Robert Triggs / Android Authority
$1,199 for the newest iPhone 15 Professional Max is undoubtedly costly. In actual fact, it’s Apple’s priciest iPhone ever, however no less than you’re buying and selling that money in for the model’s newest and biggest cell expertise. On the different finish of the portfolio lies the poor, uncared for iPhone 15. Whereas rather more inexpensive at $799, it lacks the cutting-edge attraction of Apple’s Professional vary, typically left ready for older options to trickle down.
That trickle has slowed to a drip. As such, the common iPhone 15 compares fairly poorly on a spec-by-spec foundation towards the perfect Android telephones in the identical value bracket. Whereas the Professional Max is likely to be costly, it’s the iPhone 15 that’s really overpriced for what it gives.
iPhone 15 specs are effectively off the tempo
To get our bearings, let’s rapidly evaluate the staple options you’ll discover throughout Android flagships within the $799 value bracket.
Beginning with the show, high-refresh-rate 120Hz OLED panels are the norm (more and more within the mid-tier too), and variable refresh charges to save lots of on battery life are additionally more and more frequent. The iPhone 15 is caught with a dated 60Hz mounted refresh charge that appears and feels comparatively sluggish when scrolling via your favourite web sites. When you’ve sampled 120Hz, going again to 60Hz feels decidedly price range.
Likewise, Apple reserves its All the time-on Show (AOD) function for its Professional mannequin, whereas a number of Android producers, together with Google and Samsung, supply it on their extra inexpensive telephones. Apple is admittedly shortchanging its prospects in terms of show expertise.
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
Flip the newest iPhone over, and also you’ll spot one other space that Apple is scrimping on. Sure, the iPhone 15 now boasts a bigger, high-resolution 48MP rear digicam (lastly closing an outdated hole with the perfect digicam telephones). Nonetheless, the mannequin is caught with an outdated ultrawide lens and nonetheless lacks any optical zoom capabilities. And no, Apple’s 2x telephoto fancy crop will not be actual competitors for a devoted 2x or 3x lens.
Android is flush with crisper digicam choices at this value, from the OnePlus 11’s 2x lens, the Galaxy S23 3x telephoto capturing possibility, or the three.2x optical capabilities of the Xiaomi 13. Tangentially, the $899 dual-camera iPhone 15 Plus isn’t any match for the pliability of the $849 Pixel 7 Professional’s zoom setup both.
Whereas a lesser offense, Apple’s alternative to make use of older silicon can be a step down from its opponents. The A16 Bionic is actually no slouch after only a yr, however equally inexpensive Android flagships usually tout the newest and biggest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. Moreover, subsequent yr’s rival flagships are set for a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 improve, full with graphics chops that’ll blow Apple’s last-gen chip out of the water.
A sluggish show, older chip, and fewer versatile digicam {hardware} would not stand as much as the competitors.
Equally, battery life has by no means been notably stellar with the smaller iPhone, and the 15 mannequin doesn’t appear to be any bigger than its predecessor. Maybe worse, final yr’s iPhone fashions have been criticized for shedding peak capability faster than different manufacturers, suggesting that Apple is cheaping out on inferior cells. However there’s a first rate number of compact smartphones that provide stable all-day battery life and generally much more.
Even what’s new is usually outdated with Apple. The price range iPhone 15s don’t even assist quick information switch speeds, regardless of the lengthy overdue transfer to USB-C. They’re caught with the outdated USB 2.0 protocol, which is way slower than you’ll see in trendy Android telephones.
Between the show, battery, USB-C tech, and middling digicam setup, the Apple iPhone 15 has plenty of drawbacks and only a few {hardware} wins to lord over opponents in its value bracket.
The very best Android alternate options to the iPhone 15
Ryan Haines / Android Authority
To Apple’s credit score, different key design facets evaluate effectively towards its Android rivals. NFC, Extremely-wideband, an IP68 score, Bluetooth 5.3, and long-term replace assist are accounted for. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless discover Android alternate options with quicker charging, the newest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, and fan favorites like a headphone jack. Maybe these are much less vital to normal prospects, nevertheless it goes to indicate that there are many opponents price .
Samsung’s Galaxy S23 ($799 at Amazon) is the Apple iPhone 15’s most direct competitor. It has a slicker, 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED show with AOD, a further digicam for distant zoom, quicker wired charging, and quicker USB 3.2 information speeds, for precisely the identical value as the newest iPhone.
Android is not wanting extra highly effective {hardware} combos for iPhone 15 cash.
Spend only a fraction extra, and the wonderful Google Pixel 7 Professional ($589.98 at Amazon) nets you quicker wi-fi charging, a 10-120Hz LTPO show, 5x long-range zoom images, and an enormous 5,000mAh battery. In Europe, the Xiaomi 13 ($790.99 at eBay) is similar value and comes with a giant battery, good digicam setup with optical zoom, 120Hz show, 8K video recording, blazing quick wired charging, Wi-Fi 7 assist, and twice the storage of its opponents.
In fact, the iPhone 15 has an attraction that transcends {hardware} options, corresponding to the brand new satellite-powered Roadside Help. These embedded in Apple’s software program ecosystem may want extra convincing to change sides, however these searching for stable worth for cash ought to think about a substitute for the overpriced iPhone 15.
