferred Focus Mode (with detailed controls inside the Action button settings page), turn the flashlight on, launch voice memos, become a digital magnifying glass, run a shortcut, offer instant access to accessibility features and launch the camera as well as take pictures.

Both models have the Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection functions that means the phone can detect if you are involved in a serious car crash and automatically call the emergency services as well as alert family or a trusted contact with your location.

The new iPhone 15 Pro – what does it offer?

The iPhone 15 Pro is available in four storage variants – 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

Great data transfer: In addition to the new features included in the standard iPhone 15 and the ones we’ve already mentioned above, the iPhone 15 Pro makes great use of the new USB C connector, which allows for high speed data transfer.

In other words, imagine connecting your iPhone to a MacBook, taking pictures or video and having them appear almost instantly on your Mac.

It only works with Apple ProRes video, but you can film high quality footage and have it record to an external storage device such as a Mac. This is an excellent tool for professional videographers or perhaps social media influencers who need top quality video from the get go.

And the new A17 Pro chip handles it effortlessly.

Display: The iPhone 15 Pro has the same 6.1-inch Super XDR OLED screen as the previous 14 Pro, which also includes Apple’s ProMotion technology – this varies the refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, depending on the content displayed, making it super responsive.

Camera and photography: The iPhone 15 Pro has a similar triple lens set up with a 48MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide and a 12MP 3x telephoto lens. Plus the 12MP front-facing TrueDepth selfie camera.

It has a new default 24MP shooting mode that uses a combination of the best fused 12MP and the full 48MP of the main camera to add great detail to images while keeping them true to life and not going overboard on adding extra colour that wasn’t in the original.

Apple says it is like ’having seven pro lenses in your pocket’. 

As with the iPhone 15, the Pro will also recognise if you are photographing a person, dog or cat and allow you to convert images to Portrait Mode after the fact, switching the point of focus from one subject to another and changing the depth of field.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max new cameras really do take things to another level, so if photography is your thing, see below!

Battery: Apple has quoted 23 hours of video playback for the iPhone 15 Pro, which puts it in line with its predecessor, the iPhone 14 Pro.

It also supports MagSafe and Qi wireless charging.

The Techout verdict

The iPhone 15 Pro is a great phone and the new A17 Pro chip is arguably Apple’s most powerful to date, so if you want pro level videography or would use your phone for gaming, this is really one to consider. 

But… if top-of-the-line cameras and cutting edge smartphone photography are a big deal for you, read on…

The new iPhone 15 Pro Max is getting rave reviews

Reviewers are drooling over the new superfast, powerful and top-notch triple camera sporting iPhone Pro Max. TechRader says it ‘raises the bar not only for the iPhone family but for smartphones in general’ and calls the new camera set up ‘some of the best smartphone cameras we've ever used’.

With a 6.7 inch screen, minimum storage capacity of 256GB (up to 1TB) and a new upgraded camera and imaging system, Apple’s newest and most expensive iPhone has a lot to prove, but early reviews are suggesting it does just that.

It is a little lighter than its predecessor the iPhone 14 Pro Max and the screen is just a little larger.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max will do everything the 15 Pro does as detailed above and has many of the baseline improvements of the standard iPhone 15, but it does more too.

Super cameras: The iPhone 15 Pro Max may sound similar to the Pro in its camera set up, but it has in fact enjoyed a massive upgrade.

The obvious is the new 5x optical zoom, which gives good definition telephoto images. Otherwise it has everything as above: 48MP main camera, 12MP ultra-wide and the 12MP front-facing TrueDepth selfie camera.

But the main camera 48MP sensor is brand new tech and shoots every image in default 24MP resolution. 

This means bright, vivid images with great detail but also (according to TechRader) ‘the most accurate ever seen on a smartphone’. The reviewer went on to describe ‘perfect colours’ in flowers and completely accurate skin tones.

The 15 Pro Max is full of professional level photography tools – such as, you can choose camera-like digital lenses ranging in size from 13mm to 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 48mm, and 120mm for the 5x zoom.

The zoom also retains great detail, compared with the longer digital zooms that soon lose definition the further you zoom.

There is a new 3D sensor shift optical image stabilisation function which does a good job of keeping shots stable, especially on digitally zoomed videos.

The phone also collects more light when taking an image and makes better use of it in even the most challenging situations. Night photography is better too.

Filming is great too and you can change the focus while filming with just a tap on the screen – but even better, you can also change the focus AFTER you’ve shot the footage, so if your subject wasn’t quite in focus during filming, you can soon fix that!

Battery: Apple is quoting up to 29 hours of video playback for the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but of course it does depend what you use your phone for and how much.

The Techout verdict

This is a big, top class and powerful iPhone that by all early indications offers great performance and excellent photography.

It is the most expensive in the new iPhone 15 range, but if you feel you need that much phone, it may be the one for you.

Don’t damage your new iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max – let’s get down to cases

If you do acquire the very latest iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you really, really don’t want it damaged, titanium casing or not!

Here at The Techout we already stock a wide range of cases and screen protectors to ensure that your new baby has absolutely the best possible protection.

Screen protectors: At £9.99 across the board for our screen protector range, can you really afford to be without one? They will ensure your phone screen is shielded against cracks and scratches, which are very difficult to avoid. 

Available in hydrogel or tempered glass options, our screen protectors are easy to fit or if you wish to pop into our stores in either Barnstaple or Braunton, one of our team will be happy to fit it to your new phone in minutes.

Cases: A new case will cost you a LOT less than a new screen! The Techout stocks a range of options depending upon your budget and lifestyle, but if you’re active and your phone is likely to get bumped around – and let’s face it, that’s difficult to avoid, it really makes sense to get a case as soon as you buy your phone.

The Xquisite range is mid-budget option is drop tested to 1.2 metres and generally offers a wider range of colours and styles.

The ProGrip model is a sturdy, rough textured but stylish option that remains sleek, is easy to grip and good at absorbing shocks.

The Matte Air option also provides good protection but has a soft, smooth and comfortable feel with an eye to style, for those who want their phone to remain as fashionable as possible.

The range also includes tough silicone cases as well as wallet style cases, so the choice is yours.

The Raptic range is among the toughest on the market and drop tested to between two and four metres. 

There are various choices, including the Clear range which is a sturdy, but not intrusive, double layer rubberised case that will protect your phone from quite a shock, while remaining slim and portable.

The Air range is reinforced by aluminium alloy to provide good strength and protection, but still offers a stylish choice and various colours.

The Shield range is a little chunkier but still looks good and Raptic says is certified to exceed military grade drop test standards, so a good choice for anyone that likes the rugged outdoors.

Prodigee offers a compromise between fashion and protection. It is drop tested to two metres and is generally compared to the Raptic range.

Some models also have the MagSafe ring built into the case, meaning you can recharge your iPhone on a MagSafe wireless charger without removing the case.