Apple iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro: Should You Upgrade

Apple unveiled the iPhone 15 series at the Wonderlust event. While the standard iPhone 15 models received notable camera and display upgrades (with Dynamic Island), the iPhone 15 Pro series stole the show. Speaking of the smaller Pro variant, if you are planning to upgrade from last year’s compact flagship, continue reading to learn all the differences between the iPhone 14 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro.

iPhone 15 Pro carries notable upgrades in design, construction material, CPU and GPU power, memory, charging, battery capacity, UWB (Ultra Wideband), and more. But the burning question is, did Apple put enough to convince iPhone 14 Pro users to shell out $999 for the latest gadget? Let’s go through the key differences to help you make a better decision.

Also Read: iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Is It Worth Buying the iPhone 15?

Specifications: iPhone 15 Pro vs. iPhone 14 Pro

The clear difference between the iPhone Pro series models is quite apparent this year, mostly because of the materials uses to construct the iPhone 15 Pro models. That’s why the difference in dimensions and weight will be subtle.

Features	iPhone 15 Pro	iPhone 14 Pro
Processor	A17 Pro – 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine	A16 Bionic – 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine
Display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display, ProMotion, True Tone, Wide Color (P3), Always-On Display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display, ProMotion, True Tone, Wide Color (P3), Always-On Display
Resolution	2556×1179-pixel resolution at 460ppi,	2556×1179-pixel resolution at 460ppi
Brightness	1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)	1,000 nits max brightness (typical); 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR); 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor)
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear Camera	48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide and 12MP Telephoto & Smart HDR 5; ProRes videos up to 4K@60fps	48MP Main, 12MP Ultra Wide and 12MP Telephoto & Smart HDR 4; ProRes videos up to 4K@30fps
Front Camera	12MP TrueDepth	12MP TrueDepth
Connectivity	5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3	5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
Charging Port	USB Type-C (USB 3.0)	Lightning
Charging Speed	Fast Charing with 20W adapter	Fast Charing with 20W adapter
Weight	187g	206g
Dimensions	146.6mm x 70.6mm x 8.25mm	147.5 mm x 71.5 mm x 7.85 mm
Colors	Natural, Blue, White, and Black Titanium	Deep Purple, Gold, Silver and Space Black

Thinner Borders

As soon as you pick up the iPhone 15 Pro in an Apple Store, one notable difference will immediately stand out – thinner borders around the display. Very few have complained about rather thick bezels on iPhone 14 Pro. Yet, Apple puts significant attention on trimming bezels without affecting a uniform look.

While the bezel difference may not pop up with a dark wallpaper, it should be quite evident with a light background. The display refresh rate, resolution, and peak brightness remain the same as the outgoing model.

Titanium Frame

Following the iPhone X launch in 2017, Apple started using surgical-grade stainless steel frame on expensive models. While stainless steel on the iPhone 14 Pro offers a pristine fit and premium look, the glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet and increases the heft of the device.

After experimenting with Titanium in the Apple Watch lineup, Apple has brought the same to iPhone 15 Pro models. It is lighter and stronger than stainless steel but often harder to work with. The brushed texture doesn’t become home to your fingerprints, and it resists scratches and bending quite well. Don’t be surprised if the iPhone 15 Pro passes the bending tests on YouTube.

The Titanium frame is also contoured around the edges, making it much easier to hold than the iPhone 14 Pro’s flat edges. One thing Apple states that the iPhone 15 Pro models are lighter. However, you’ll only notice that difference if you measure them with iPhone 14 Pro models in person.

Action Button

The mute switch − one of the iconic elements of the iPhone series – finally receives a major refresh with the iPhone 15. Apple has replaced the mute switch with the Action button. The little button above the volume keys is programmable to perform various actions like turning on the flashlight, running a shortcut, or opening a specific app.

It’s up to you to tweak the Action button based on your preferences. Of course, a lot of these tweaks might be dependent on how much freedom does Apple allow to the iOS developers to make the best of the new Action Button.

A17 Pro Bionic

As expected, the iPhone 15 Pro goes through a change of heart. The 3nm microarchitecture based A17 Pro Bionic chip runs the show in the new iPhone 15 Pro models. It’s faster and more power-efficient than the Apple A16 chipset inside the iPhone 14 Pro models.

To put it in numbers, the A17 Pro has a 10% faster performance, a 2X Neural Engine, and a 20% faster GPU than the A16 chip inside iPhone 14 Pro series. Apple also promises improved GPU to deliver next-generation gaming performance on the iPhone 15 Pro. To demonstrate that, Ubisoft will be releasing Assassin’s Creed Mirage game (developed for game consoles) for the iPhone next year.

Also Read: Apple A17 Pro vs A16 Bionic: What’s the Difference?

Camera Upgrades

Last year, Apple upgraded the iPhone 14 Pro with a new 48MP primary camera. While we weren’t expecting a major hardware change, Apple did shower us with a few camera updates.

The iPhone 15 Pro cameras let you shoot in 24mm, 28mm, and 35mm focal lengths. Apple also claims 2X low-light performance, better portrait mode, OIS, and anti-reflective coating to remove flares from images. You can also shoot Pro Res videos in 4K@60fps. It is limited to 4K@30fps in iPhone 14 Pro.

While the trio of cameras remain the same, the iPhone 15 Pro Max model gets some extra love with the new 120mm Telephoto camera that has a unique 4-prism design for mobile. Traditionally, a 120mm camera lens is quite long, but Apple has redesigned one to fit inside the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

USB-C Port

After resisting USB-C for many years, the iPhone 15 Pro finally boards the universal standard for charging and data transfer. It supports 20W fast charging, which is the same as last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. You can finally use a single cable to charge all your Apple devices – iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and more. Of course, you can pick up and use a USB-C wired or wireless charger for a iPhone 15 series model.

The USB-C port supports USB-C 3.0 standard, which is capable of transferring data at 10GB/s. That’s fast enough to transfer your Apple ProRes videos and ProRaw images, provided you use a proper USB-C 3.0 cable with a Mac or Windows PC.

Also Read: 6 Best Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro Accessories

New Ultra Wideband Chip

AirTag users are in a treat with the iPhone 15 Pro. The device receives a new 2^nd Generation Ultra Wide-Band (UWB) chip that’s more accurate at finding your lost wallet, keys, pets, and more. Apple claims 3x reach to navigate the lost items.

New Color Options

As it’s a trend with Apple every year, the iPhone 15 Pro series has new shades to flaunt your latest purchase. Apple has discontinued the iPhone 14 Pro’s Deep Purple and replaced it with Titan Gray and Blue. Silver and Space Black colors remain unchanged.

iPhone 15 Pro Deserves Your Attention

While we don’t recommend upgrading your iPhone every year, the long list of improvements does make a strong case for the iPhone 15 Pro. If you are fed up with lightning port and degrading battery life and want to master those juicy camera enhancements, upgrading to the iPhone 15 Pro won’t be a bad decision at all. If you have made up your mind, get the best cases for the iPhone 15 series to protect your expensive purchase.