Meta Description: iPhone 15 hit the market in September 2023, while the iPhone 14 Pro came out a year earlier. A reasonable question arises: what is better to buy, the newer but “base” model, or the older but Pro version? Let’s figure out what suits you best.
iPhone 15 was released in September 2023, while the iPhone 14 Pro came out a year earlier. A reasonable question arises: what is better to buy, the newer but “base” model, or the older but Pro version? Let’s figure out what suits you best.
Design
The body of the iPhone 14 Pro is made of stainless steel and matte glass. It doesn’t collect fingerprints much and is practically scratch-resistant. The sides are in the color of the smartphone, but they are glossy, which looks original in contrast. The main camera module includes 3 lenses. In terms of appearance, the 2022 Pro version may seem more expensive to some. However, many find the iPhone 15 more elegant in its lightness. It’s a matter of taste.
The body of the base iPhone 15 is made of an aluminum and titanium alloy—a super-durable material used in the aerospace industry. The back of this model is also matte. The camera module includes two lenses positioned diagonally. The distinctive feature of the novelty is its more rounded edges. They don’t dig into the hand, so the smartphone comfortably fits in the hand. Plus, it’s lighter than the iPhone 14 Pro: 171 grams versus 206.
If you spend a lot of time with your smartphone, perhaps the ergonomics of the iPhone 15 will be the deciding factor. But if you want a sense of premium quality and respectability, then holding the iPhone 14 Pro in your hands will easily lead you to choose this model.
Display
Both the new base and Pro versions feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, so you’ll see a fantastic picture with vibrant colors on both screens. Brightness is also the same: 1000 nits – both smartphones will be comfortable to use in bright sunlight.
But there are still differences. For example, in the refresh rate – this parameter indicates how many times per second the picture on the screen changes. The iPhone 15 supports a 60Hz refresh rate, while the iPhone 14 Pro supports double that – 120Hz. What does this mean for the user? In the Pro version, any movement—from scrolling through menus to swiping away notifications—will be as smooth as possible.
A 120Hz refresh rate on a smartphone is an important development in screen technology. But in most everyday scenarios, it will be difficult to notice this difference. After all, you won’t be using one phone with your right hand and another with your left.
Another important feature for many is the Always-On Display function. It allows you to display the time on the locked screen of the smartphone without the need to turn it on. This feature is only supported by the iPhone 14 Pro.
Camera
Let’s see which camera is better: the one in the iPhone 15 or the one in the 14 Pro. The latest “base” model is equipped with a system with two lenses: a main camera – 48 MP, and an ultra-wide-angle – 12 MP. There is a two-fold optical zoom.
The iPhone 14 Pro has not two, but three lenses. The same main camera at 48 MP and an ultra-wide-angle at 12 MP. But it also has a telephoto lens with threefold magnification.
It seems the winner is obvious, but let’s think: does bigger really mean better?
The most common shooting mode is with the main camera. In both smartphones, it’s 48 megapixels. And that’s enough to get colorful and clear photos even without post-processing. So, what’s the difference? Thanks to a series of camera improvements, the iPhone 15 captures more details. Therefore, the shots are more detailed and have smoother color transitions. Plus, the iPhone 15 has new shooting modes, such as automatic portrait mode. However, the iPhone 14 Pro can shoot video in the professional ProRes format.
There’s one thing worth paying attention to. The iPhone 15 has an option for adjusting depth of field and focus points. It allows you to adjust the focus even after you’ve taken the photo.
Performance
Both smartphones are similar in this criterion as they run on the A16 Bionic chip, have 6 GB of RAM, 6 CPU cores, and a frequency of 1398 MHz. All of this provides them with revolutionary performance. And it guarantees you fast app launches and instant switching between them, great gaming capabilities, photo editing, and video editing. Everything works smoothly and comfortably. Here, it’s a confident tie.
However, the iPhone 14 Pro has a LiDAR sensor – a special sensor that determines the distance to objects.
Battery Life
The iPhone 15 is equipped with a slightly more powerful battery than the iPhone 14 Pro – 3349 mAh compared to 3200 mAh. This difference gives approximately +1 hour of smartphone usage. It’s important to note that even with the Pro version’s capacity, it easily lasts the entire day with intensive use. Your choice should be based on how actively you use the device. For example, if it’s your primary work tool – you run a blog or constantly shoot and edit on your smartphone – then an extra hour of work can be crucial.
And if you’re buying a phone “for life” (calls, social media and messengers, amateur photo and video shooting), the difference in battery life won’t be crucial.
Also, note that the iPhone 14 Pro can be charged faster – with a maximum charging power of 27W compared to 20W in the iPhone 15.
Other Differences
Let’s look at the charging port – this is a very important innovation. For the first time in the history of the iPhone, a more universal and widespread USB Type-C port has appeared in it. Whereas in all models before this, including the 14 Pro, we see a Lightning port.
What does this mean for the user? It’s simple: one charger for all your devices.
Conclusion
Which iPhone to choose is a matter of your taste, tasks, technical requirements for the device, and other criteria described in the article. Both the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 15 are relevant models for work and leisure in 2024. Performance, a screen with True Tone function, water and dust resistance, Dynamic Island cutout, Face ID – all of this is equally well implemented in both devices.
However, there are differences between the smartphones. The display refresh rate in the iPhone 14 Pro is higher: 120Hz compared to 60Hz in the iPhone 15. There are also more significant differences in the cameras. The new features of the iPhone 15, such as depth of field adjustment and automatic portrait mode, compete with the three cameras of the iPhone 14 Pro with threefold zoom capability.
The iPhone 15 has a more powerful battery and a universal USB Type-C port. But the iPhone 14 Pro has a LiDAR sensor, Always-On Display feature, and you can also choose a configuration with 1TB of memory.
In any case: whichever smartphone you choose, you won’t be disappointed.
If you’re still unsure about your choice, and you can’t figure out all the specifications on your own, come to iSpace. Here you can test both devices, and our specialists will help you make the right choice.
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